Proudly serving the industry for which it was named for more than 50 years, Outdoor Power Equipment provides dealers who sell and service outdoor power equipment with valuable information to succeed in a competitive market.
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/765117
20 JANUARY 2017 OUTDOOR POWER EQUIPMENT www.outdoorpowerequipment.com COVER STORY | Industry Forecasts category. While we're always watching the housing market as a whole, we keep a close eye on starter-home inventory and new-home construction. Upticks in these two subsectors have the potential to make a big impact on our business and our industry overall. From what we're seeing, the housing market is expecting moderate growth for 2017, with pent-up demand in these subsectors. * Under normal use conditions. To see complete details, refer to your Operating Manual. Briggs & Stratton standard warranty terms and conditions apply. Just Check & Add does not extend the warranty period. See www.briggsandstratton.com/us/en/support/ warranty for details. JEFF DEWOSKY VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER HUSQVARNA NORTH AMERICA (CHARLOTTE, N.C.) 1) What is new with your company and/or any OPE industry associations that you represent? Jeff Dewosky (JD): We have some exciting new product launches planned for 2017, especially for our commercial lawn, garden and tree care customers. We recently unveiled some upcoming additions to our Battery Series, including a professional-grade trimmer and two pole saws, and we'll also be launching a new Fleet Services technology that will help landscaping companies more effi ciently manage their operations. 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? JD: It's diffi cult to predict exactly how a new administration will affect our industry, and we're going to keep a close eye on new legislation as it develops. We hope any regulations will benefi t the small businesses that employ lawn, garden and tree care professionals throughout the country. 3) What was the OPE industry's biggest story in 2016, and what do you predict it will be in 2017? JD: Technology played a huge role in shaping the industry this past year. We saw some exciting advances in robotic mowing, and we were excited to contribute to that with the launch of three new Automower models. We've also seen more and more professionals adopt battery-powered equipment, and we expect this to be a dominant trend heading into 2017. 4) What will be the OPE industry's hottest trends in 2017? JD: Environmental and sustainability concerns may come to the forefront this year, especially as more communities pass ordinances restricting the use of certain gas-powered outdoor power equipment. That's why we're continuing to focus on providing effi cient products that will ensure our customers can respect these mandates without sacrifi cing the durability and performance they need to get their jobs done quickly and professionally. 5) What is your overall outlook for the OPE industry in 2017? JD: We're optimistic about what the coming year has in store for our industry. There have been several exciting technology developments in 2016, and we expect this momentum to continue into 2017 as we move forward with launching new products that will help lawn, garden and tree care professionals work more effi ciently. HAROLD REDMAN SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT & PRESIDENT TURF & CONSUMER PRODUCTS BRIGGS & STRATTON CORP. (MILWAUKEE, WIS.) 1) What is new with your company and/or any OPE industry associations that you represent? Harold Redman (HR): We introduced a number of new products designed to meet the needs of the user. Commercially, we continue to offer product innovations designed to make professional landscapers more productive. We introduced the Vanguard Oil Guard System on models across the Ferris lineup. A Ferris exclusive for model year 2017, Oil Guard extends the oil change interval 5x, from 100 to 500 hours, which reduces downtime and keeps landscapers cutting. We also expanded our line of commercial stand-on products, introducing the SRS-Z1 which touts 36- and 48-inch mowing decks. And our Billy Goat product line of turf care products continues to grow as we introduced the hydrostatic sod cutter. On the residential side, we announced new homeowner zero- turns under our Simplicity and Snapper brands, the Courier and 360Z, respectively, featuring commercial-inspired features and the industry's fi rst integrated cargo bed for added utility. Our new Snapper XD handheld line of 82-volt lithium-ion products offers homeowners a multi-tool system that uses a common battery. We also announced two Simplicity tractors offering electronic fuel injection (EFI) for ultimate performance in starting and operation, including a new sub-compact tractor with drive-over mowers and a new front-end loader. We introduced the new Briggs & Stratton 8,000-watt Elite Series portable generator with StatStation Wireless Bluetooth, which makes it easy and convenient for homeowners to monitor the generator from a smart device. 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? HR: Every election brings potential changes to the industry and the business climate. We will closely monitor President-elect