Proudly serving the industry for which it was named for more than 50 years, OPE Business provides dealers who sell and service outdoor power equipment with valuable information to succeed in a competitive market.
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26 APRIL 2017 OUTDOOR POWER EQUIPMENT www.outdoorpowerequipment.com FEATURE STORY | Mower Trends • Extensive range of steel & aluminum lawnmowers • Quality design with innovative features • Over 100 years of engineering excellence • Low initial buy-in • Attractive freight terms for reorders PowerSourceCanada.ca (800) 663-9700 PowerDistributors.com (800) 554-3336 Specialty product also available from Seago International Masport Distributors: DEALER ONLY BRAND at everyday low prices! www.rotarycorp.com 1.800.841.3989 1.800.841.3989 1.800.841.3989 1.800.841.3989 for more info! Servicing dealers and distributors only. at everyday low prices! Guaranteed Quality TRIMMER LINE Vortex, diamond, quad tex & premium quad trimmer line • fits most trimmers A good dealer will help you pick the correct mower. They will also be there for you as service needs arise. — Brad Unruh, director of product strategy, Excel Industries (Hustler) Buy quality up front. Downtime is revenue lost, so an investment in more durable mowers with reduced maintenance requirements can make a signifi cant impact on the bottom line. Increasing fuel effi ciency is a great way to improve profi tability. Gas prices are forecast to increase, so investing in more fuel- effi cient mowers is a prudent long-term strategy. While it's true an EFI-equipped mower will be slightly more expensive up front, in the long run you'll save money with every hour of operation. You will also have a machine that starts easier and performs better, with greater reliability compared to carburetor-equipped mowers. Cut quality, productivity, operator comfort and durability are variables that each have a different level of importance to customers. So, it makes sense to put some thought into what areas of a mower's performance are most important to you. — Jamie Briggs, Exmark product manager Look for equipment that is going to deliver the best long- term value, not just the best price or the best gimmick. Look at your equipment purchase as a partnership — not just with the manufacturer, but also with the servicing dealer. Factory and dealer support after the sale is just as important as the fi nal sale price. Equipment should also be tailored to fi t the company's needs and future growth potential. Grasshopper is uniquely positioned in that we offer not only mowers, but year- round productivity solutions that enable contractors to expand their service offerings without investing in multiple pieces of expensive, stand-alone equipment. — Mike Simmon, marketing specialist, Grasshopper Every season, it is important for landscape professionals to evaluate the lawnmower models in their fl eets to determine the production or yield of every unit in inventory — in other words, what products are working the hardest and helping professionals perform their best. By doing so, it may be possible to trim fl eet size or change the model mix of the fl eet to maximize profi tability. — Elisha Lipscomb, Honda Power Equipment, senior marketing strategist, lawn & garden Visit your local dealers and talk to them about the capabilities of the latest mowers. Demos are the key to fi nding the products that will best fi t your unique needs, and dealers can give you the opportunity to test a product so you can make a confi dent