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Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/765117
16 JANUARY 2017 OUTDOOR POWER EQUIPMENT www.outdoorpowerequipment.com COVER STORY | Industry Forecasts Other things that could be trending next year are Internet policies, distributor re-organizations, and dry conditions. Internet sales reach new highs for outdoor power equipment. Succession plans are not effective, so more dealers will go away. This is an opportunity for those left around the area. Mobile servicing dealers should be on the rise. The way a customer shops has changed, and why shouldn't the way he gets service? 5) What is your overall outlook for the OPE industry in 2017? JDH: More consumer confi dence from the Trump victory might have an effect on new equipment sales. Profi ts will be hurt because parts are more profi table than equipment. There have always been discussions about the number of servicing dealers. In 2017 and beyond, the base will shrink, leaving a few areas for opportunity. Mentioned above is an increase in the number of mobile dealers. We will encourage dealers to be more mobile to work with the typical homeowner that has 2 incomes, 2 kids, 1 dog, and no time! Another opportunity from dealers going out of business is more customers, because there is nowhere else to go. The consumer will be burdened with more miles to drop off and pick up. Find ways to attract this market, and you will do well. With all that said, I like what I see for 2017. KRIS KISER PRESIDENT AND CEO OUTDOOR POWER EQUIPMENT INSTITUTE (OPEI) (ALEXANDRIA, VA.) 1) What is new with your company and/or any OPE industry associations that you represent? Kris Kiser (KK): First, the 2016 GIE+EXPO (Green Industry & Equipment Expo), of which OPEI is the managing partner, broke new records in attendance, number of exhibitors and fl oor space. More than 22,600 people from around the world represented a 12-percent increase in registration over last year. Thirty-three percent of dealer and 44 percent of lawn and landscape attendees were fi rst timers. The UTV presence continues to expand with GIE+EXPO's inaugural UTV university, a partnership with Powersports Business. Its success means UTVs will continue to have a strong presence in future shows. OPEI's environmental education program, TurfMutt, also continues to grow and expand. To date, the program has brought its message of taking care of and valuing managed green space to more than 62 million kids, teachers and family members. TurfMutt talks to consumers and homeowners through a role with the Lucky Dog TV show and is continuing its partnership with global children's publishing, education and media company, Scholastic. In 2017, the fi rst-ever, national TurfMutt Teacher award will be awarded at the National Science Teachers Association annual convention in May. The OPEI board also greenlighted a number of videos, showing lawn and landscape conversions — or shall I say, re-establishing green space and living landscapes — in California. California chose to eviscerate many of its living landscapes to save water and is now paying a heavy, environmental price, including millions of dead and dying trees, loss of habitat and dead play spaces for kids and pets. The videos, showing TurfMutt putting green space back in, will be seen through various streaming channels, including Lucky Dog promotions and website, and streamed on Facebook and YouTube. 2) How will the election of Republican Donald Trump as president, along with Republicans maintaining control of Congress in both the House and Senate, impact the OPE industry? KK: It's too early to tell the impact. But in all likelihood, there will be a moratorium on future environmental regulations. The EPA could go into a holding pattern with no expansion or additional environmental regulation. But nothing is stopping California from moving forward in environmental regulation. In fact, California is moving ahead with substantial revisions to its evaporative emissions rules. 3) What was the OPE industry's biggest story in 2016, and what do you predict it will be in 2017? KK: Without question, the biggest story last year was the California drought and California's potential leadership role in how other parts of the country respond to water scarcity. California leads the way on fashion, media, environmental movements, and now in drought response. But we don't want California's water mistakes to bleed into other parts of the country, like New England and the South, which also is dealing with drought. California demonized the managed landscape, labeling it a water-waster, and spent hundreds of millions of dollars of taxpayer money encouraging people to rip out their grass and put in mulch, rocks, cacti and plastic grass to the detriment of habitat, play space and the environment overall. Its one-size-fi ts-all approach also left millions of dead and dying trees, many of which used to be watered as part of the managed landscape. Yet California is now being viewed by other states as a potential model on how to deal with water scarcity? Not a good idea. Installing artifi cial turf (plastic grass), in particular, was the worst idea for both the environment and for saving water, and it's too hot for kids or pets to play on. Recently, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power was caught for irrigating its newly installed plastic grass to clean it. No water savings there. The introduction of plastic products in response to drought isn't an environmentally responsible move and does nothing to support human, pet or wildlife health. Having the right living landscape for your climate zone is the answer. For 2017, the big stories will include California developing new rules aimed at reducing outdoor power equipment emissions up to 80 percent. We also expect to see a run at the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) in the Congress. With a new administration and new Congress, an RFS repeal or revision likely will be sought.