Articles by Mike Lessiter

Dealership of the Year: Stotz Equipment

The last time Stotz Machinery (known then as Arizona Machinery) graced the cover of Farm Equipment (featuring the Avondale location’s famed saguaro cactus) was in April/May 2005 (“Making Multi-Stores Manageable”). What captured attention at the time was the firm’s ability to manage 13 stores (a large number for those days) in 4 states from a remote location.
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To the Point: Stuck in the Middle...

For our special management report on preparing for ag cycle changes (starting on p. 86), our staff's research took us to dealers, economists and independent consultants. One interview was particularly fascinating as the conversation quickly veered to internal factors. More specifically, it was a declaration that no variable, not the weather, Farm Bill, interest rates, trade policies nor commodity prices, is of greater importance to dealers' future than the things they directly control.
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It's All in the Execution

While each of the speakers at the Dealership Minds Summit provided food-for-thought, Boyd Hofmann's presentation reinforced that the best ideas in the world won't work without the right processes and systems and follow-up mechanisms. Hofmann is vice president and general sales manager of JayDee Ag Tech, 9-store John Deere dealer group based in Saskatchewan that is focused on the large producer business. Its structure includes 3 regional sales managers and 21 ag territory managers, along with a support staff of 5 that is dedicated to settlements and sales assistance.
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Dealers Shed Light on Mystery of Marketing

When the Farm Equipment staff spoke with dealers about topics they wanted for the first-ever Dealership Minds Summit, marketing topped nearly everyone's list. Because dealers know well that a better mousetrap and the world beating a path to your door is patently false. More important than ever, dealers must promote themselves with the same fervor that their OEM promotes its color, while employing new technology and customer intelligence tools.
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