Despite talking last week about the industry getting back together for demonstrations and events, I attended another online product presentation this week.

It's difficult to asses whether events such as these are here to stay? I suspect for major, international manufacturers they most likely are - as the cost and time savings involved must be huge. In the past, dealers (or freeloading journalists) would be shipped from around Europe and the world to visit factories, sports stadiums, parks and the like, to watch the latest machine have a blanket pulled off it and put through its paces.

Now it's simply a question of mass-mailing out a Zoom link and tying people up at their desks for an hour or so.

From what I can gather via feedback from dealer readers, there is a palpable appetite to reconnect with peers and colleagues in the real world - but I suspect what we'll see is a blend of events taking place both physically and online. Perhaps on the domestic front we'll certainly see things pick up again this autumn. For travel further afield, that's probably not on the agenda for a while.

Entering the sector

But I digress. As you might have already read, the event that I attended on Wednesday was an announcement from the manufacturer Segway - who hitherto were best known for those two-wheeled scooter things you see tourists and cameramen trundling around on - saying they are entering the lawn and garden sector. Earlier this year we heard about their moves into the utility vehicle market, but this is the first time they have produced a grass care tool.

I thought it was a significant move by the company and reminded me of Karcher from a few months back. Again they are a company with a strong reputation and history in one sector, choosing to make inroads into the horticultural maintenance field for the first time. Like Karcher, Segway clearly must see a viable and profitable future in equipment that our readers specialise in.

What was quite striking to me was that the company made a point of stressing that this range of four robot mowers wouldn't be their only foray into the sector. Ryan Kong, their senior sales manager confirmed during the presentation, "Navimow is our first entry into the lawn care industry, but it will not be our last. We promise there will be more to come."

This could be read as both a statement of intent geared towards the established robotic mower manufacturers - whilst at the same time being a promise for interested dealers that there's a future with this brand. For those who may be looking to bring a new range into their showroom, there could be interesting times ahead.

The key to their success could of course, be the availability of stock. Ryan did say this week, "Currently Navimow is close to mass production and we are ready to fill orders," - so they appear confident of meeting that Spring 2022 in dealerships promise.

As everyone has discovered only too clearly from experience this year though, it's quite possible that even with all the best intentions, dates can slip. The media has been full of these type of stories just lately - from garden furniture, to toys, from building materials, to camping equipment - there are delays on anything and everything that is manufactured.

Hopefully for Segway and their potential dealers, Spring next year is far enough off for supply chains to fall back into place and for the stocking chaos of 2021 to subside. I'm aware of dealers who were wishing away this year back in January, so the thought that spring next year could still be bumpy is pretty awful.

But what are your feelings on the supply problems easing off as we head into the autumn and further ahead? Are you seeing improvements on where we were earlier this year? Do you think that spring '22 should be more normal for all your suppliers?

Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.