I was in the States for a few days over Easter - the first time I've been since October '19. I tell you what, travelling there is quite stressful at the moment, what with all the last-minute pre-tests and admin to complete in order to even be allowed on the plane.

Anyway once all that was successfully out of the way, I was walking down a street in New York when I heard someone shout 'Steve!'. I turned round and it was an industry friend who works for one of our magazine's advertisers! As we stood there comparing stories of nervous Zoom-call Covid tests, neither of us could quite believe the coincidence! It also caused us to muse on that old cliche about it being a small world. 

Now hopefully that small world can start to become bigger once again what with travel opening up, affording us that privilege of acquired knowledge and experience that leaving your own space grants. A possible upcoming opportunity for this that readers may be interested in for example, is part of our Update today with the Equip Expo in Louisville commencing its registration for October's event.

Previously known as GIE+Expo, this show was the site of my last visit to the U.S. I've written about it before, how I genuinely believe this to be a great event for dealers. With its huge inside static-stand exhibition space, combined with its massive outside, hands-on demonstration area, it's the perfect set-up for an outdoor powered machinery show. Add into that all the dealer-specific training and education opportunities it offers, I honestly think that for UK specialists who could afford both the time away from the business and the inevitable travel expenses incurred, it would be a worthwhile excursion.

Service Dealer will be attendance at the show once again this year, for what sounds like an even greater, expanded experience from when we last visited. It would be marvellous to see any of our readers there.

Dealers facing similar issues

Sticking with the small world theme, it was fascinating to read this week, the results of the American trade magazine Rural Lifestyle Dealer's annual dealer survey. It is quite remarkable how their independent retailer readers appear to be facing incredibly similar challenges and worries to ours.

The headline takeaway from their survey is that for the first time in years, 2022 is seeing American dealer optimism regarding business growth wane. They say that just one-third of dealers anticipate sales growth of at least 2% this year. This apparently brings to an end five straight years where at least half of the dealers who answered their survey, anticipated growth heading into the new year. 

The magazine attributes this change to being ". . a direct reflection of today’s volatile environment where labour, product supply and consumer demand are difficult to predict." All concerns that we have of course been hearing from our readers throughout the past two years.

There are several great quotes from U.S dealers themselves in the magazine's summary - many of which sound like they could have come from members of the UK's network. One says, "Manufacturers are demanding orders, although they have no clue as to delivery or build dates. Everyone is flying by the seat of their pants." Another is quoted as saying, "I’m expecting honest ETAs from suppliers so we can be honest with our customers. We want to under-promise and over-deliver."

It's well worth a few minutes of your time today, having a read through the whole article. The parallels that can be drawn between the situation for dealers thousands of miles apart, is striking. I realise it makes no practical difference to one's own situation the mere fact that someone else is going through something similar, but I feel it's worth reminding ourselves that these are truly global problems that are being faced. I feel it's always reassuring in adversity to have it confirmed that it's not just happening to you.

Struggles with stocking, with communications with suppliers, with business confidence and with consumer demand are subjects that our readers are only too familiar with right now. It may well be helpful to see these ideas raised and discussed elsewhere, perhaps giving a fresh perspective on things and potentially inspiring a slightly different approach.

In fact maybe a meeting of minds from across the Atlantic, to discus common problems that all dealers are contending with at somewhere like Equip this year, would be of benefit to all. Any collaboration that can lead to greater understanding and a more acute grasp of the situation, is an opportunity worth pursuing. 

The AEA recently released figures for UK tractor registrations for March, which brought the total for the opening three months of the year to 3,047 machines, 7% fewer than in the first quarter of 2021, although above the recent average for the time of year.

Now the Association has taken a look at registrations during January to March in more detail.

At regional level, the most significant movements they say, (other than a sharp rise in the Home Counties which only accounts for a small number of registrations) were substantial declines in the number of tractors registered in the South East of England and East Anglia.

Stephen Howarth, agricultural economist at the AEA, said, "Both saw falls of between a quarter and a third, compared with the first quarter of 2021. Most other regions of England recorded smaller year-on-year changes, while Wales saw a 10% increase. Scottish and Northern Irish registrations declined, by 3% and 9%, respectively."

In terms of the power of machines registered, there was solid growth in the 51-80hp range, with registrations up by nearly half, compared with a year earlier.

"However," says Stephen, "that range still accounted for just 6% of total registrations and numbers were down for most other power bands. Any increases in individual power ranges may be down to changes in specification, rather than underlying trends.

"The sharpest decline was in the 241-320hp range, where registrations were down by more than a third, compared with January to March 2021. Of course, in the current climate, that might be down to delivery delays rather than a shift in underlying demand."

Eva Mayr-Stihl, a businesswoman, philanthropist and dedicated entrepreneur passed away on the 9th April 2022.

Eva Mayr-Stihl

Mayr-Stihl was instrumental in the success of STIHL and spent 33 years guiding the family-owned business as a member of its senior management team. 

In a statement STIHL GB said throughout her many years of service on the Advisory Board and the Supervisory Board, she kept close watch over the strategic direction of the company. Mayr-Stihl joined her father’s company in 1960, and with her educational background in business administration and linguistics, she took on responsibility for advertising and market research at the family-owned enterprise. 

Her expertise and drive to assume a leading role at the company quickly bore fruit when she and her three siblings were made limited partners in 1961. Two years later, her father gave her the power to represent the firm and enter into transactions on its behalf. After her father’s death in 1973, Mayr-Stihl became Deputy Chairwoman of the Board of Management, placing her in charge of finance and controlling starting in 1975. 

With a keen sense of responsibility toward society and a sustainable world, the second mainstay in Mayr-Stihl’s life was her work as a philanthropist. In 1986, she and her husband Robert Mayr established the Andreas Stihl Foundation, a nonprofit organisation that would be renamed the Eva Mayr-Stihl Foundation in 2004. 

The foundation was set up to finance projects in the fields of animal welfare, education, science, research, the arts, and culture. Today, the institution supports a variety of programs, including an endowed professorship for forest genetics at the University of Freiburg and a research group on recyclable material cycles. 

On 11th November 2009, Mayr-Stihl received the Konrad Adenauer Foundation’s Social Market Economy Award at St. Paul’s church in Frankfurt am Main. In 2011, she received the 1st Class Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany and became the first woman to receive the key to the city of Waiblingen. In 2019, Mayr-Stihl was named an Honorary Senator of the University of Freiburg.

STIHL GB say the people of STIHL and their families are deeply saddened by the death of Mayr-Stihl.

Husqvarna Group's has invested $7.5M of venture capital into Moleaer, a company involved in advancing a concept known as 'nanobubble technology'.

Moleaer designs and manufactures industrial scale nanobubble systems that aim to deliver improvements in sustainable food production, chemical free water treatment and the recovery of natural resources.

Henric Andersson, president and CEO of Husqvarna Group said, “To always remain at the forefront, we are selectively investing in disruptive technologies and products that can further strengthen the Husqvarna Group. Moleaer is a very good fit and we truly look forward to being a part of their journey, with the ambition to create new sustainable nanobubble solutions together."

Moleaer is the seventh investment for Husqvarna Group's venture capital fund. By investing in Moleaer, Husqvarna Group’s Gardena Division say they will be able to explore nanobubble technology’s potential in addressing water scarcity.

Nick Dyner, CEO of Moleaer added, “This investment allows us to expand our presence further in Europe and accelerate the development of more products and innovations that help industries protect the environment and utilise water more efficiently.”

Equip Exposition, the international landscape, outdoor living, and equipment exposition has opened registration for the 2022 tradeshow, to be held October 18th-21st in Louisville, Kentucky, USA.

Kris Kiser, president of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute which owns and manages the show, said, “Equip Exposition is the experience of the year for the outdoor living, landscape, and power equipment industry. It’s the industry’s proving ground.

"Equip Exposition is one trade show where you can test before you invest in new products, innovations and ideas for your business.”

The show say they have expanded its education offerings for attendees, including Bob Clements International and the Equipment & Engine Training Council offering technician training and management courses for dealers and retailers.

“We hear from our attendees that they want products and education that will help them grow their business, and that’s what they’ll find in Louisville this October. You can talk to the minds behind the products and technology - then walk outside to the 20-plus-acre Demo Yard to try it out. Add the education sessions, entertainment, and networking, and Louisville is where you’ll find the future of the business,” said Kris.

New this year, Equip Exposition will kick off Tuesday evening, with a welcome reception for all attendees at Louisville Slugger Field. The Expo will open earlier Wednesday - at 9 a.m. for dealers and 12 noon for contractors - as well as feature a TurfMutt Foundation 5K, sponsored by Ariens, at the Louisville Downtown riverfront and across the Ohio River pedestrian bridge, and close Friday with a networking breakfast and keynote.

All registrants receive free admission to:

• Welcome Reception at Louisville Slugger Field, sponsored by Husqvarna and Louisville Tourism
• Opening Keynote with David Feherty, sponsored by John Deere and Equip
• Concert Series with Trace Adkins and the Crashers, sponsored by STIHL on the Belgard Stage
• Influencer LIVE, sponsored by Kohler Engines
• Closing Keynote and Breakfast with National Geographic’s Joel Sartore

Genpower Ltd, the distributor of Hyundai Power Products for the UK and Ireland, say they have raised over £52k for their Ukraine appeal - smashing their initial target.

The sponsored trek to the top of Pen Y Fan by Genpower staff

At the start of March the family-run business founded in 2006 by Roland Llewellin (managing director) and his wife, Lisa Llewellin (director), launched an emergency appeal in aid of the British Red Cross to help support the people of Ukraine during this awful time.

As a business, their target for March 2022 was to raise £40,000 by donating 1% of all Hyundai Power Products' sales over this period. Alongside this, staff members have also been busy raising funds. For example the operations management team has been holding bake sales, undertaking a 52-mile charity bike ride and also organising a sponsored trek to the top of Pen Y Fan on Saturday 9th April 2022. 

To date, Hyundai Power Products have raised £52,449 (131%) of their initial target.

With 200 acres of grass to care for and a packed programme of events ranging from Truckfest to the International Antiques Fair and the Festival of Motorcycling, East of England Arena and Events Centre says they need reliable, productive machinery.

After a round of demonstrations aimed at updating their fleet, the grounds team say they have chosen a Kubota M5112 tractor, RTV-X1110 utility vehicle and ZD1211 zero turn mower, supplied by dealer Irelands Farm Machinery.

The main tasks for the tractor are mowing the large expanses of grass used for exhibition space and parking, plus general haulage, head of maintenance Dean Wyers explains.

“We have also purchased a 4.6m Spearhead Multicut mower from Irelands, and the combination gives us the output we need to keep the extensive grass areas tidy.

Dean continued, “We had a front mower before but were interested in a zero turn to work around the many lamp posts, stand pipes and electricity boxes on the site. The ZD1211 is a huge improvement, so much quicker, but with a very good quality cut."

To get around the huge site and move tools and materials, the 24hp RTV-X 1110 has, according to Dean, proved a great choice.“It’s very good to drive and comfortable due to its all-round suspension - I’ve already clocked up some miles in it, and it’s proving economical on fuel."

An onsite workshop means that most of the machinery maintenance is kept in-house, and Mr Wyers praises the ease of service access on all three machines, while Irelands are close at hand for back-up and parts should they be needed.

Looking for a change? Somewhere more relaxed, in a peaceful country where people look out for each other?

New Zealand could be just the place you’re looking for.

About the Company

Masport is an iconic down under brand that is a highly respected manufacturer and distributor of outdoor garden and lifestyle products, universally recognized and trusted throughout Australia and New Zealand and they have an opportunity for a Research & Development Engineer to work with their NZ Engineering team.

About the Role

You will be tasked with improving our current product designs as well as undertaking research and development on potential new product offerings. You will also be the point of call for any engineering related issues raised by our customer services team and lead the investigation into the root cause.

What you'll need to bring:

• Proven R&D experience in outdoor garden products or tools, lifestyle products, and/or similar industries
• Experience of prototyping using workshop machinery and tools
• Ability to make prototypes and generate CAD to support design drawings for our suppliers
• Track record of running successful R&D projects and delivering on targets
• Strong relationship-building skills
• Experienced in coaching and mentoring staff and not afraid to get your hands dirty, muck in with a can-do approach and attitude
• Love of BBQs and culinary creations, power garden equipment, sweet-looking lawns, and gardens… this is a bonus!

What's in it for you:

• Work for an amazing company that looks after its people, the staff tenure rate at Masport is extremely impressive
• The opportunity to relocate to New Zealand and enjoy the relaxed lifestyle and a temperate climate, where you are never too far from a beach, bike trail, or national park.
• The opportunity to develop the next big thing in garden products and shape the future of Masport products.

Applications to:

Stuart Macpherson

stuartm@masport.co.nz

Closing date: Friday 10th June 2022

Homeowners can now enjoy low noise, low maintenance and zero engine exhaust emissions while mowing large lawns up to 2,500m2 with the Toro eS3000SD and eS3200DC ride-on mowers. These powerful mowers feature a 72V rechargeable battery and are available as either a direct collect or mulching with side discharge. 

 
Toro has been heavily investing in battery-powered mowers for over a decade supporting the growing customer desire for battery, for example with its focus on the 60V Flex-Force Power System™ for homeowners and Greensmaster® eTriflex™ Series for the golf sector. All with one goal in mind – battery power without compromise.

Key features that you’ll want to tell your customers about the Toro garden tractor series include:

Agile and Easy to Manoeuvre in small spaces

The eS3000SD and eS3200DC give you the PRODUCTIVITY OF A RIDING MOWER IN A SMALLER FOOTPRINT. With a 76 cm (eS3000SD)/81 cm (eS3200DC) deck, it’s easy to steer in tight spaces like smaller gardens and through standard gates. The NIMBLE TURNING RADIUS also makes it easy to trim around trees and other landscape features.

 
Simple, easy-to-operate controls

The eS3000SD and eS3200DC are designed to be easy to use with simple controls. Just turn the key and push a button for a reliable, quiet start every time. The attractive open front design gives an unobstructed view for added convenience.  

Modern conveniences for your customer 

Convenient features include a CUP HOLDER AND A USB CONNECTOR so that your customers can charge their smartphone and other devices. In addition, an LED headlight comes standard for visibility when mowing in darker conditions.

Designed for a comfortable ride

The high-back seat provides premium support during longer mowing sessions and adjusts easily to put the pedals and steering wheel within comfortable reach. Mowing in open areas? Engage the CRUISE CONTROL feature to maintain the mower speed so you can take your foot off the pedal.  

"We are excited to continue the growth of our battery product portfolio, giving our dealers another great addition for their showroom with our battery-powered garden tractors,” said Craig Hoare, Sales & Marketing Manager - Toro U.K. Limited. “Following positive feedback from those who attended our Dealer Day events back in September, we are thrilled to now be able to deliver these mowers into our Dealer showrooms and onto our customer’s gardens.”

Toro stands behind its garden tractor mower with a 3-year limited warranty so your customer can mow confidently season after season.

For more information on Toro, please visit www.toro.com/en-gb 

or to become a dealer of Toro U.K. Limited, please email our sales team: sales-uk@toro.com today.

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