According to a study by the examiner.com, 8% percent of people are successful in achieving their New Year's resolutions. The study also revealed that 47% of resolutions are related to self improvement or education. While you may have made resolutions about making improvements in your personal life, I urge you to also think of your business.
I encourage you to make a New Year's resolution to try something new in your business this year. Big or small, any change brings the possibility of great results. Whether it is a new form of marketing (radio, Internet, TV, etc.) or trusting your business management system (BMS) to a task it’s never been used for, it's important to take chances and embrace the possibility of change. Step outside your comfort zone and see what kind of results you get.
As the outdoor power equipment industry continues to evolve, there is a need for dealers to do the same. While change may not come easy to you or your staff, starting small by making a promise to try something new is a great start.
In our Dealer Best Practice article this issue, Dee Hampton of Boones Creek Outdoor Power Equipment Center in Gray, TN, enlists the help of her staff to evaluate their processes in the parts and service departments and institute change that would improve their profitability. She knows that while change can be difficult, it is also necessary in order to succeed in business.
“Look around at your competitors to see how they operate,” says Hampton. “Open your eyes and ears and learn from everybody everywhere. Without change, you are going to end up right where you are now. Change is cheap. Not changing will cost you more in the long run.”
Take some time and discuss with your staff what one area they think would benefit most from a change in the coming year. Address your ability to make those changes and once you find a project or initiative that is suitable, make a plan for implementation.
We hope that in the pages of Yard & Garden, the many volumes of the Dealer Success Guide, and on our website greenindustrypros.com, you will find articles that both inspire you and help you to implement changes that lead to a more prosperous future for your dealership.
When you implement a change in your business, please share your successes with us and other dealers. Send emails detailing the changes you make in 2013 to [email protected].
