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Notable and Quotable: US Housing Recovery

August 11, 2014 | Posted in Rural Lifestyle Market
The Mortgage Bankers Association yesterday lowered its forecast for combined new and existing home sales in 2014 to 5.28 million -- a decline of 4.1 percent that would be the first annual drop in four years. The group also cut its prediction on mortgage lending volume for purchases to $595 billion, an 8.7 percent decrease and the first retreat in three years.
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The Big Picture

3 Reasons You Underestimate Risk

July 28, 2014 | Posted in Best Practices
Source: Srini Pillay, Harvard Business Review
In hindsight, many risks seem obvious. And when we do take the time to evaluate potential risks, there is often not much that is profound about them. Yet so many of us fall prey to unforeseen risks, believing that they came out of nowhere or that they could not have been anticipated. While this may be true in some cases, most of the time risk blindness occurs due to the way our brains are wired. Here are three reasons why we're blind to risk, and what we can do about it.
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Notable and Quotable: Adding Products Too Fast

July 28, 2014 | Posted in Best Practices
Read more of Steven DeRycke's response as well as other dealer responses to the question, "What factors do you take into considerations when deciding to add a new product or brand to your mix?" Their answers are featured in Rural Lifestyle Dealer's spring 2014 issue.
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The Big Picture

Five Steps for Giving Productive Feedback

July 14, 2014 | Posted in Best Practices
Source: Scott Halford, Entrepreneur
Giving feedback to your colleagues and employees provides them with an observer's insight into how their performance is progressing, as well as advice to solve any problems. But, for a number of people, hearing the six words, "Can I give you some feedback?" generates fear and anxiety. The words go through a translator in our brain and are heard as, "Can I completely tear you down?" It can be perceived that the person giving the feedback is somehow superior to the person receiving it, putting the receiver on the defense.
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Notable and Quotable: Customers Expect a Quick Response

June 30, 2014 | Posted in Best Practices
"Social media is a platform of engagement. Based on a recent study by Social Habit, 42% of consumers who complain in social media expect a response in 60 minutes. Does this mean you need to stay alert 24/7 to respond to a 2 a.m. comment? Not exactly. What it does mean is you should make Facebook monitoring and management a priority in your dealership.
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Yanmar

Yanmar America is the North American headquarters of Yanmar Holdings. Ranked #1 in Product Quality for five years in a row by the Equipment Dealers Association, Yanmar provides innovative solutions for Rural Lifestyle and Industrial Equipment customers.


Yanmar was the world’s first manufacturer to develop a practical small diesel engine in 1933 and has continued to push the boundaries of innovation and technology ever since. As a manufacturer of diesel engines, compact tractors and utility task vehicles, construction machinery, and industrial equipment, Yanmar's products are sold in over 130 countries.


At Yanmar America, we are committed to providing our customers with the highest quality products and services, backed by a strong team of professionals who share our dedication to excellence. We look forward to the opportunity to work with you in achieving your goals.

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Stihl Inc

Virginia Beach-based STIHL Inc., produces a full line of high-quality, handheld outdoor power equipment including blowers, trimmers, brushcutters, and multi-task tools, as well as the number one selling brand of chainsaws worldwide. STIHL Inc. manufactures over 260 model variations of handheld outdoor power equipment for sale in the U.S. and around the world.

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