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Articles by Kim Schmidt

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Dealership Modernization

New Facilities Focus on Customer Experience

3 dealers share the specs of their latest building projects and how they designed the new buildings to better serve both customers and staff.
By Kim Schmidt posted on March 22, 2021 | Posted in Facilities
When farm equipment dealers renovate their facility or build a completely new store, there are usually two main goals. First, create an environment that is appealing to customers and is easy for them to get what they need, whether it’s parts, finding the service department or buying new wholegoods. Second, create a facility that attracts potential employees and makes it easy and efficient for the dealership’s current employees to do their jobs.
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Kim Schmidt

Getting Back on the Road

By Kim Schmidt posted on March 22, 2021 | Posted in Best Practices

In typical years, the first quarter is a busy time for our staff, with a lot of time spent out of the office at industry events, meetings and visits with dealers. It’s hard to believe that with the exception of a few regional visits to dealers it’s been a year since we’ve done any extensive travel.


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Executive Q&A

Daryl Shelton Talks Culture, Transparency & Development

As the new executive vice president of RDO Equipment Co.’s Agriculture Division, Daryl Shelton will focus growth on reducing customer stress through precision and aftermarket strategies.
By Kim Schmidt posted on March 5, 2021 | Posted in Best Practices, Operations & Finance, Department Management

In a year that brought new challenges and unknowns as dealers figured out how to adjust business amid the COVID-19 pandemic, John Deere dealer RDO Equipment Co. was thrown another blow when two members of the Agriculture Division’s leadership — Vice President of Sales Mark Kreps and Vice President of Midwest Agriculture Steve Connelly — were killed in a car crash in August. 


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Retail Strategies

Is Your Dealership e-Commerce Ready?

Two experts share their advice on retail strategies that will help prepare dealers for a move toward more online business activity.
By Kim Schmidt posted on January 27, 2021 | Posted in Best Practices
Retail best practices have moved beyond a clean, organized and inviting showroom. Consumers have been shopping online for over a decade now, and the COVID-19 pandemic pushed e-commerce to the forefront.
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Executive Q&A

Catching Up with Stacy Anthony

As AGCO dealership AgRevolution officially begins business, CEO Stacy Anthony shares his goals and expectations for the first year of business.
By Kim Schmidt posted on January 26, 2021 | Posted in Best Practices, Operations & Finance
In October 2020, AGCO announced it was acquiring the ag assets of Cat dealer Boyd Co. and establishing a new dealership — AgRevolution — to serve the ag community in Kentucky and southern Indiana.
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Kim Schmidt
To the Point

Building Your Bench

By Kim Schmidt posted on January 25, 2021 | Posted in Best Practices
If one of your department managers was promoted — or even left the dealership —  do you know who would replace them? Do you have employees who you’ve mentored and trained who are prepared to move into management roles?
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Special Report

How Dealers Can Use ROI to Sell More than Farm Equipment

To successfully sell customers on ROI, determine the numbers that are important to them — hours saved, fuel savings, yield increases — and go from there.
By Kim Schmidt | Posted in Best Practices, Department Management, Dealership Marketing
With each new product launch and update, farm equipment is becoming more sophisticated. As the equipment you’re selling becomes more complex, so does your approach to selling it.
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Kim Schmidt
To the Point

Lots of Positives, But Concerns Linger

By Kim Schmidt posted on December 11, 2020
Grain prices are up. Yields in many areas are above average. Ag credit conditions are up. And, dealers report early orders are up and they are seeing good demand for equipment. But there are still some concerns — challenges getting equipment from the OEMs and concerns over taxes, regulation and trade following the election.
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Farm Equipment Videos

AGCO Aims for $2 Billion in Precision Ag Business by 2029

AGCO Aims for $2 Billion in Precision Ag Business by 2029

In this episode of On the Record, brought to you by Associated Equipment Distributors, we look at AGCO’s plans for its precision business and its 2029 targets. In the Technology Corner, Noah Newman talks with Eis Implement’s precision team. Also in this episode, the interest savings dealers could see with the latest rate cut by the Fed and a look at the used 100+ horsepower tractor market. 

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Top Directory Listings

Yetter Farm Equipment

Built on 90 years of expertise, Yetter Farm Equipment leads the agriculture industry in designing effective and innovative equipment for residue management, seedbed preparation, precision fertilizer placement, harvest attachments, strip-tillage, and more.
Machinery Scope

Machinery Scope

At Machinery Scope, we believe you deserve the best risk management solutions for your investments in heavy equipment. Since 2013, we have been proud to offer extended warranty, appraisals, and inspections. Machinery Scope is a family-owned business built on our experience in farming and equipment dealerships. We understand your business and provide a personalized and professional level of customer service. Machinery Scope has built a strong warranty product with our customers in mind, offering the same professional level of service from the time you get a quote, through the processing of a claim.
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Finance Scope

Finance Scope is able to provide the best financing opportunities for equipment dealers and customers through a diverse mix of lending companies under one single platform. Our large group of lenders, allows for competitive rates regardless of credit scores. Additionally, dealers and customers have access to the industry’s best expertise surrounding finance and lease structures, for all purposes, within the agricultural and construction industries. We provide all of this into one online platform to provide our customers with the best available tailored finance solution for their equipment.
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