Here’s the Deal: Outdoor Power Equipment Dealer Convention & University

Dealers can sharpen their skills and network with other industry members at the first dealer-dedicated event sponsored by the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI).

Held July 17-18 prior to the International Lawn, Garden & Power Equipment Expo in Louisville, Ky., dealers can catch a packed educational track with sessions to boost their background in business management, marketing and human resources.

“We recognize the need for increased learning opportunities for dealers,” noted Bill Harley, president and CEO of OPEI. “We are launching the even to provide a high-quality, comprehensive education program for these important business leaders. Dealers are our most important audience at EXPO.”

The convention kicks off Wednesday night with a welcome reception and evening out at Caesar’s Casino and continues Thursday with sessions at the nearby convention center in downtown Louisville. For breakfast, join Bob Valvano, ESPN host and basketball analyst for a discussion on “Winning Through Teamwork.” Hotel headquarters is the Hyatt Regency and sessions are sponsored by Husqvarna, Ariens Co. and Simplicity Manufacturing.

• Growing Your Business Profitably – John Wyckoff, a marketing consultant, sales trainer, author and motivational speaker, will talk to dealers about the threats and opportunities presented by the industry’s current state of change. How do you minimize employee turnover? What are the key steps for planning your success? How do you attract new prospects?
• Quality Service … One Competitive Edge – Stephen Mulvany, president and founder of Management Tools, will discuss service and productivity, illustrating the relationship between improved customer service, increased sales and customer loyalty. He will tackle issues like creating the customer philosophy, developing service guidelines, teaching the techniques of customer service and developing strategies to exceed customers’ expectations.
• Managing Through These Changing Times – Dealers will learn what to do to grow their businesses, how to make a business fun and profitable, how to identify the problem areas in a dealership and how to balance the people issues with the financial issues from John Spader, vice president of sales and marketing for Spader Business Management.
• Family Business Transitions: Keys to Strategic Renewal – Tom Kaplan, an associate of the Family Business Consulting Group, will lead an interactive workshop that will challenge participants using case studies to examine their products, services and strategies. He will provide several practical methods that business families can use to consistently develop innovative strategies.
• The Business, the Family and Each One of Us: How Do I Balance All of This? – Chris Eckrich, principal of The Family Business Consulting Group, will build on the morning workshop on family business transitions. Learn how to wisely and fairly select and groom successors, create specific development programs for the next generation, assure effective problem-solving and decision-making practices, address questions and problems relating to retirement and transfer ownership and effectively use board members.

The author is Managing Editor – Special Projects for Lawn & Landscape magazine and can be reached at khampshire@lawnandlandscape.com. Click here for more information on EXPO 2002.