With the new mowing season fast approaching, we wanted to look ahead and take a brief glance behind at the issues that will be affecting us, our dealers and Landscape Pros.
For this 2010 forecast, we turned to our Director of Marketing, Daryn Walters, with a few questions that have been floating through the halls of Exmark.
Q: What is the outlook for landscape pros this mowing season?
This may sound shocking, but the early indications from Exmark retail data and product demand tell us that landscape pros are poised for a very successful 2010. This is the direct result of a very busy snow season, which generated healthy profits and a high degree of optimism for landscape professionals. And as products are aging, we are ready to provide our customers with great products that will continue to build on the momentum created by winter.
Q: What is Exmark looking forward to through the 2010 season?
We’re excited to be able to offer our customers and distribution channels some of the best mowers on the market. We’re moving into the second, full year of production on the new Lazer Z product line. The new Lazer has been a tremendous success over the last 14 months, with perks of some of the lowest warranty rates in the company’s history. In addition, our customers are gearing up to jump on our highly anticipated, stand-on mower, Vantage, as well as walk behind the completely redesigned Commercial 21 product.
Q: What could be most unexpected this year?
Since we’re constantly looking out for our clients, it’s in our nature to try to prepare for any number of scenarios, both positive and negative, that could impact our customers’ business. For example, we’re continually monitoring fuel and commodity prices, economic conditions, and the most unpredictable variable of them all, major weather shifts. Weather is such a huge contributing factor to the industry’s yearly success, that it cannot be ignored; however, it is the one variable that is arguably the most difficult to manage. The good news is that if the current long-term models are correct, our customers should enjoy a relatively normal temperature and precipitation cycle over the coming summer months.
Q: Any tips for our customers that will help them have a successful year?
The greatest advice that I can provide both landscape professionals and power equipment dealers is to keep challenging yourself, keep improving, keep evolving. This is Exmark’s core philosophy and it has helped us advance our company in both prosperous and poor economic times, and unpredictable weather conditions. We are always challenging the norm and trying to find new and more effective ways to grow our business, support our customers and produce the industry’s leading products. This drive for innovation and business improvement transcends the manufacturing segment and can easily be applied to our customers—whether that is identifying new profitable products and services or improving your existing core business processes. There will always be new competition popping up and in order for your business to grow you must continuously seek improvements, challenge the past and approach every day with an entrepreneurial curiosity. And, if you are ever in need of some immediate inspiration, remember that Darwinism is alive and well in our economy, where strong companies will prosper and grow, while weak companies decline and disappear.
At Exmark, one of our top concerns is safety. Around the plant, at the dealership, during development and especially while on the mower itself. One thing you can always count on is that safety comes first. Always.
