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The year 2009 proved to be a challenging one for most dealers. Many reported sales were down while service was up. As we begin a new year, some dealers are hopeful while others may be bracing themselves for another difficult year as an outdoor power equipment dealer.

Carl Witte
Maximum Outdoor Equipment & Services
Wichita, KS

"I think with the news media talking positively the consumers will in turn have confidence and be likely to spend more. In my area specifically, one of our major employers has called back a few hundred laid-off workers and that could lead to equipment purchases. A lot of economic indicators show we are on the road to recovery. It is too early to tell what the weather will do, but right now the extreme cold is hurting our shop."

Marvin Wainwright Jr.
Wainwright Lawn & Garden Equipment
Bordentown, NJ

"The year 2009 fell flat with 2008 for us, as far as total sales go. We were satisfied with that because we had heard a lot of dealers saying they were considerably down. The bright side was that we were up quite a bit in service. Like most customers, ours were fixing their equipment rather than buying new this year. I hope we are going to see a positive 2010 for this industry. I hope to see it turn back in the direction it should be with some work on the service side. I’m looking forward to a positive 2010."

Angela Suggs
Suggs Lawn Equipment
Royal Palm Beach, FL

"We are hoping we will do a lot better in 2010 than we did in 2009. We just opened a second location in March 2009 and we broke the $2 million mark. In our second year at that location I think we’d like to double that. We’ve set some serious goals for 2010 and we are hoping to meet each of them."

Below are some statistics uncovered in a survey conducted by Yard & Garden magazine. Dealers were asked a series of questions regarding 2009 sales activity, along with what their expectations are for next year.

2010 Outlook Suggests Large-Dealer Optimism

Roughly 42% of dealers doing more than $1 million in annual revenue expect to sell more equipment in 2010, compared to only 17% of dealers under $1 million. Conversely, just 8% of large dealers foresee selling less equipment compared to 19% of smaller dealers.

The majority of dealers, regardless of dealership size, anticipate parts and service business that is on par with 2009 activity. Larger dealers are slightly more optimistic about growing aftermarket business in 2010.

2010 Outlook by Key Product Category

Large commercial zero-turn mowers (over 48”) – 17% of all dealers expect to sell more, 30% of those doing over $3 million

Consumer zero-turn mowers – 18% of all dealers expect to sell more, 22% of those doing over $1 million

Consumer walk mowers – 16% of all dealers, 21% of those doing $1-3 million