Rural Lifestyle Dealer thanks all the dealers who completed our 2014 Dealer Business Trends & Outlook Survey. The rate of response was excellent and we’ll share all the trends and statistics in our upcoming winter 2014 issue. (Go here to see results of the 2013 survey, http://www.rurallifestyledealer.com/pages/Special-Reports-archive.php.)

Those who completed the survey were entered in a drawing for a $100 Visa gift card and the winner was Dennis Rew of Rew Motors. Rew owns the dealership along with his brothers James and John. The New Holland and Kubota dealership has 2 locations in Antigo and Birnamwood, Wis.

Rew is the second generation owner of the dealership, which was founded in 1947. He says his area has been transitioning from dairy farms to hobby farms and large property owners. His customers also include outdoor enthusiasts.

Rew says New Holland compact tractors have been a mainstay of his dealership for the last 15 years and he added the Kubota line in 2011. He says his rural lifestyle customers are adding such attachments as loaders, tillers, seeders and box blades. What’s the economy like in his area?

“We’ve had good growth the last 2 years. If you don’t turn on the TV, the ‘doom and gloom’ is not there,” says Rew, referring to media coverage that conveys pessimism about the economy. “We do what we have to do every day, no matter what the economy does. We don’t need all the business in the world, but we do need to take care of the old and new customers who want to do business with us.”