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Kim Schmidt
From the Desk of Kim Schmidt

Customer Service: Does It Really Matter?

By Kim Schmidt posted on April 9, 2018 | Posted in Best Practices
Most business owners — and more specifically farm equipment dealers — would likely tell you that customer service and experience are important to the overall success of the business. I’d venture to say every dealer I’ve spoken with has prided themselves on the quality of service they provide the customer.
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George Russell
People & Profits

Small Daily Improvements Key to Long-Term Results

By George Russell posted on April 7, 2018 | Posted in Best Practices, Department Management
This headline is based on a sign posted at my gym that made me think about your business, and my challenge to “Make 2018 the Year of Human Capital Development.” I started to think about the small things that you can do with your people to develop them and your dealership. Doing small things that lead to big things is a useful perspective for you to create change with your employees and colleagues. It provides an approach for you to do every day in order to create big improvements.
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Kristie Stern
Guest Blog

Performance & Recruiting in the Digital Age — Still a ‘People First’ Function

By Kristie Stern posted on April 5, 2018 | Posted in Best Practices
In high performing dealerships, every team member — from the general managers to the sales reps, finance personnel, service technicians and marketing experts — will be found in front of customers each and every day, interacting with them, engaging with them, and building lasting relationships to secure a prosperous future for their business. They are the very lifeline that ties the organization’s success to the customer.
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Kim Schmidt
From the Desk of Kim Schmidt

Be the Voice for Your Business & Our Industry

By Kim Schmidt posted on March 26, 2018 | Posted in Manufacturer & Dealer Issues
Last week I had the pleasure and honor of joining the Equipment Dealers Assn. and many of you out in Washington, D.C. for the AED/EDA Fly-In. And despite the federal government being shutdown due to a light snow storm, it was a busy and productive 3 days in the capital. After spending Wednesday being briefed on some of topics we’d be lobbying in support of, we took to the Hill on Thursday, meeting with congressmen.
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Dave Kanicki
To the Point

It’s in Your Best Interest

By Dave Kanicki posted on March 17, 2018 | Posted in Operations & Finance
It was 5 years ago when I visited with Mike Boehlje, the distinguished professor in the Dept. of Agricultural Economics at Purdue University. At that time, signs were appearing that indicated the industry was in for a slowdown following 4-5 really great years of equipment sales. The special report that ensued was called “Dealing with Ag’s Boom–Bust Cycles.” Boehlje discussed a couple factors that directly impacted equipment dealers.
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People & Profits

Perspectives on Training: Make It Work, Make It Pay

By George Russell and Daniel Surprenant posted on March 17, 2018 | Posted in Best Practices, Department Management
I challenged readers of this column to “Make 2018 the Year of Human Capital Investment.” Training is likely a key part of your human capital investment. Below is a professional perspective on how to make training work and how to make it pay from one of my Machinery Advisors Consortium colleagues, Daniel Surprenant. — George Russell
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Dan Crummett
Ahead of the Curve

Implement Guidance Gaining New Suitors

By Dan Crummett posted on March 17, 2018 | Posted in Precision Ag Sales & Service
Implement guidance (IG) technology is getting renewed favorable glances from a growing number of farmers struggling with glyphosate-resistant weeds, alternative herbicide regimes and EPA-mandated sprayer controls. Also, a growing demand for organic produce has broad-acre farmers in traditionally commodity-producing areas looking for more precision tracking in their cultivators as they drop herbicide use.
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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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