Update: This article from 2013 — referencing “shiny shoes” (also referred to by some as “pointy shoes”) was brought up again over a dinner conversation at the July 2018 Dealership Minds Summit in Iowa City. Here’s the original Farm Equipment column (March 2013) on RDO Equipment by Mike Lessiter.
A total of 108 gathered in Kansas City for Farm Equipment's inaugural Dealership Minds Summit. On Jan. 30, 108 industry leaders gathered in a ballroom in the Kansas City Convention Center (where the Ag Connect show was being held) for a unique learning forum that lived up to its 'color-blind'? billing.
The farm equipment industry is changing rapidly on a number of levels. Recognizing the changes and being prepared to tackle them are paramount to succeeding as a farm equipment dealer. George Russell, an executive partner with Currie Management, presented the keynote speech 'The Changing Structure of the Farm Equipment Dealership' during the inaugural Dealership Minds Summit touching on how and why the industry is transforming the way it does business.
The main objective of succession planning is to pass on control of an enterprise in a way that ensures effective business leadership and ongoing success. But when you bring the emotions of family held business into the equation, dealer-principals often find it difficult to remain objective.
There are innumerable ways to grow your dealership. And Mike Hedge's message that it can be done without resorting to outside influences or taking on extra debt was a welcome message. Seeking outside capital via a public offering or working with private equity groups are options, but they aren't for everyone says the Birkey's president and CEO.
Until January 2013, Birkey's Farm Stores has had only three president/CEOs in its near-60-year history. When Ron Birkey retired at the end of last year, the dealership's board of directors elected Mike Hedge (see article on p. 18) as just its fourth president/CEO.
Titan Machinery Co. isn't the first dealership group to become a publicly owned company. Other dealer groups in the farm and construction equipment and trucking markets include Cervus, Rocky Mountain Equipment, H&E, Toromont, Finning and Rush Enterprises. But when it comes to being aggressive in its expansion, few can compare with Titan Machinery. Today, the dealership group operates a network of 105 dealerships, including 2 outlet stores, as well as 13 European dealerships in Romania, Bulgaria and Serbia.
With the rapid consolidation and the widespread view that every dealership is either a shark (buyer) or bait (seller), Gord Thompson of Moker & Thompson, Prince Albert, Sask., took on the myth that 'bigger is better.'
Keith Kreps, executive vice president, RDO Equipment Co. (2010 Dealership of the Year), Fargo, N.D., gave the most candid presentation of the day, detailing RDO's mistakes as it grew at an accelerated pace during its public years (1997-2003). Despite the pain and turmoil of that era (stemming from leaders ill-equipped on the industry and guided by stock pricing motives), those times taught a valuable lesson that the firm can R-O-I today. That is, manageable growth could only come through an internal employee development program that ensured people were prepared for the 'RDO way.'?
Agri-Service's Clint Schnoor walked attendees through the nuts-and-bolts of the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) structure. Schnoor, who is president of an ESOP association, explained that ESOPs are qualified retirement plans designed to own the stock of the sponsoring company. Agri-Service, a 9-store AGCO group, was founded in 1990 and moved to an ESOP in 2010. In effect, all 170 employees are now "owners."?
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.
The priority placed on absorption rates originated as a defense against downturns, explains Eric Johnson, partner, Johnson Tractor, Janesville, Wis., but it has evolved since to be one of the primary metrics to measure the health of a dealership. He and his brother, Leo, say it's used unfairly to decide winners and losers. The Johnsons have a contrarian view on absorption's "holy grail"? and dismiss the argument that parts and service can support a business during a downturn.
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.
Marketing may be the most misused word in business today. Tim Young, general manager of Regina, Sask.-based Young's Equipment, says it's critical to have a specific understanding of marketing when business authors keep rewriting definitions to sell textbooks. Young favors the following definition: "The process of planning and executing the conception, pricing, promotion and distribution of ideas, goods and services to create exchanges that satisfy individual and organizational objectives."
Laird Munro brought an outsider's view to the meeting. The director of marketing communications for Calgary-based Rocky Mountain Equipment (RME) is a city boy who joined the dealership after 10 years working at Canada's WestJet airline. There, he witnessed first-hand the success that a culture-focus in a commodity-based industry no less could have on success.
Discussing all the industry valuation tools and guides available, Rocky Mountain Equipment's Laird Munro shared an example of a dealer taking in combine on trade. "The guide says $270,000, so we value it at $270,000. This makes this magical assumption that there's an endless pool of customers who figured out the value. If we have 19 identical combines, the value of the 20th unit is not $270,000 unless we know how many customers are on the other end to buy it.
One of the clearest definitions of the difference between marketing and sales is from a lifelong marketing executive Jack Steele, who repeated "Marketing finds the henhouse; sales gathers the eggs." Laird Munro of Rocky Mountain Equipment puts it another way.
The major lines' push for brand-pure dealers has been grappled with for decades. For some, the debate comes down to a matter of loyalty, efficiency and economics. For others, having hands tied on being able to sell what the customer wants hinders both market penetration and encourages customers to shop elsewhere.
Campbell asked for dealers who could say every one of their employees knew what they'd be promoting the following month. Imagine the sound of crickets. "That's a struggle, to get everybody focused in the dealership on the target and what you're going to be promoting," says Campbell. He recalls the day at Birkey's when each store was doing its own thing, often with the parts department running a different promotion than the store, and service
Plevna Implement has spent most of its nearly 70 years as a single-store operation. But as its owner eyes "semi-retirement," he's investing big time to ensure the dealership continues to serve its customers well for decades to come.
As land prices continue to rise, there's a growing need for producers to squeeze as much from their acreage as possible. Between growing commodity prices and land values, increasing yield is more important than ever. In order to improve yield without adding acreage, proper drainage is key. And more producers are starting to tackle the task of laying drainage tile themselves.
The agriculture industry in North America is going strong, and equipment manufacturers responded with a number of new introductions at this year's winter farm shows. The new product launches centered around ways to help improve production and efficiency, with a heavy focus on precision farming advancements. New Tier 4i compliant engines were another big theme of the two shows, held in January and February.
"If money were no object, what I tell people who come into the dealership with questions about which rake is best for producing quality hay is they need about three different rakes to have the right one on any given day," says Ryan Parker of Parker & Sons Equipment in Claypool, Ind. In addition to operating a shortline equipment dealership, Parker says his family also produces a lot of hay. "I know there have been days when I've got a rake in the field and wish I had another one or different one."
Source: George Russell, Currie Management Consultants
The focus of this month's column is on two different "Smart Software"? applications developed to help your dealership increase sales by improving the visibility of your product and services, and providing a quicker and lower cost of acquisition and capturing prospects' interests.
What are the keys to motivating store managers to attain that same high level of commitment, passion and drive that dealer-principals bring to work every day?
Record farm income and never before seen low interest rates over the last several years have enabled many dealers to make more money than they have ever made. Barring unforeseen economic and/or political events, all indicators point to continued prosperity for those dealers committed to managing their business successfully.
A total of 108 gathered in Kansas City for Farm Equipment's inaugural Dealership Minds Summit. On Jan. 30, 108 industry leaders gathered in a ballroom in the Kansas City Convention Center (where the Ag Connect show was being held) for a unique learning forum that lived up to its 'color-blind'? billing.
Plevna Implement has spent most of its nearly 70 years as a single-store operation. But as its owner eyes "semi-retirement," he's investing big time to ensure the dealership continues to serve its customers well for decades to come.
Update: This article from 2013 — referencing “shiny shoes” (also referred to by some as “pointy shoes”) was brought up again over a dinner conversation at the July 2018 Dealership Minds Summit in Iowa City. Here’s the original Farm Equipment column (March 2013) on RDO Equipment by Mike Lessiter.
In this episode of On the Record, brought to you by Benzi America, we take a look at former President Donald Trump’s threat of a 200% tariff on Deere’s Mexico built equipment. In the Technology Corner Noah Newman visits with Bluewhite about the company’s partnership with New Holland.
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.
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.
Finance Scope is able to provide the best financing opportunities for equipment dealers and customers through a diverse mix of lending companies under one single platform. Our large group of lenders, allows for competitive rates regardless of credit scores. Additionally, dealers and customers have access to the industry’s best expertise surrounding finance and lease structures, for all purposes, within the agricultural and construction industries. We provide all of this into one online platform to provide our customers with the best available tailored finance solution for their equipment.