Kim Schmidt

From the Desk of Kim Schmidt

Do You Adapt to a Changing Customer Base?

By Kim Schmidt posted on May 15, 2017 | Posted in Dealer Succession

Dealer succession planning is a regular topic in the pages of Farm Equipment; in fact we devoted an entire special report and conference to the topic a few years ago. Progressive dealerships have a plan in place or are working on their plan to prepare the next generation of managers and leaders to move the business forward. But, what are you as the dealer doing to prepare your business for the next generation of customers? Anything?

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Are You Doing Anything Extra to Promote Your Specialty Equipment Lines?

Q: With large ag equipment sales expected to be down again this year, are you doing anything extra to promote your specialty equipment lines? If so, what?

By Kim Schmidt posted on May 3, 2017 | Posted in Niche Equipment Markets

We asked dealers: "With large ag equipment sales expected to be down again this year, are you doing anything extra to promote your specialty equipment lines? If so, what?"

Poll Results

52% of Dealers Turning Used Equipment Less than Twice a Year

By Kim Schmidt posted on May 2, 2017 | Posted in Data & Forecasts

In April, we polled Farm-Equipment.com readers asking them, “How many used equipment turns did you achieve in 2016?” A good benchmark for inventory turns is 2.5-3, according to the Western Equipment Dealers Assn.’s “Cost of Doing Business” report.

From the Desk of Kim Schmidt

‘Playing Chicken’ with Trade Policy

By Kim Schmidt posted on May 1, 2017

The agriculture market is a hard one to predict. Between the weather and politics, there’s no sure fire answer to what commodity prices might do or when equipment sales might start to pick back up.

Increasing Parts Sales in Your Dealership [Webinar]

By Kim Schmidt posted on April 25, 2017 | Posted in Department Management

In the current Agricultural market, there is added pressure on parts departments to increase sales and margins. In this webinar, WEDA Dealer Institute trainer Kelly Mathison shared methods that will help you set goals for increasing parts sales in your dealership and managers to engage parts staff in contributing to the process. We will also identify 5 key areas to increase sales. [To view any of our webinar replays, you must be logged in with a free user account.]

Sponsored Content: Successful Equipment Remarketing Strategies

What Determines 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 April 17, 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.

Dealer Modernization: Lessons Learned from Building New

When Forrester Farm Equipment upgraded its store in Somerset, Pa., surprises along the way taught key lessons on the building process.

By Kim Schmidt posted on April 8, 2017 | Posted in Facilities

If you asked Cory Forrester what the biggest lesson he learned through the process of building a new dealership is, he’d tell you it’s to do your homework.

From the Desk of Kim Schmidt

Another Generation Enters the Workforce — Are You Ready?

By Kim Schmidt posted on April 3, 2017

Just as you’ve finally started to figure out millennials and their motivations, it’s time to start preparing for the next generation — generation Z or the iGeneration.

From the Desk of Kim Schmidt

Deere, CNH Argue North Dakota Dealer Law is ‘Anti-Competitive’

By Kim Schmidt posted on March 20, 2017 | Posted in Manufacturer & Dealer Issues

It’s been just over a year since Case IH’s revised sales and service agreement was making waves. At that time, Matthew Larsgaard, president/CEO of the North Dakota Implement Dealers Assn., highlighted 11 provisions that represent major concerns in the agreement that dealers needed to be aware of. Since then, dealer purity issues haven’t been making much noise.

Wider World of Business

5 Questions to Ask Yourself to Encourage Employees to Speak Up

By Kim Schmidt posted on March 17, 2017 | Posted in Best Practices, Department Management

Source: Harvard Business Review

If you are in an influential position, you have probably said words to the effect of “My door is always open.” You likely meant this declaration very genuinely. You might well feel that you are a pretty approachable sort of person and that others feel comfortable coming to you with their issues and their ideas.

Articles by Kim Schmidt

Do You Adapt to a Changing Customer Base?

Are You Doing Anything Extra to Promote Your Specialty Equipment Lines?

52% of Dealers Turning Used Equipment Less than Twice a Year

‘Playing Chicken’ with Trade Policy

Increasing Parts Sales in Your Dealership [Webinar]

What Determines Used Equipment Values?

Dealer Modernization: Lessons Learned from Building New

Another Generation Enters the Workforce — Are You Ready?

Deere, CNH Argue North Dakota Dealer Law is ‘Anti-Competitive’

5 Questions to Ask Yourself to Encourage Employees to Speak Up

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