Table of Contents

Table of Contents

To the Point

Making Parts Sales Sexy

By Kim Schmidt posted on June 10, 2017 | Posted in Best Practices, Department Management

The parts department isn’t a particularly sexy department, so most dealers usually put their focus on the sales department. We haven’t been that way. Parts first is how we look at ourselves.” That’s what one dealer recently told me when I asked him what set his dealership apart. He went on to explain how the parts department is the first priority when it comes to training, showroom space and merchandising.
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Special Report

Are Dealers’ Parts Operations Improving?

Three years ago farm equipment dealers said they would make a major push to improve the performance of their parts business and bolster their bottom lines. So, how far have they come?

By Dave Kanicki posted on June 10, 2017 | Posted in Best Practices, Data & Forecasts, Department Management

While visiting a Case IH dealer several years ago a farmer walked into the dealership. As he joined in on our conversation it was clear he was a loyal John Deere customer, but he was also a good friend of the owner of the Case IH dealership. He said, “I just came from my dealer down the road and you know what? They don’t have a quart of green paint in that store. They told me they could have it for me by tomorrow. Can you believe that?”
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Special Report

Parts Success is a '2-Way Street' with Manufacturers

Dealers & manufacturers need to work together to promote & take advantage of parts programs that can help improve margins.

By Kim Schmidt posted on June 10, 2017 | Posted in Best Practices, Department Management

If your strategy for selling parts is relying on walk-in traffic or the service department, you’re missing out on opportunities. “Dealers who are relying on walk-in traffic are the dealers who are complaining about their parts business.
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Question: Have you changed strategies for managing parts inventory in the past 3 years?

By Dave Kanicki posted on June 10, 2017 | Posted in Best Practices, Data & Forecasts, Department Management

More than 60% of dealers who responded to Farm Equipment’s 2017 parts operations survey indicate they’ve made modifications to how they manage their parts inventories during the past 3 years. Here’s a list of several changes dealers say they have made to improve parts operations.
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Online, Aftermarket Sales are Reshaping Dealers’ Parts Business

By Dave Kanicki posted on June 10, 2017 | Posted in Best Practices, Data & Forecasts, Department Management

Asked of the biggest challenge to their parts operations during the downturn in wholegoods sales the past 3 years, farm equipment dealers point to online sales and competition from aftermarket sellers.
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Dealers Continue to Make Changes to Improve Parts Operations

By Dave Kanicki posted on June 10, 2017 | Posted in Best Practices, Data & Forecasts, Department Management

Dealers were asked what changes they made in the last 3 years to improve the operations and profitability of their parts departments.
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Dealers Weigh in on Manufacturers’ ‘Direct Ship’ Programs

By Dave Kanicki posted on June 10, 2017 | Posted in Best Practices, Data & Forecasts, Department Management

Does your dealership participate in programs where service parts orders placed with the OEM are shipped directly to the dealership from the manufacturer of the parts (direct ship)?
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People & Profits: Challenge Directly & Show You Care Personally

By George Russell and Erik Thompson posted on June 10, 2017 | Posted in Best Practices, Department Management

“Be brutally honest.” That was the advice a dealer-principal shared at a recent best practice group that I lead. This insight got the group talking about how best to achieve good results from employees, colleagues, vendors, etc.
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Ahead of the Curve

Technology Approaches Single-Plant Care in Farm Fields

By Dan Crummett posted on June 10, 2017 | Posted in Precision Ag Sales & Service, Niche Equipment Markets

A newly patented process for “taking the temperature of growing crops” from aircraft flying nearly a mile above the field is promising to bring quicker notifications of plant stress than the popular NDVI monitoring usually associated with GreenSeeker technology.
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Featured Articles

Featured Articles

Special Report

Are Dealers’ Parts Operations Improving?

Three years ago farm equipment dealers said they would make a major push to improve the performance of their parts business and bolster their bottom lines. So, how far have they come?

By Dave Kanicki posted on June 10, 2017 | Posted in Best Practices, Data & Forecasts, Department Management

While visiting a Case IH dealer several years ago a farmer walked into the dealership. As he joined in on our conversation it was clear he was a loyal John Deere customer, but he was also a good friend of the owner of the Case IH dealership. He said, “I just came from my dealer down the road and you know what? They don’t have a quart of green paint in that store. They told me they could have it for me by tomorrow. Can you believe that?”
Read More

Ahead of the Curve

Technology Approaches Single-Plant Care in Farm Fields

By Dan Crummett posted on June 10, 2017 | Posted in Precision Ag Sales & Service, Niche Equipment Markets

A newly patented process for “taking the temperature of growing crops” from aircraft flying nearly a mile above the field is promising to bring quicker notifications of plant stress than the popular NDVI monitoring usually associated with GreenSeeker technology.
Read More

People & Profits: Challenge Directly & Show You Care Personally

By George Russell and Erik Thompson posted on June 10, 2017 | Posted in Best Practices, Department Management

“Be brutally honest.” That was the advice a dealer-principal shared at a recent best practice group that I lead. This insight got the group talking about how best to achieve good results from employees, colleagues, vendors, etc.
Read More
Online Extras
Online Extras
Online Extras: June 2017 Issue

May 23, 2017

Web-exclusive content for this issue includes:

Webinar on increasing parts sales in your dealership

The 2014 Part Report

Additional information on the 'Do's & Don'ts of Radical Candor

Read More

Farm Equipment

View Archived Issues

June 2017

Table of Contents

Making Parts Sales Sexy

Are Dealers’ Parts Operations Improving?

Parts Success is a '2-Way Street' with Manufacturers

Question: Have you changed strategies for managing parts inventory in the past 3 years?

Online, Aftermarket Sales are Reshaping Dealers’ Parts Business

Dealers Continue to Make Changes to Improve Parts Operations

Dealers Weigh in on Manufacturers’ ‘Direct Ship’ Programs

People & Profits: Challenge Directly & Show You Care Personally

Technology Approaches Single-Plant Care in Farm Fields

Featured Articles

Are Dealers’ Parts Operations Improving?

Technology Approaches Single-Plant Care in Farm Fields

People & Profits: Challenge Directly & Show You Care Personally

Online Extras

Online Extras: June 2017 Issue

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