Home / Topics / Operations & Finance

Operations & Finance
Operations & Finance RSS Feed RSS

Improving Efficiency & Costs in the Parts & Service Departments

By Kim Schmidt posted on July 15, 2017 | Posted in Best Practices, Operations & Finance, Department Management

As Ellens Equipment — Farm Equipment’s 2017 Dealership of the Year in the under $75 million in revenues category — has grown in recent years, it became clear changes in the service and parts departments were needed to help improve efficiency, reduce costs and ultimately improve the dealership’s absorption rate.


Read More

Valley Truck & Tractor: Planning Service Operations for the Long Term

By Dave Kanicki posted on July 15, 2017 | Posted in Best Practices, Used Equipment Remarketing, Operations & Finance, Department Management
In 2016, Valley Truck & Tractor achieved a parts and service absorption rate of 106%. According to the Western Equipment Dealers Assn.’s (WEDA) 2016 Cost of Doing Business study, the farm equipment industry average absorption rate was 64%, with an industry benchmark target of 80%-plus.
Read More
069_DOY_Ellens-Equipment_LH_0617.png

Dealership of the Year 2017: Ellens Equipment, McBain, Mich.

By Kim Schmidt posted on July 15, 2017 | Posted in Best Practices, Operations & Finance, Department Management
What do you get when the son of the local New Holland dealer marries the daughter of the local Case IH dealer? While this sounds like the start to a bad joke, it’s actually the foundation of the Ellens Equipment ownership team, a couple who knows a thing or two about running a successful dealership and who treats the business like another one of their children (including knowing when it’s time to let them spread their wings).
Read More

How to Determine Used Equipment Values

Dealers should be consulting multiple sources and data fields in order to accurately assign values to used equipment.
By Kim Schmidt posted on June 7, 2017 | Posted in Best Practices, Used Equipment Remarketing, Operations & Finance
It’s no secret that there’s too much used equipment on North American farm equipment dealers’ lots these days. While dealers are making strides in reducing their equipment inventory build up, correctly valuing used equipment is key to properly managing inventories now and in the future.
Read More

Top Articles

Current Issue

FE_JulyAugust-2026_BookWithPages_Curl_art.png

Farm Equipment

2026 Dealership of the Year, Messick’s Equipment, Mount Joy, Pa.

View More

Must Read Free Eguides

Download these helpful knowledge building tools

View More

Farm Equipment Videos

2025 Dealer Hall of Fame: Raymond P. Koenig

2025 Dealer Hall of Fame: Raymond P. Koenig

During the 2025 Dealership Minds Summit, we honored the recipients of the Dealer Hall of Fame award. Among the award winners was the late Raymond P. Koenig of Koenig Equipment. To receive the award and speak on his uncle's behalf, Aaron Koenig, CEO of Koenig Equipment shares a few words.

View More
Top Directory Listings
A&I-Consumer-Large.png

A&I Products

Since 1980, A&I Products has become a leading manufacturer and wholesale distributor of aftermarket replacement parts for the agricultural, turf, and industrial equipment markets. A&I Products' experience and expertise has greatly contributed to the company's reputation as a top supplier of quality, reasonably priced parts. Founded with roots as a small machine shop and repair facility, the company made the transition by manufacturing new parts to replace those that were identified as commonly needing repair. Throughout the 1980s, the company quickly garnered a reputation for offering quality parts at a reasonable price.

Yetter farm equipment since1930 01

Yetter Farm Equipment

Built on 90 years of expertise, Yetter Farm Equipment leads the agriculture industry in designing effective and innovative equipment for residue management, seedbed preparation, precision fertilizer placement, harvest attachments, strip-tillage, and more.
Machinery Scope

Machinery Scope

At Machinery Scope, we believe you deserve the best risk management solutions for your investments in heavy equipment. Since 2013, we have been proud to offer extended warranty, appraisals, and inspections. Machinery Scope is a family-owned business built on our experience in farming and equipment dealerships. We understand your business and provide a personalized and professional level of customer service. Machinery Scope has built a strong warranty product with our customers in mind, offering the same professional level of service from the time you get a quote, through the processing of a claim.
View More