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*Dealers Needed*

We started the Walker Mower marketing program from scratch in 1980. After experimenting with direct sales, direct dealers and distributors to dealers, by 1985 we could see that a distributor administered dealer program worked the best for our company, our product and gave our end-customers excellent service and support.

Today, we have 1,000 dealers worldwide working under the administration of 49 distributors. The program is working, and dealers continue to be an essential part of the program. This is the exclusive channel for delivering our equipment and service to customers. Of course, the success of the marketing program has hinged on finding the right kind of distributors and dealers who would share our passion for taking care of customers while we share in the margins available from the sale of the equipment. Dealers who want to only sell equipment and not service it are not part of our success.

Evolution of Oregon’s True Gator Mulcher Blades

In the early 1990s, professional landscapers faced a significant dilemma—how to dispose of all the grass clippings produced daily by their operations. The shear volume of clippings was overwhelming and most existing mulching options were inadequate.

The answer to their need came through a new product introduced by Oregon in 1993. The original Gator Mulcher blade was manufactured to give landscapers the ability to effectively mulch grass without having to bag and dispose of it. Its design significantly reduced the size of the grass clippings, allowing them to be left on the ground without being noticed.

Ferris Leads the Industry With Innovation

The Ferris brand of commercial mowers is the leader in the commercial mowing innovation. Ferris was the first brand to offer suspension on a riding mower when it introduced and patented IS Independent Suspension over a decade ago. There are numerous benefits of the IS Independent Suspension system:

Extended Mower Life—Reducing shock load means the mower will last longer and require fewer repair parts than a non-suspension mower.

For More Information, Contact These Companies

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Honda Re-engineers Commercial Mowers

Completely re-engineered from tre ground up are Honda’s HRC Commercial Series mowers. The HRC series consists of 2 models: the self-propelled, hydrostatic drive HRC216HXA and push-type HRC216PDA. The HRC Series’ legendary mowing performance is enhanced by offering Honda’s exclusive MicroCut twin-blade mulching technology.

The HRC mowers are strong, fast, light weight, more efficient and incorporate a number of key features such as dome shaped deck design that facilitates both bagging and mulching while delivering finer clipping particles and the offset twin blade MicroCut System which is the only 2-blade 21" commercial mower. The HRC mowers also come equipped with improved handlebars that are now adjustable for height, a front bumper that provides mower deck and engine protection also with a convenient transport tie down. Finishing off the package are durable, lightweight Xenoy wheels with axle protectors. The self-propelled HRC216HXA also features the Hydrostatic Cruise Co

Husqvarna Features Full Line of Mowers

When it comes to mowers, having a product that improves efficiency without increasing effort is important. Husqvarna’s line of professional mowing equipment meets the needs of today’s professionals and landowners with quality workmanship, purposeful innovation and outstanding dealer support. Husqvarna offer a complete line of zero turn mowers and a new line of tractors for various customer needs.

Kawasaki Expands Line of Air-Cooled 2-Cylinder FX Engines

Three new FX Series air-cooled, V-twin engines, designed specifically for commercial riding mowers, light industrial and construction equipment applications are now available from Kawasaki. These new engines offer power choices from 27 HP up to 31 HP, and incorporate new design features that deliver smooth power output, quieter operation and long-life durability for a wide range of equipment uses. The new line-up includes the FX751v (27 HP), the FX801v (29 HP), and the FX850v (31 HP). They join the FX921v (34 HP) and the FX1000v (37 HP) to complete this full-featured product grouping.

McLane Manufacturing Offers Variety for Mowers, Trimmers

McLane has been manufacturing the best quality, precision cutting lawn and garden equipment since 1946. Our facility covers over 75,000 square feet in the city of Paramount, Calif. Our major product lines include reel mowers, greens mowers, rotary mowers and edgers/trimmers.

Reel mowers are ideal for cutting Bermuda and St. Augustine type grasses. McLane offers a number of choices for your reel mower. Choose between the 17", 20" and 25" cutting widths; choose from 5, 7, or 10 blade reels. Finish off your custom McLane reel mower with a Briggs & Stratton or Honda engine with 3.5, 4 or 5.5 HP.

Rotary Mower Products: A ‘Cut Above’ For Quality, Value, Service

A longtime leader in blade manufacturing, Rotary produces over eight million austempered mower and edger blades every year at its state-of-the-art plant. The company’s complete line of premium low-lift and mulching blades is made in the U.S. and available for most commercial mowers as well as consumer walk-behind and riding models.

Rotary blades are manufactured from premium grade high-carbon steel, then heat treated and tested to meet rigid standards for quality, durability and performance. Rotary’s blade division was one of the world’s first to be certified for the ISO 9000 Quality Standard.

The Grasshopper Company Delivers Quality, Efficiency, High Performance

As a Grasshopper dealer you can offer a wide range of economical air-cooled models for the cost-conscious contractor, fuel-efficient diesel models for fleet operators with an eye on long-term value, choices for large and small acreage sites and production solutions for daunting maintenance challenges. Grasshopper lets you offer precision mowing, mulching, collection, leaf blowing, shielded spray application, snow removal, grounds clean-up, and turf renovation products. A Grasshopper grounds maintenance system is a landscape contractor’s production solution based on zero-turn maneuverability. Your customers can finish jobs in as little as 1⁄4 the time with 1⁄4 the labor with Grasshopper-powered implements.

Tradition, History, Family Ventrac: Get Attached—Get It Done!

“This is the beginning of a new day. You have been given this day to use as you will. You can waste it or use it for good. When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever; in its place is something that you have left behind. Let it be something good.”

These are words that Dallas Steiner and Mark Steiner say they recall hearing from their father, the late Marvin B. Steiner, at the start of every day as they grew up. And they say the philosophy remains the overall guiding principal at Venture Products, whose Ventrac mowers and tractors are taking a worldwide market by storm.

Worldlawn Mowers Make Big Market Impact

John Hayes, Director of Sales with Worldlawn, pointed out that this success is realized in spite of draughts in parts of the country and floods in other arts and a down economy. Which just goes to show you that, if you build a quality product and price it right, they will buy.

Worldlawn is also elated to announce the addition of the Wise Mid-State, Inc. to our list of illustrious distributors. Wise Mid-State of Dunn, N.C. covers North and South Carolina. Worldlawn would also like to commend all of its Distributors and particularly Buttery Co. of Llana, Tex., Golden Eagle of Rocklin, Calif., Modern Power Equipment of Wickliffe, Ohio and Turf Products of Enfield, Conn. for their continued commitment to the Worldlawn brand.

GIE+EXPO Offers Dealers Business Opportunity

Do you feel the excitement? Have you made your travel and reservation plans? It is still not too late to plan for the 2008 GIE+EXPO at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Ky. on October 23-25. The question you may be asking: Is it honestly worth the expense in registration fees, fuel, hotel rooms and food, much less time away from my business just to see some new products? Yet the question you should be asking yourself is whether your business needs an economic boost.

During the few days of GIE+EXPO, dealers have a premier chance to see the majority of products for the lawn, garden and forest industry in one central location. (Along with this, where else can you see and oftentimes use your competitors’ wares without them knowing?) At this same time dealers have the opportunity to visit with some of the main individuals who are shaping your industry. Whether it is in new innovations of products, new marketing ideas/displays or just visiting with other like individual

Briggs & Stratton DOV Well-Crafted Premium by Ken Morrison

In conjunction with this year’s Lawnmower Annual Edition, PET’s editorial staff decided to shine the technical spotlight on a walk-behind engine. But, which one? It had been a while since we’d checked in with Briggs & Stratton Corp.—the most familiar brand and world’s largest producer of outdoor equipment engines. And, this year happens to be Briggs & Stratton’s 100th anniversary—an impressive milestone.

The choice of engine supplier was easy. However, the news stirred two distinct thoughts in this writer’s mind: What could be more boring than a walk-behind mower engine? Followed by: Who cares? Briggs & Stratton’s technical support will make this project easy to do. We were half-right.

Progressive Outlook Fuels Dealer Growth by Jennifer McCary

Pat Lyons earned his business degree in San Diego, then moved back East to Rhode Island to begin a career as a power equipment dealer in the coastal community of Charlestown. He had no previous exposure and no passion for small engines or power equipment. In fact, he was and still is not a small engines mechanic.

It was his brother, who owned a successful marina here, who alerted Lyons to the opportunity to purchase the small power equipment and outboard marine dealership down the street from him. Wanting to prevent a competitive marine dealership from moving in, the brother convinced Lyons to partner with him in buying the property so he could use it for storage, and Pat could open a power equipment store.

When Hiring, Seek The Best: Don’t Settle For Convenience by JOHN WALKER

In a recent article I was “teasing” equipment dealers who constantly comment on how hard it is to find good technicians, yet when there’s a business downturn, they cut back on technicians first! This has been taking place for years in all types of equipment dealerships.

Good help is hard to find! As often as that phrase is repeated, it can’t be over-emphasized. Good help truly is hard to find, but for those who don’t work at it, I can promise you that the situation absolutely will not get better.

Deere, Stihl Announcement Shakes Up Summer News by Dan Shell

Any time a major industry player—or two—makes a big announcement concerning supplier agreements, industry antennas go on high alert. Such was the case in mid-summer, when officials with John Deere’s Worldwide Commercial & Consumer Equipment Div. announced that Stihl is now Deere’s preferred supplier of gas-powered and corded handheld power equipment in the U.S. and Canada. According to Deere, which initially released news of the agreement, the move unites two premium brands within the power equipment industry and provides residential and commercial customers shopping at John Deere dealers the best of both worlds.

Deep Thoughts—and a Laugh

Triple benefit mower: Get your exercise, cut the grass and protect the environment simultaneously. Just be real careful where you put your feet.

Drought Persists by Dan Shell

As you can see above, we not only had to cross-out this column’s headline at the last minute, we also had to rewrite the whole thing. Originally, PET editor Tonya Cooner, who lives near Atlanta, wrote “Powerlines” this month. In the original version, she articulated how the greater Atlanta area remains under drought conditions and water restrictions despite more rainfall this year than last.

She even mentioned how a prominent location subdivision entrance with pretty waterfall and landscaping had been reported to the “water police” so many times that owners had to add a large sign stating: “Waterfall Recycles Water.”

Latest Recreation Products for Dealers

Jacobsen, a Textron Inc. company, announces a switch to new Kubota diesel engines for all diesel-powered Cushman Turf-Truckster utility vehicles. The change comes as part of an ongoing effort to improve the quality and functionality of all Jacobsen equipment and will fully comply with new Tier 4 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards.

The new Kubota engines operate at a lower sound level, have almost 8% more torque in the mid-range (where most typical use occurs), and feature an increased cooling capacity that results in more efficient engine operation and a lower operating temperature.

Supplier Sales, Distribution and Program News

Stihl Inc. recently certified its 1,000th Gold dealer service technician, Monte Gens of Monte’s Small Engine in Fredonia, N.Y., at the company’s Virginia Beach, Va. factory training center. Gold level training is the third step in the Stihl technical education program that certifies Stihl service technicians. Technicians participating in this training provide service for the company’s product line at dealerships across the nation.

“Stihl certified service technicians are ‘factory trained’ in the diagnosis of running problems, failure analysis and quick and reliable repair,” says Randy Scully, Stihl, Inc. product service manager. “A Gold Level technician has demonstrated both the knowledge and the skills to handle challenging service situations, including carburetor operation and service, failure analysis and maintenance and service of Stihl products.”

The Latest In New Products, New Technology

Kubota introduces the revolutionary new Infinity Deck as standard equipment on its 2008 T-Series lawn tractors. The Infinity Deck, named for its distinctive counter-rotating figure-8 grass flow, allows operators to quickly and easily change cutting modes between side-discharge, mulching, and grass catching—all without tools or having to change blades.

Along with the multi-functioning deck, the T80 series packs plenty of power for jobs both large and small. V-Twin gasoline engines in the 20 HP T2080, and 23 HP T2380, as well as the single-cylinder 18 HP T1880, are matched to Kubota’s clutchless hydrostatic transmission (HST). This HST provides easy and precise operations with a single-pedal control for both speed and direction changes. Since there is no shifting or clutching to worry about, hands and feet operations are simplified, minimizing operator efforts. In addition, cruise control, a one-step parking brake, and the Kubota Reverse Awareness System provide optimal comfort

Dealer-Driven News and Issues

Despite a red-hot scooter market, overall power sports products retail sales were down the first half of 2008 compared to the first half of 2007. According to the Motorcycle Industry Council, overall retail sales were down slightly more than 8% for the first half compared to the year-ago period. Both major off-road segments—ATV and off-highway bikes—are down either close to or more than 20%. Those numbers, however, do not include new entry OEM sales nor UTV numbers, the latter of which appears again to be increasing this year. Scooter sales definitely increased. For the first half, sales were up more than 65% from the year-ago period to more than 49,000 units. In June 2008, scooter sales were up almost 90% from June 2007.