Just a couple of weeks ago in this blog, I found myself writing about the challenges of working through hot weather. Looking back, I may have been a tad premature!
The temperatures we were talking about then seem really quite pleasant compared with what many parts of the UK have experienced this week. Whether you're in the workshop, out on demonstrations, managing your outdoor space, or simply trying to keep a showroom comfortable for customers and staff alike, if you’re anything like me, you will have had a tough week.
I'd be interested to know how everyone has got on, though. Have you found effective ways of coping with the heat? Have working patterns needed to change? Has customer footfall been affected, either positively or negatively? Feel free to leave a comment below.
One thing that might have perhaps tempted people away from the relative comfort of the dealership during a heatwave is the prospect of seeing some new machinery.
This week saw Hillhead take place under some very warm conditions indeed, with exhibitors and visitors having to contend with soaring temperatures. Judging by the announcements emerging from the event, however, the heat certainly didn't dampen enthusiasm for new product launches.
And Hillhead is just the start for our readers.
Looking through this week's news stories, it's impossible not to notice that we're firmly entering trade show season. We have updates on the forthcoming GroundsFest, details of GLAS returning in Ireland, news of what the organisers promise as a record-breaking edition of EIMA in Bologna, and confirmation that planning is well underway for TurfTech 2026.
For dealers, that represents a considerable menu of opportunities over the coming months.
The question, as always, is whether that's a good thing or whether we're once again entering that perennial, much discussed debate surrounding the number and frequency of trade events available to our sector.
Depending on which part of the industry you operate in, it's possible each and every year to quickly and comprehensively fill your calendar with exhibitions, dealer meetings, open days and manufacturer events.
I guess few would ever argue against having the luxury of choice. Different shows serve different audiences and offer different benefits. Some are ideal for discovering new products, others for strengthening relationships, and some simply provide a valuable opportunity to gauge the mood of the industry.
The reality for any small business, however, is that attendance requires time, money and resources. For independent dealerships it seems highly unlikely that rocking up at every single fixture on the agenda would be doable.
The same, of course, can be said for your suppling manufacturers, as they too must make choices as to where to spend their budgets to gain to maximum advantage.
That means making some tricky decisions. Which events offer the greatest value? Which are most relevant to your customer base? Which provide the best chance to identify new business opportunities or strengthen existing supplier relationships?
What this will almost inevitably lead to is some events eventually dropping off the calendar altogether as people vote with their feet where to attend (see for example the SAGE show from a couple of years ago). If dealers, manufacturers and end-user visitors consistently favour certain events over others, market forces will dictate that the most popular will strengthen while the others struggle.
So as the exhibition season gathers pace, it'll be fascinating to see where dealer attention is focused. Again, we’ll be interested to hear where you intend to spend your valuable time this season. Let us know.
