Firstly today, a warm welcome to our dealer readers joining us from Service Dealer Ireland. We are delighted to have you here at our UK & Ireland edition. You'll now find even more news of direct interest to the specialist outdoor power equipment dealer sector - from the UK, Ireland and the around the world.

I want to thank Alan Mahon for doing such a superb job with SDI over these past several years. You'll now be receiving Service Dealer's Weekly Update direct to your inbox each and every Friday at noon. Well, not next Friday, actually. We're having a week off because it is Good Friday. But following that, Friday lunchtime is the time to expect your dose of industry news. We're pleased to have you all on board.

And speaking of the Easter period, that has, of course, traditionally been the kick off to many domestic outdoor power machinery dealers' seasons. Perhaps also even, a bellweather for how the rest of the year will pan out.

We have more evidence again today of just how tough 2025 is proving for agricultural machinery dealers, with news from the AEA that March's registrations for tractors in the UK was the lowest figure for the time of year since 2016. So I doubt the bank holiday weekend will make much difference to our readers serving the farming community.

But what about our readers who specialise in grass cutting machinery? How are you feeling about the upcoming couple of weeks? With this recent warm weather are you sensing that customers might be in the mood to spend on maintenance of their outside spaces?

We've heard quite a lot in recent weeks about the enthusiasm amongst dealers and their high-end customers for the latest, boundary wire-less robotic mowers. Do you think Easter will see a good run on those models? Please let us know any thoughts in the comments below.

However, from recent conversations with dealers - and, indeed, manufacturers - one suspects that unfortunately, a few sunny days and a long weekend might not be as conducive to getting tills ringing as it might have been in season's past.

This could be because there's one word that seems to be dominating our sector's discourse so far in 2025. It's not tariffs, although that certainly plays into it. Rather, the word I’ve heard repeatedly used by both retailers and suppliers alike during this year's opening months, is uncertainty. Not the most complicated or nuanced of words, but it does appear to encapsulate the current industry experience.

Dealer Chris Gibson of GGM summed it up, telling us, “There is so much uncertainty around at the moment. Many customers are just sitting on their hands, thinking that they will just 'make it do'."

So, how can dealers stay on top of all this uncertainty? Mostly through their own acumen and entrepreneurship, I guess. Tactics such as diversifying the product range may well be considered? That way, if one category slows down, another might pick up the slack.

Building strong relationships with suppliers is also important in times like these. As is maintaining a decent online presence and a solid digital marketing strategy.

We've also had dealers tell us about finding success with flexible financing or leasing options. If customers are hesitant to spend big up-front, giving them the option to pay over time can be the nudge they need. We've had several of our readers tell us how important their long-term hire options are with their commercial clients this year.

And finally, we must never underestimate the power of our specialist readers' after-sales services. Hopefully a surefire way of building customer loyalty. It should follow that customers will return time after time, if they know they’re being looked after.

So, while uncertainty is undoubtedly in the air this Easter - and a far from ideal situation - dealers who stay flexible, connected, and customer-focused can do their best to ensure they do well. Even when the market isn't playing ball.

Have a great Easter and see you back here on the 25th.