Mike Lessiter

Sponsored Content: Successful Equipment Remarketing Strategies

Championing the Used Equipment Dossier - for Higher Turns

By Mike Lessiter posted on March 29, 2017 | Posted in Best Practices, Used Equipment Remarketing

Rick Rusin, used equipment remarketer and salesman working out of CVE's Berlin, Vt., store, hasn't quite had a year under his belt in the equipment business.

Precision Farming Dealer Summit

Smith Implement ‘Blows Up’ the Precision Ag Department

The precision manager of this 5-store dealership fired himself, reassigned the specialists to other departments and took away the safety net.

By Mike Lessiter posted on March 11, 2017 | Posted in Best Practices, Department Management, Precision Ag Sales & Service

In an engaging session of the Summit, Matt Eldridge, director of aftermarket sales, Smith Implements, Greenfield, Ind., shared how their 5-store dealer group turned course and loaded up all its “precision chips” into traditional departments.

Precision Farming Dealer Summit

Maximizing Performance & Accountability at H&R, Van Wall

Two managers from large-store complexes share their advice for getting the most out of precision specialists, including the need to ‘go to bat’ for them.

By Mike Lessiter posted on March 11, 2017 | Posted in Best Practices, Department Management, Precision Ag Sales & Service

Dealers who’ve been doing precision for any period of time have seen how expectation problems, miscommunication and burnout can erode morale of what needs to be a highly performing team.

What ‘Could’ Go Wrong? Plenty, Duignan Tells Dealers

By Mike Lessiter posted on February 27, 2017 | Posted in Data & Forecasts

“This year, given all the changes and the excess supply of commodities, will probably be the hardest ever to figure out,” says Ann Duignan, U.S. machinery analyst and managing director of New York-based J.P. Morgan. “2017 is going to be a very interesting year.”

To the Point

Common DNA Revealed at St. Louis Summit

By Mike Lessiter posted on February 6, 2017 | Posted in Best Practices, Precision Ag Sales & Service

As one charged with sharing best practices, the opportunity to work a room with the industry’s “best of the best” minds for 5 days is a gift. Our company hosted two events, the Precision Farming Dealer Summit and National No-Tillage Conference, in St. Louis the week of Jan. 9.

To the Point

Common DNA Revealed at St. Louis Summit

By Mike Lessiter posted on February 6, 2017 | Posted in Best Practices, Precision Ag Sales & Service

As one charged with sharing best practices, the opportunity to work a room with the industry’s “best of the best” minds for 5 days is a gift. Our company hosted two events, the Precision Farming Dealer Summit and National No-Tillage Conference, in St. Louis the week of Jan. 9.

Our Own Case Study: Where Marketing & Need Intersect

By Mike Lessiter posted on January 16, 2017 | Posted in Best Practices

Those of you who were in St. Louis for last week’s sold-out Precision Farming Dealer Summit (or following us online) heard the news. The Dealership Minds Summit is returning in 2017.

My Greatest Mistake: Tom Janson

Janson Equipment, Reese, Mich., (2011 Dealership of the Year)

By Mike Lessiter posted on January 3, 2017 | Posted in Best Practices, Department Management

“I don’t dwell on mistakes but instead look forward on how best to improve my business.

My Greatest Mistake: Ron Ritchie

CEO, Ritchie Implement Inc., Cobb, Wis. (2015 Dealership of the Year)

By Mike Lessiter posted on December 24, 2016 | Posted in Manufacturer & Dealer Issues, Operations & Finance

“Our team is always looking to the future. We use our mistakes as an opportunity to learn and move on. In hindsight, however, there are two areas that we could’ve chosen to handle differently.

My Greatest Mistake: Don Van Houweling

Owner, Van Wall Equipment, Perry, Iowa (2016 Dealership of the Year)

By Mike Lessiter posted on December 24, 2016 | Posted in Best Practices, Manufacturer & Dealer Issues

“As I look back at my most significant mistakes, I’d say that I’ve entered into sales agreements with companies that didn’t possess the capabilities financially or from a management standpoint to support our goal of being the ‘Clear First Choice.’

Articles by Mike Lessiter

Championing the Used Equipment Dossier - for Higher Turns

Smith Implement ‘Blows Up’ the Precision Ag Department

Maximizing Performance & Accountability at H&R, Van Wall

What ‘Could’ Go Wrong? Plenty, Duignan Tells Dealers

Common DNA Revealed at St. Louis Summit

Common DNA Revealed at St. Louis Summit

Our Own Case Study: Where Marketing & Need Intersect

My Greatest Mistake: Tom Janson

My Greatest Mistake: Ron Ritchie

My Greatest Mistake: Don Van Houweling

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