The top-performing Rural Lifestyle Dealer content of 2024 highlights key industry news, manufacturer insights, and emerging trends in the rural lifestyle equipment market. As we enter the new year, we're excited to share the stories, interviews, and articles that resonated most with our audience over the past 12 months.

Through rigorous news research, thoughtful blogs, and countless hours spent producing engaging videos, we have focused on delivering valuable content tailored specifically for our audiences. Even ChatGPT captured our readers' attention by writing an April Fools' Day article about Portland mandating that all leaf blowers must now run on craft beer. Well played, Chat. Well played. 

Here’s a look at the content that captured the most attention and engagement in 2024.

Most Read Blogs

  1. Amazon is Selling Cars … are Tractors Next?
    By: Ben Thorpe posted on January 11, 2024
    This blog explores the potential implications of e-commerce giants like Amazon entering the agricultural equipment market, drawing parallels with Hyundai's groundbreaking move to sell cars online, and invites readers to weigh in on how dealerships can adapt to changing consumer preferences.

     

  2. Prevent Turnover or Prepare for Turnover – Part 1
    By: Dean Devore posted on July 25, 2024
    This blog highlights practical strategies for retaining Millennial and Gen Z employees in dealership parts departments, emphasizing credible job titles, career advancement opportunities, and meaningful responsibilities, while also advocating for proactive turnover preparation to ensure long-term stability.

     

  3. Solve Then Sell: The Key to Upselling at the Parts Counter
    By:Dean Devore posted on April 5, 2024
    Upselling at the parts counter involves using your problem-solving skills to increase revenue by offering related products during the customer interaction, with a focus on assumptive and suggestive selling techniques that meet customer needs and boost dealership sales

     

  4. Why Any ‘High Volume’ Manufacturer Uses Dealerships
    By: Ben Thorpe posted on February 6, 2024
    Fisker's shift from a direct-to-consumer model to partnering with dealers highlights the challenges of selling without physical touchpoints, emphasizing the importance of dealerships and customer interaction in achieving high-volume sales.

     

  5. Parts Inventory Insights: Cold Pizza and Caffeine – A Reason to Change
    By: Dean Devore posted on November 12, 2024
    Cycle Counting offers a more efficient and effective way to maintain inventory accuracy compared to the traditional Physical Inventory method. By counting small subsets frequently, dealerships can spot errors sooner, reduce downtime, and improve overall process accuracy.

     

    Most Read Tim Brannon Blogs

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    1. Put the Tractor Back in the Box
      Posted on December 9, 2024
      This blog emphasizes the need to thoroughly educate customers, especially in the rural lifestyle market, as they may be unfamiliar with the equipment. Avoiding assumptions and providing detailed instructions can prevent frustration and improve their overall experience.

    2. Our Top 10 Dealership New Year's Resolutions
      Posted on January 2, 2024
      This piece humorously highlights a list of resolutions for dealerships in 2024, mixing business advice with personal reflections.

    3. Don't Tell Me What To Do...
      Posted on June 27, 2024
      The column emphasizes the need for better communication and cooperation between dealers and manufacturers to address industry challenges.

    4. Dealing with Politics in Sales
      Posted on August 19, 2024
      This blog humorously highlights the importance of staying neutral and avoiding political discussions to maintain professionalism and close sales.

    5. Dealer Information Overload
      Posted on February 19, 2024
      In this blog, Tim Brannon emphasizes the importance of adapting to changing market trends, particularly with Millennials, and staying prepared to meet their technological and service expectations in the evolving farm equipment industry.

    Most Read Featured Articles

    1. Why the Decline in the Heart of Farm Tractor Sales in 2024
      By: Charlie Glass posted on September 12, 2024
      U.S. tractor sales in key categories have fallen significantly due to a decline in farms, reduced income, and higher equipment costs.

    2. Following Gas-Powered Ban, Portland Mandates All Leaf Blowers Must Run on Craft Beer
      By: ChatGPT posted on April 1, 2024
      Portland's city council bans gas-powered leaf blowers, replacing them with quirky beer-powered models in a sustainable twist—April Fools!

       

    3. Remembering the Last Allis-Chalmers Tractor
      By: Ben Thorpe posted on April 23, 2024
      The article discusses the brief resurgence of the Allis-Chalmers brand in the 2000s, when Simplicity produced the AC130 lawn tractor, and explores the brand’s history and consumer reactions.

       

    4. Former Solectrac Dealer: ‘The Electrification Bubble has Popped’
      By: Ben Thorpe posted on April 3, 2024
      Solectrac, an electric tractor manufacturer, is shifting its strategy to prioritize direct-to-consumer sales and select dealer partnerships, following challenges in its dealer network and struggles with pricing, marketing, and consumer demand for electric tractors.

    5. WCTractor Invests in Rental, Young Leadership & Remote Service for Success in 2024
      By: Ben Thorpe posted on February 22, 2024
      With a 44 year old owner, 10 stores & aggressive growth plans, WCTractor aims to expand in several directions to advance its business.

    Most Read News Articles

    1. New York Considers Prohibiting Sales of Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers in 2025
      Posted on May 24, 2024
      A bill in New York, if passed, would ban the sale of gasoline-powered leaf blowers and lawn mowers starting January 1, 2025, and is currently under consideration in the state assembly.

    2. Briggs & Stratton CEO Leaves Company
      Posted on February 9, 2024
      CEO Joe Liotine left the company due to a misalignment with its private equity owner, KPS Capital, and was replaced by interim CEO Kristina Cerniglia, who has been with the company for nearly two years.

    3. Everything Attachments Faces Legal Trouble
      Posted on February 29, 2024
      A judge has granted a temporary restraining order against Everything Attachments owner Ted Corriher after Fidelity Bank sought repayment of nearly $8 million in loans, with allegations of fund diversion and non-delivery of products to customers.

    4. Law Firm to Investigate Toro Co. After Shareholder Claim
      Posted on June 4, 2024
      Kirby McInerney LLP is investigating potential claims against Toro Company following allegations of unlawful business practices, including inflating revenues by selling excessive products into its dealer channel, which led to a decline in stock price.

    5. Spartan Mowers Announces Layoffs
      Posted on December 5, 2024
      The Toro Company, through its Intimidator Group, has laid off an undisclosed number of employees at its Batesville, Ark., facility due to slower-than-expected demand for turf equipment, with affected employees receiving severance and support services.

    Most Viewed Videos

    1. Echo Makes the Gas-Powered Mower New Again
      In this video, Jason Wilk, Echo product manager, introduces the LM-2119SP self-propelled mower — Echo's entrance into the gas-powered mower market.

       

    2. Beyond Cutting: Exploring Bush Hog's Diverse Product Range
      Bush Hog VP of Sales & Marketing Dan Bratt deep dives into the history and quality of Bush Hog's product lineup! Bratt covers the impact brand reputation can have on your dealership's operations, Bush Hog's product offerings and how carrying "Made in the U.S.A" equipment can aid in the sales process.

    3. Proven Power Hits the Demolition Derby Circuit
      This video highlights an exciting moment at the 2024 Waukesha Country Fair where Proven Power participated in the Tractor Class of the Demolition Derby. 

       

    4. The Benefits of a Young Leadership Group
      WCTractor Owner Chris Wackman explains how the company benefits from having a younger team of leadership, where the youngest is 37 and the oldest is 58. Wackman sees every acquisition as a chance to “reshuffle the deck,” move employees up the ladder and perpetuate an aggressive culture of opportunity.

    5. Why WCTractor's Managers Follow Up with Customers
      Insightful video where WCTractor Owner Chris Wackman explains why the company focuses on having sales managers follow up with select customers on a weekly basis. Customers are asked what might have been improved in their experiences with the company, which WCTractor then makes an effort to correct.

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