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Currently E-Zone has 17 lines available for looking up parts and they continue to look for more lines that benefit dealers.
About Central Power Distributors
• Established in 1985
• Distributes out of Anoka, MN; Menomonee Falls, WI; Miamisburg, OH
• Products represented: Agri-Fab, Carlisle, Hoffco Comet, Honeywell Generator parts,
Hydro-Gear, Kohler, MTD, Martin Wheel, McCulloch, N2 ATV Parts and Accessories, Noram, Ohio
Steel, Opti 2-4, Sea Foam, Shindaiwa, Stens, Tecumseh, Tillotson, Toro parts, Trac-Vac, Troy
Bilt, Walbro
• Territory footprint covers IA, IL, IN, KY, MI, MN, ND, OH, SD, UP and WI
Times change, and doing business as an outdoor power equipment dealer is no exception. Today’s consumer is much more educated and selective when making purchase decisions. Dealers are finding themselves having to work even harder to meet the demands of their customers, and suppliers are finding new ways to help them do so.
One way they are doing this is by consistently having products and equipment in stock when customers visit the store. If they don’t have a certain piece of equipment available, the educated customer will grow impatient with the wait—and shop elsewhere.
TODAY'S CONSUMER
With the Internet available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, consumers will realize that waiting on a part to be shipped directly to their home is better than going to the dealership, ordering the part and waiting again. The dealer of today needs to figure out a way to have inventory when their customer needs it, not when it is convenient for the dealer to get it. With gas prices soaring, customers will not drive to wait anymore; it’s simply too expensive. The successful dealer will have a website and showroom with fast-moving popular parts on hand.
Dealers today are focusing on meeting their customers’ needs as well as their own. There are challenges from every direction that the dealer didn’t face 10 years ago. Where do I find the right mechanic for my new lines and how much can I pay him? What labor rate is too high? What labor rate is too low? Who offers the best freight program? Why do I need a web page? How much inventory is too much? Which supplier adds the most value to my business? Is my computer good enough to handle the new parts look-up programs? The list goes on and on.
