The saying ‘Spring is in the air’ certainly rings true at the moment. For me, March 1st signals the first day of Spring and this year that day didn’t disappoint. We are enjoying glorious weather this week and there is a great sense of anticipation of warmer days ahead. It won’t be long before machines will be out on the land doing spring cultivations. There will be many types of equipment working the soil - ploughs, harrows, grubbers and much more.
Dealers will need to have their shelves stocked up with plenty of spare parts in order to keep these machines operating. Experienced dealers will know what parts are likely to break or wear down. They will know the equipment used for the different crops and, more importantly, what parts are required for each machine. Agricultural dealers know how important it is to keep the farmer happy. Farmers cannot afford to have too much down time.
The same amount of experience will be required for dealers in the sportsturf industry. There is also great anticipation within this sector. Greenkeepers will be soon aerating their greens using specialised equipment such as corers, scarifiers, and verti-drains while groundsmen will also be busy with spring pitch renovation. They will be using topdressers, seeders and various types of aerators. Like the farmer, they will be depending on their local dealer to have supplies of belts, tines, bearings, hydraulic hoses and more in stock. Dealers supplying equipment to the sportsturf industry will need to know what parts are likely to break down when these tasks begin.
A successful greenkeeper or grounds person knows what work is needed to keep a golf course or football pitch in top condition. His or her expertise will be key to well maintained turf. In order to have a proper understanding of their needs it is important that dealers also have some knowledge on what is required to maintain a sports ground.
The saying ‘A little knowledge is a dangerous thing’ can sometimes be true. I remember, many years ago, mowing around a tee box on a hot day in June when a passing golfer made a comment. “You have it very handy here, being outdoors in this lovely weather mowing grass all day”. I’m sure he meant well but he obviously didn’t know what was involved in looking after a golf course. He probably thought that mowing grass in beautiful weather was all that was required. Dealers will need to know that turf managers are not just grass cutters.
Getting to know your customers and the work they do is crucial in running a successful dealership. Taking an interest in what they do and listening to their concerns of maintaining a sports pitch is important.
For example, dealers should understand why aeration is so important. They should know what machine is best for each situation. Should they be using a slitter, verti-drain or spike aerator? Should hollow tines, solid tines or pencil tines be used?
Another example would be in the area of disease and weed control. What is the best sprayer to use? Should it be a boom sprayer or a hand lance for spot treatment? What nozzle type is best - fine droplet or coarse droplet?
Knowing the needs of your customer will lead to a better all-round service and you will earn a good reputation as a dealer.
