Kim Schmidt

From the Desk of Kim Schmidt

Follow Along with a Digital Roadmap to Remarketing Success

By Kim Schmidt posted on August 7, 2017 | Posted in Used Equipment Remarketing

Last week 235 attendees from 112 different dealerships across the U.S. and Canada gathered in Omaha, Neb., for 2 days of discussion focused on remarketing used equipment at our 3rd Dealership Minds Summit. The theme of the Summit was “Roadmap to Mastering Equipment Remarketing.”

From the Desk of Kim Schmidt

Producers and Dealers are Feeling Better About Their Outlook

By Kim Schmidt posted on July 17, 2017

While ag equipment sales continue to be soft, both farmers and dealers seem to be feeling a bit more positive about things than they have over the last few years.

Participating in 20 Group Keeps Ellens Equipment Accountable

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

The management team at Ellens Equipment has been participating in a 20 group for the last 3 years. Owner Don Ellens finds that the group helps keep them accountable and almost serves as a board of directors for the dealership.

New Facility Helps Ellens Equipment Grow

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

In the summer of 2015 Ellens Equipment broke ground on its new facility on 20 acres in McBain, Mich., but the process had begun 2 years before that and didn’t come without its challenges.

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.

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).

Poll Results

Over Half of E-Watch Readers Oppose ‘Right to Repair’

By Kim Schmidt posted on July 10, 2017 | Posted in Data & Forecasts

Following the release of a report in June by the U.S. Copyright Office that suggested the U.S. government take action to make the “Right to Repair” permanently legal, Farm-Equipment.com polled visitors asking them whether they agreed or disagreed.

From the Desk of Kim Schmidt

‘Right to Repair’ Battle Continues

By Kim Schmidt posted on June 26, 2017

On June 22, the U.S. Copyright Office issued a report in which it essentially said they’re tired of having to review exemptions to Section 1201 of the Digital Millennium Copyrights Act every 3 years and industry by industry. If that’s the case, we could be talking about — or maybe just waiting on — the issue for quite some time if the speed at which Congress does anything is any indication.

Dealers Rate Face-to-Face Meetings with OEM as Most Effective Communication Tool

By Kim Schmidt posted on June 19, 2017 | Posted in Best Practices

A great deal of information today is handled digitally, but according to a May poll on Farm-Equipment.com, 96.3% dealers say good old fashioned face-to-face meetings with territory managers is still the most effective and efficient way for OEMs to communicate with dealers.

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.

Articles by Kim Schmidt

Follow Along with a Digital Roadmap to Remarketing Success

Producers and Dealers are Feeling Better About Their Outlook

Participating in 20 Group Keeps Ellens Equipment Accountable

New Facility Helps Ellens Equipment Grow

Improving Efficiency & Costs in the Parts & Service Departments

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

Over Half of E-Watch Readers Oppose ‘Right to Repair’

‘Right to Repair’ Battle Continues

Dealers Rate Face-to-Face Meetings with OEM as Most Effective Communication Tool

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

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