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Special Report

Parts Success is a '2-Way Street' with Manufacturers

Dealers & manufacturers need to work together to promote & take advantage of parts programs that can help improve margins.
By Kim Schmidt posted on June 10, 2017 | Posted in Best Practices, Department Management
If your strategy for selling parts is relying on walk-in traffic or the service department, you’re missing out on opportunities. “Dealers who are relying on walk-in traffic are the dealers who are complaining about their parts business.
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Special Report

Are Dealers’ Parts Operations Improving?

Three years ago farm equipment dealers said they would make a major push to improve the performance of their parts business and bolster their bottom lines. So, how far have they come?
By Dave Kanicki posted on June 10, 2017 | Posted in Best Practices, Data & Forecasts, Department Management
While visiting a Case IH dealer several years ago a farmer walked into the dealership. As he joined in on our conversation it was clear he was a loyal John Deere customer, but he was also a good friend of the owner of the Case IH dealership. He said, “I just came from my dealer down the road and you know what? They don’t have a quart of green paint in that store. They told me they could have it for me by tomorrow. Can you believe that?”
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To the Point

Making Parts Sales Sexy

By Kim Schmidt posted on June 10, 2017 | Posted in Best Practices, Department Management
The parts department isn’t a particularly sexy department, so most dealers usually put their focus on the sales department. We haven’t been that way. Parts first is how we look at ourselves.” That’s what one dealer recently told me when I asked him what set his dealership apart. He went on to explain how the parts department is the first priority when it comes to training, showroom space and merchandising.
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To the Point

Making Parts Sales Sexy

By Kim Schmidt posted on June 8, 2017 | Posted in Best Practices, Department Management
"The parts department isn’t a particularly sexy department, so most dealers usually put their focus on the sales department. We haven’t been that way. Parts first is how we look at ourselves.” That’s what one dealer recently told me when I asked him what set his dealership apart. He went on to explain how the parts department is the first priority when it comes to training, showroom space and merchandising.
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Wider World of Business

Talent Management Evolves; Requires Deeper Understanding

June 1, 2017 | Posted in Best Practices, Department Management
Source: Purdue University Center for Food and Agricultural Business
It seems that this is how talent management tends to go on many farms and in many food and agribusiness firms today. We’ve done a job for so long, we’ve forgotten what it’s like to not know how to do it. When the boss ahead of us gets promoted, we move up too. Then we hire replacements, “set them on the tractor” and tell them to go do good things. As long as the employee does good things, we stay out of the way. When mistakes are made, we scramble to fix them and admonish the employee to do it right next time.
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Wider World of Business

10 Job Interview Questions to Stop Asking (and What to Ask Instead)

May 25, 2017 | Posted in Best Practices, Department Management
Source: Sophia Bernazzani, HubSpot
A quick Google Search for job interview questions brings up some of the most common asks you might have already answered 20 times over the course of your career. They’re popular, but that doesn’t mean they’re good questions. In fact, they could be hurting your chances of the candidate accepting an offer.
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Farm Equipment

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

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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.

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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.

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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.
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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.
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