Once upon a time, a business’s identity consisted of three things: the geographic area they served, what they said about themselves in their advertising, and the experiences their customers shared via word of mouth. Those three facets combined became the business’s at-large reputation.

But in the Internet age, things have changed just a bit. These days, a business’s identity is automatically linked to its online reputation—basically a digital version of its identity.

KPM has heard that this is one of your dealership's toughest challenges right now. In fact, more than a few dealers have told us they've turned away service business, primarily due to difficulty finding and retaining small engine mechanics!

Recently, we ran across an article from our good friends over at Bob Clements International that we just had to share. You can find the link at the bottom of this blog post.  KPM and Bob Clements share a joint passion for helping outdoor power equipment dealers be as successful as possible. Over the years, Bob Clements' has assisted KPM with dealer meetings, education, and other trainings.

· How is your dealership training your current technicians ?

KPM and Sno-Way have teamed up with a National Account that represents residential snow plowing services throughout the entire North East. SnoHub, launched last December, is looking to bring the Uber Taxi Service model to snow removal. Open the app, press a few buttons, and you can track a snowplow crew as it makes its way to your driveway. The app, which is now offered for both the iPhone and Android, connects homeowners with snowplowing businesses for on-demand plowing. It provides a flat-fee pricing structure, either $69, $79 or $89, based on the size of the driveway. Payments are handled inside the app, with SnoHub collecting a transaction fee.

We're super proud to be able to share the following article with our blog readers.  

Why do I need to keep in contact with my customers?

Building and maintaining relationships with your current customers is often an overlooked strategy to generate sales for your business.  Yes, thats right - relationship management with your customers can directly increase your sales figures.  Plus, working with your existing customers can be more cost effective.  You can directly influence your customers - by making them feel appreciated.

Email Marketing

You are currently selling products and services to your consumer base on a daily basis. They like doing business with you, and you have a lot of repeat customers. Have you ever thought of using them to solidify relationships, and increase sales and referrals? Why not use the information you currently have to improve your bottom line by keeping your customers engaged and aware of business trends and promotions?

Modern tools increase employee productivity and improve accuracy.

I’ve heard some co-workers talk about how they kept track of everything on long ledger paper, inventory, dealer accounts, payroll, payables, and sales. This method used to meet needs, but as a business grows it shows its limitations. Manual bookkeeping methods could lead to poor financial records. Your company might be turned down for financing or certain lines of credit due to poor bookkeeping practices.

“We may need to Get External to notice.” 

The Landscape Industry has experienced steady growth between 2010 and 2015, with an average annual increase in revenue of 6%. In their 2016 Industry Outlook, Green Industry Pros writer and associate publisher Gregg Wartgow shares the results of their fall survey of Landscape Contractors, and the future is bright!  Wartgow points out that “Roughly two-thirds expect to grow their sales in the installation, maintenance, and lawn care divisions [this year]”. Wartgow references housing starts, commercial construction and foreseen increase in per capita disposable income as key contributors to sustainable growth through 2020. These increases in new construction also draw in higher demand, which inevitably allows landscaping professionals to increase their profit margins.