FEBRUARY 2021

MONROE, Louisiana – After a career in the highway construction industry, mainly serving in administration and managerial roles, Matt Bridges was looking for something different. He wanted to be a little closer to home, and his growing family, while also owning his own business. So when a former employee said a power equipment dealership in Monroe, Louisiana had come up for sale and he wanted Bridges to partner with him in it, though having no small engine experience, Bridges jumped in. After a few years, Bridges ended up buying the partner out and became the sole owner of 3B Outdoor.

“It sounded like a good idea. I was trying to find something that wouldn’t be affected by Amazon. You have to have hands in this business. Obviously, our biggest competition is Amazon. But, I’ve learned a lot in the six years that I have had,” Bridges remarks.

2020 was a great year for dealers around the country, and 3B Outdoor was no exception. Bridges is leaning into that success and says the company is definitely in a growth mode – also operating a rental business, 3B Equipment Rentals, out of the same building with the same staff – and looking at purchasing another business in the lawn and garden power equipment arena.

Article by Jessica Johnson, Managing Editor, Power Equipment Trade

Ah, the turning of the calendar – a new year. While the world at large is probably pretty dang happy to see 2020 fall by the wayside, that isn’t exactly the case for power equipment dealers is it? 2020 was a blockbuster, record-smashing year in many ways, and who knows what 2021 will have in store. Cover dealer Matt Bridges says he has heard from dealer friends that 2021 will be just as good as 2020. Only time will truly tell.

Article by Dan Shell, Senior Editor, Power Equipment Trade

Ferris Mowers Sponsors Division I Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll

Ariens Receives Wildlife Habitat Council Certification

Walbro Makes Organizational Changes

New Rotary Manager For Upper Midwest

Briggs To Invest In Alabama Plant

Altoz Adds New District Sales Manager

Independent We Stand Celebrates 10 Years

Editor’s Note: The following manufacturers supplied information for this section:

Aspen

ENM Co.

Heftee

KNK China

Prufrex

Rotary

Sunbelt

TriLink

VP Racing

Independence. Diversification. Time management. These are all extremely important terms to us dealers. In my opinion, maintaining our independence as dealers is one of the most important things we can do. We decide how we conduct our business, not someone else. For me, I’ve tried to partner only with manufacturers and distributors that respect my independence as a dealer, and I’m thankful for them. Sometimes, these business partners will have programs with special discounts or other incentives that may be a little bit out of reach for some of us. Please don’t give into the temptation to overextend yourself and regret it later.

Article by Sam Stearns, Owner and Operator, Mr. Mower Man, Scottsburg, Indiana

GREENVILLE, Alabama – Operating Butler County’s longest continuously operated small engine sales and service center, partners Thomas Phelps and Ricky Whiddon are currently working through the winter as Greenville Equipment Center (GEC) gears up for its 25th year in business. The longtime successful dealership keeps it simple, offering three product lines – Husqvarna, Exmark and Polaris – and backing each with expertise, parts availability and top notch service. READ MORE

Article by Dan Shell, Senior Editor, Power Equipment Trade

FEATUREproduct: Echo PB-9010 Backpack Blower

VP Racing To Add Business Development Focus On OEMs

EETC Annual Meeting Announces Date Change

Two thoughts went through my mind as the now ex-employee was still talking. Thought 1: This sucks. We have spent the last 30 days training this person and now they are telling me that they don’t like the job. Thought 2: I’m glad they told me 30 days into their tenure with us so that we don’t have to fire them later. The person probably saved us a lot of time and money. But this situation could have been different had we been better prepared.

Article by Greg German, President of German-Bliss Equipment, Inc. in Princeville, Illinois