IEDA Podcast

What if your dealership's existing systems held the key to 5x sales efficiency—and you didn't even know it? In this episode, Kim Phelan sits down with Nick Mavrick, a seasoned industry insider and founder of BiltData, to uncover how construction equipment dealers can unlock powerful customer insights already hiding in plain sight. From the early days of NationsRent and Volvo Rents to building data-driven tools exclusively for the CE industry, Mavrick has seen it all—and he's on a mission to eliminate the guesswork that keeps sales teams stuck. Discover how top reps are using precision data to dominate their markets, and why knowing your top 15 targets—by name, not hunch—is the difference between average and unstoppable. Join us for a no-fluff conversation that will challenge your assumptions and give your sales strategy a serious wake-up call!   Connect with Nick: LinkedIn Company Website   Connect with IEDA: Visit IEDA Group Website IEDA Events   Produced By: Social Chameleon

With many mic-drop moments and a no-nonsense approach to the right to repair (R2R) movement, Gay Gordon-Byrne returns to the podcast for an update about state and federal legislative activity.  Tune in to discover if the states where you do business have passed or are working on R2R bills, and consider contacting your lawmakers to weigh in on how OEM restrictions affect your ability to repair equipment in your fleet and for your customers. Join your host, Kim Phelan, for an insider's perspective and predictions on where R2R is headed next.   Connect with Gay: LinkedIn Website   Connect with IEDA: Visit IEDA Group Website IEDA Events Produced By: Social Chameleon

When we don't feel well, we can take our temperature or go for a checkup. When our car is not performing right, we can check different gauges and look at various fluids and things. But is it possible for a dealer to perform checks on his/her equipment business to determine if they've got any operational problems? This month's guest, Troy Ottmer, has been diagnosing and treating operational issues at equipment dealerships for about 20 years, and his overall industry experience is twice that long. He's an expert worth talking to when it comes to helping dealers identify potential areas for improvement. When you speak with Troy, two things become apparent: (1) He's all about staying customer-centric – they should feel like you're always putting their best interest first. (2) He is also about simplicity. Processes don't have to be complicated to be effective.  Dealers need the occasional check-up – tune in to see what that looks like and what you should be looking for!   Connect with Troy: Ottmer Consulting LinkedIn   Connect with IEDA: Visit IEDA Group Website IEDA Events Produced By: Social Chameleon

Your customer is on a journey – are you helping or hindering their progress toward a sale with you? In this month's episode, our guest tells you how to attract more equipment shoppers to your business and clear the speed bumps that cause them to go somewhere else. The first thing Stephanie Smith, founder of The Grind Marketing Collective, wants you to know is that marketing doesn't have to be hard or expensive. She's going to help you tackle your marketing stumbling blocks and provide you with simple tips that produce shockingly effective results. Best of all, you've already got the most powerful tool in your back pocket: that's right, your phone. Among her many insights: Ditch the notion that only polished, perfect, and pricey videos should be on your social sites. Instead, adopt a more authentic approach that makes you, your sales team, and your equipment business more believable and trustworthy. Pull up a chair and watch your dread of digital marketing morph into confidence and excitement. Just be yourself, tell your stories, give customers the fast answers they want, and show them how easy it is to do business with.   Connect with Stephanie: Grind Marketing Collective Website LinkedIn   Connect with IEDA: Visit IEDA Group Website IEDA Events Produced By: Social Chameleon

Buckle up for a deep dive into management with this month's guest, Nancy Proffitt, fresh off a standout presentation at the IEDA Annual Meeting! A powerhouse in sales and operations, she's packed with management wisdom and ready to share her playbook for construction equipment dealers. As a speaker and business coach, Proffitt has helped transform businesses—including a $6-million dealer that scaled to over $200 million. In this episode, she shares invaluable insights on trust (and what erodes it), the top three reasons employees leave, and how a business coach can uncover blind spots and growth opportunities. She also reveals three actionable ways to motivate your team—reminding us that business should be fun. Get ready to rethink your approach and walk away with fresh strategies for success!   Connect with Nancy: LinkedIn IEDA Profile Page Facebook Email: nancy@proffittmanagement.com    Connect with IEDA: Visit IEDA Group Website IEDA Events Produced By: Social Chameleon

We're kicking off 2025 with a bang! In this episode, CE product support expert John Dowling shares game-changing tools to make your service business more efficient and profitable. Surprisingly, it all boils down to one critical element: the paperwork. Drawing from a lesson taught by a gunnery sergeant during his Marine Corps days, John highlights why same-day service reports are just as crucial as fixing the machine itself. If your business services customer equipment, chances are bottlenecks in your processes are costing you significant money every month. John's passion for helping equipment dealers streamline operations led him to write Service by the Boxes, a book that lays out the 10 absolutes for building an effective service department process. These principles, he says, can uncover “obscene amounts of money for the owner.” Tune in for actionable insights and simple solutions to tackle a problem you might not even realize is holding you back.   Connect with John: Website Book YouTube Email: John@Servicebytheboxes.com    Connect with IEDA: Visit IEDA Group Website IEDA Events Produced By: Social Chameleon

For our final podcast episode of 2024, we welcome Mets Kramer to the mic! Mets is the mastermind behind the new IEDA app, and in this episode, he gives us an in-depth look at how this innovative tool will transform the IEDA membership directory into a powerful, user-friendly digital resource right at your fingertips. Tune in to discover where to download the app and how it empowers you to manage your company profile in real-time. Plus, find out how you can easily connect and communicate with other members with just a few clicks. Our conversation also takes a fascinating detour into key marketing strategies shared by Mets. He shares insights on how technology can enhance customer engagement, regardless of their preferred communication style. While marketing should be a team effort within your dealership, Mets emphasizes that owners hold the keys to driving the company forward. He discusses leveraging your data to deliver exactly what your customers want—on their terms—rather than sticking to “the way we've always done things.” And as we wrap up, Mets leaves us with a final takeaway that just might surprise you!   Download the New IEDA App Apple Google   Connect with Mets: Mets' LinkedIn Vizybility Website   Connect with IEDA: Visit IEDA Group Website IEDA Events   Produced By: Social Chameleon

Much of Brad Spitzer's expertise can be summed up with three R's: Rouse, Rentals, and Real-Time Insights. Yet, there's so much more to the Director of Client Services at Rouse Rental Insights. Brad, a dynamic voice in the industry and a featured speaker at the IEDA Midyear Meeting in Nashville, brings an unmatched perspective on market trends in used and rental construction equipment. In this episode, we explore Brad's deep dive into the drivers behind earthmoving equipment rental utilization, the latest trends shaping rental rates, and his forward-looking insights into where those rates might be headed. Brad also shares his analysis of the used equipment market's performance in 2024 and his expectations for early 2025. Stay tuned until the end, where we learn what Brad's first moves would be if he inherited an independent equipment dealership from his uncle—offering a unique look at his strategic mindset. If you're seeking expert perspectives on the evolving equipment landscape, Brad is someone you'll want to tune in to for practical advice and a forward-thinking approach!   Connect with Brad: Brad's LinkedIn Brad's Email Company Website Company Facebook   Connect with IEDA: Visit IEDA Group Website IEDA Events   Produced By: Social Chameleon

Much of Milissa Wise's life can be summed up with three M's: Mexico, Marines, and Machines. Yet, there's much more to the owner of Expert Heavy Equipment, an IEDA member distributor. Milissa has built a strong, well-respected brand among resellers and end-users throughout Mexico, as well as Central and South America. With 600,000 Facebook followers, her equipment ads consistently receive “overwhelming” responses.   In this episode, we explore her unconventional business model, her insights into her customer base, her journey into the equipment industry, and the lifestyle-friendly approach she chose, which allows her the flexibility to buy and sell remotely from anywhere—often seaside, overlooking Cabo San Lucas. If you haven't met her at an IEDA event, she's someone worth meeting and getting to know! A smart and confident entrepreneur, Milissa specializes in lighter dirt equipment––mostly on her own terms––and sees nothing but blue skies ahead.   Connect with Milissa: Website Facebook LinkedIn   Connect with IEDA: Visit IEDA Group Website IEDA Events   Produced By: Social Chameleon

VizaLogix Augmented reality is an actual reality for construction equipment dealers today–no big ARglasses required. This could be the disruptive service your business needs to differentiate yourself from buyers and rental customers. A software called TethrIT Now from VizaLogix uses your customer's cell phone (whether Apple or Android) to get immediate video access into a machine failure event, so your technician can either help your rental customer solve it remotely or know exactly what to bring for a field service call. Every interaction is recorded, timestamped, and archived. In this episode with VizaLogix Founder Shawn Bonnington, we also discover additional, highly-relevant applications for independent equipment dealers– including a built-in inspection system that facilitates regimented and recorded machine condition reviews for rental check-ins and check-outs. Better than a mere video or Facetime call, Bonnington explains, it's also an effective tool for assessing and verifying auction equipment you're looking at. You might even use the sequenced inspection feature for walking a long-distance buyer through machines they're evaluating on your lot. Find out the Cat dealer story behind VizaLogix, the partnership with well-known industry software maker Texada, and how Volvo Construction Equipment is now involved, too.   Connect with Shawn: LinkedIn   Connect with IEDA: Visit IEDA Group Website IEDA Events   Produced By: Social Chameleon

Dealer software expert John Andersen has worked with equipment dealers for many years to become more efficient, savvy, and competitive. He does this by putting his deep knowledge of equipment distribution together with his great expertise in dealer management systems. And it's an equation that is always a win-win for dealers.  John's 35 years of experience with PFW, ADP, e-Emphasys, CDK, and now as a consultant for DIS, puts him in a category of 1. For the next half hour, listen in as John and Kim identify dealer pain points and explore the key to remaining relevant through adopting and harnessing data that empowers your team to serve customers better. Connect with John: LinkedIn   Visit IEDA Group Website IEDA Events Produced By: Social Chameleon

One fleet manager has estimated his company loses $112K every day a machine is down. If your customers had a theme song, it would be “Stayin' Alive,” because their No. 1 priority is keeping their iron running. To do so, they need parts–and fast. But besides speed, they also need an easier path to their dealer's expertise and an overall better buying experience. Luke Powers, founder and CEO of Gearflow, says contractors don't want to shop online for the parts they need–they want and need the expertise of their local dealer, but they want faster access to you.  Listen in as he describes a more modern parts-procurement process that would give independent dealers a competitive advantage while becoming the equipment owner's go-to proactive parts partner. Amazon, eBay, and SmartEquip all have their place in the enormous parts universe, but there is no substitute for the knowledge and resources a dealer can provide. Discover how technology can better support your parts business, your team, and your customers–and how providing a new level of service could create a stronger circle of equipment purchasing loyalty and increased share of wallet.    Connect with Luke: Blog Website Email: luke@gearflow.com   Visit IEDA Group Website IEDA Events   Produced By: Social Chameleon  

Can data really help your business? You bet! Data is knowledge and it makes you more savvy and strategic about finding and seizing equipment sale and rental opportunities. Now that 2024 is at its midway point, it's a good time to assess the market and get a good grasp on the big picture. In this episode, Sarah Martin, associate director of forecasting at Dodge Construction Network, unpacks the sectors that are flourishing and those that are slowing, and why. She discusses the two big wild cards that heavily influence construction, too. Martin explains how to understand and use the Dodge Momentum Index as a gauge for project planning and starts. She also offers up the fruits of her daily work as a forecaster, pointing to trends, identifying activity, and postulating about federal interest rates as well as election impact for the industry.  Discover where contractor sentiment is now and what lies ahead for the remainder of the year and into 2025.   Dodge Construction Network Visit IEDA Group Website IEDA Events Produced By: Social Chameleon

If you like to talk and sell, then digital marketing is right up your alley, and you probably didn't even know it. This month, we welcome Laurie Stogniew and Nick Riggs from CONAG Marketing, a division of Bayshore Marketing, founded and owned by Stogniew. Although they give the used equipment sales industry a ranking of 5 or 6 on a scale of 1–10 for digital marketing, they're optimistic that independent dealers are on an upward trajectory with ever-growing awareness and action toward reaching equipment buyers everywhere. Experts at developing and designing websites that search engines love, including e-commerce sites, Laurie and Nick are also social media pros who advance their clients' reputations and brands online. Some of the most digitally savvy things a dealer can do is keep their website active with new and fresh content, while also harnessing social media and AI to keep customers finding them, rather than the dealer searching for customers. Today, business is “social;” it always was, and customers still want to know “what's in it for me.” Listen in for tips to greatly expand your business reach and customer relationships.   CONAG Marketing Visit IEDA Group Website IEDA Events   Produced By: Social Chameleon

Here's a conversation that reveals a whole demographic of potential customers for independent equipment dealers. Meet Dan Maitland, the fleet manager at Ajax Paving, located in Southwest Florida and a new board member at the Association of Equipment Management Professionals. He spoke on a customer panel at the IEDA Annual Meeting – if you missed him there, here's your second chance to get acquainted.  Dan manages a fleet of 600 pieces of equipment and oversees a team of technicians, as well as administrative and scheduling staff – a big job. Like his fellow AEMP members all over the country, he makes the buying, renting and selling decisions for the company's off-road assets that total $36 million in replacement value.  In this conversation, he identifies why independent dealers have a great opportunity to serve this population of equipment decision-makers – as well as what fleet managers really need from their equipment sourcing partners.  How do you get a foot in the door with a big company's fleet manager? Dan has some suggestions about that, too.  He's very optimistic that great mutual benefits are going to be unlocked as the members of IEDA and AEMP get on one another's radar and get to know each other. Find out what's in it for your business in this friendly and open dialog.   Ajax Paving Website Visit IEDA Group Website IEDA Events Produced By: Social Chameleon

Some experts are predicting that the second half of 2024 through 2026 are going to be strong economic years. This month's podcast guest, distribution expert Mike Marks,  believes it could be an opportune time to expand through acquisition or merger, or to exit the business profitably, depending on your strategy. He also says there are great advantages available to the independent dealer on both sides of an M&A deal, and in this month's interview he highlights the benefits to buyers and sellers. And none of it is as hard as you might think. He strongly recommends spending a couple of hours a week – no more than two bottles of beer in one sitting – educating yourself and understanding the process. He's already done the math, which he shared during a presentation at the IEDA Annual Meeting Business Program, and we're happy to share the slides…simply send an email to kim@iedagroup.com. Mike also goes through key ways to prepare your business for sale to get the maximum price, and how to navigate choosing your own buyer confidentially in a very interconnected industry – or a business you want to buy. Listen in to get your mind around the journey and how to get started.   Indian River Consulting Group Website Visit IEDA Group Website IEDA Events   Produced By: Social Chameleon

Today's customers have much more of a “self-serve” mindset in terms of how they prepare and educate themselves long before they talk to you. The Internet has shortened the sales cycle, but it hasn't removed the valuable role of the sales person. What customers want and need from you is transparency, honesty, and continued insight about their jobs and the right machines. What you need to figure out is how to harness the Internet so you show up when and where the customer is, providing what they're looking for without just “shouting into the void.” And don't overlook your own website! You may recognize this month's guest, Clint Lawing. He is a regular (and phenomenal) columnist in the IEDA “Independent” publication – but his day job is associate vice president of digital performance at MediaOne. Clint emphasizes the fundamental importance of having a strategy with digital marketing and letting it guide you in your marketing decisions. Where do you need to show up online? What do your videos need to be like? How do you put together the words people will read … especially if you're better at talking than writing? These questions and more are answered in this month's conversation with a guy who knows his stuff and knows how to share it in plain English.   Visit MediaOne Website Visit IEDA Group Website IEDA Events Produced By: Social Chameleon

To kick things off in 2024, I'm excited to be chatting again with our go-to financial guru, Garry Bartecki. Garry served as CFO for several major equipment industry players and currently writes for Equipment Today. If there's a hot financial topic facing dealers, he's the guy with insight. Today we're tackling the 800-lb gorilla that dominated 2023 - inflation. Prices may have peaked, but inflation is still raging. Garry and I map out cost control strategies to help dealers effectively navigate these challenges in the year ahead. We get his take on where the Fed may move next and the ongoing economic impacts still trickling down to construction in Q1. And with fuel and transportation costs going wild in 2023, we'll decode recent oil price signals and other indicator trends to watch that could significantly affect equipment businesses in 2024. I pick Garry's brain on his outlook for manufacturing, labor, construction and beyond and we discuss what's in store for the industry this election year. And most importantly, Garry drilled down on his top 3 cost management tips for dealers working to tame the inflation beast over the next 12 months. We also cover different pricing strategies and ideas to support customers struggling with the same cost crises. This is a must-listen episode for any dealer seeking to stay financially fit in 2024!   Visit IEDA Group Website IEDA Events Produced By: Social Chameleon

Listen in to the final podcast episode of 2023 – it's a lighthearted dialog with IEDA Executive Director Dave Gordon and podcast host Kim Phelan. Hear about the upcoming IEDA Live Auction that kicks off the Annual Meeting on Friday, February 16 at 10 a.m. under the big white tent in front of the Reunion Resort in Kissimmee, Florida. It'll be a fun and festive time to gather with your IEDA friends while bidding on equipment and exciting donated prizes. Hear how EVERYONE can participate in the auction and come out a winner! We're also revealing the 5-star speaker lineup for Annual Meeting, and highlighting all the Return on Investment you receive by attending this growing, relevant, top-notch event for independent dealers. It's the Not-To-Be-Missed event of the year, held at the Reunion Resort February 16-18. Dave is the quintessential event-planning master and he's passionate about making sure every member gets multiple valuable takeaways from attending Annual Meeting, beginning with really fun (and delicious) networking events and solid strategic intelligence you can apply in your business immediately. Last, you'll hear Dave talk about the IEDA Foundation and the good industry work it's accomplishing.   IEDA Website IEDA Events   Produced By: Social Chameleon

No one goes to college to become a fleet manager and no one is just born with those skills, laughs fleet expert Steve Fooy. But once you're in it, you discover there are basic protocols, knowledge, measurements, and skills that must be applied to ensure the company's fleet itself runs like a well-oiled machine. Fooy has managed many millions of dollars' worth of assets throughout his 38-year equipment career, which included various fleet leadership positions for two national rental companies, two Caterpillar dealerships, two national construction companies, and a U.S.-based energy company. During that time, he managed fleets for public and private companies in multiple locations and with various levels of fleet investment. It's safe to say he's see it all. Once he retired, he began his next chapter as an instructor for the financial side of the Association of Equipment Management Professionals' (AEMP) certification program – that was 12 years ago and he's still leading the popular two-day course that equips fleet managers with all the financial fundamentals for success. And what does an independent dealer with a rental fleet need to know that his or her contractor customer also needs? Everything, says Fooy – from types of cost, depreciation, and cost recovery to physical/time/dollar/financial utilizations and budgets. “Equipment management is more than purchasing and maintaining equipment,” he says. “In most cases these investments in equipment is one of the largest investments a company makes … and it required a trained equipment manager to manage those assets.” Tune in and pick up some lasting lessons and tips – he even gives some clues about developing relationships with public/municipal-type customers.     IEDA Website IEDA Events   Produced By: Social Chameleon     

What do you think about when you consider the subject of AI and your business – or more specifically, AI and your sales team? No question, the latest mainstream artificial intelligence offerings like Chat GPT have “skills,” but they don't outperform what your people can do in terms of empathy, building relationships, asking great questions, and intuitively thinking on the spot. AI is just one of four huge trends that are altering the landscape of sales. Our guest this month, Troy Harrison – “the Sales Navigator” – is a truth-telling sales trainer who's breaking down some realities that maybe you're aware of but either don't have time for or don't want to think about. But ignoring them could mean you potentially get left behind, so here's an opportunity to consider what's going on today with technology, your current salespeople, prospective new sales recruits, and your buyers/renters. Got some windshield time in the near future? Pull up the podcast on your car speaker and hear what Troy has to say! This conversation is positively loaded with relevant and ingenious insight that you can totally swipe right now for your equipment business. We hope it whets your appetite for more, because Troy is a guest speaker at the IEDA Annual Meeting in Orlando, February 16-18, 2024. Registration opens October 25! Troy's Website IEDA Website 2023 IEDA Annual Meeting

Experiences happen to your customers, no matter what. They just do. But ask yourself: Are my customers' experiences with my business happening by design … or by default. The choice is yours. Customer experience expert Doug Johnson is this month's featured podcast guest, and his wisdom, creativity, and stories will blow you away – or, more important, will hopefully inspire you to put fresh eyes on your equipment business and apply your own creativity in ways that could totally separate you from the crowd. Would anyone know the difference if a competitor's name was swapped into your marketing phrases? What really makes you memorable, or even famous? These things are within your control, Johnson says, and he's about to show you how. Everything in your business speaks, he adds, so what's it saying? And what do you want it to say? Johnson, who is currently the patient experience officer at a major Midwest hospital, has worked in major league sports, retail, restaurants, and has even trained Santas. He may not talk your equipment language, but he's the ultimate universal translator of customer-speak – listen in for an eye-opening discussion that could change your business.   Connect with Doug on LinkedIn   Visit IEDA Group Website   Produced by Social Chameleon

Independent dealers thrive on the pursuit of getting in front of more and more of the right people – expanding their reach to new people who buy what they're selling. The bigger the relevant radius you can engage, the more you sell. IEDA Member Jared McGaffee, owner at Skye Equipment, says he isn't a marketing expert, but he will tell you that marketing equipment on Facebook has changed his business. Learning the Facebook tools that enable highly specific target marketing has been nothing short of “absolutely astounding,” he says, and in this episode, he talks about what he's doing that has empowered his Asheboro, North Carolina, company to capture business up and down the whole East Coast and into Pennsylvania and West Virginia. One effective strategy is daily updates, which have produced almost-immediate results. That's  because his content is being served to a demographic that wants to see it – something Facebook marketers are able to control. From tips and cautions to spending and the “who's gonna manage this” question, McGaffee generously pours a solid foundation for those who want to get started. What's the most important thing to do? Listen in for the big takeaways!   Connect with Jared on LinkedIn   Skye on Machinery Trader   Visit IEDA Group Website   Produced by Social Chameleon

Do you always know who you're renting to? This month's guest says vetting your rental customers is one of the most important things you can do to avoid serious losses from fraud and uninsured contractors.  Jayme Bates, CEO of JT Bates, has over 13 years of experience as an insurance producer and an extensive background in accounting and contracts. Her dedication to the dealers she works with sets her in this industry – join us for a first-hand look at what dealers in the equipment rental business need to prioritize to protect their assets and their business.  This includes a damage waiver – which has important revenue advantages – as well as the all-important management of customer insurance certificates. Listen in as she spells it all out. Bates also discusses recent claims trends to be away of – including one simple, inexpensive item that should be attached to every piece of heavy machinery you rent. It could make the difference between minor damage and a total loss.    JT Bates Group Website Visit IEDA Group Website   Produced by Social Chameleon

Is your dealership leaking leads? This month's IEDA podcast guest says data shows there's a good chance your company is missing web inquiries and maybe even mishandling phone call inquiries. James Hamilton is the senior product manager at Randall Reilly, and his time with us in the virtual studio is jammed with great data and advice. Pull up a chair (or your steering wheel) and listen in to fresh info about the customer mindset and buying and selling patterns, as well as rental market insights, dealer business opportunities, and some serious straight talk and best practices about creating excellent customer experience. One of James' favorite quotes comes from Mike Vorster, the author of Construction Equipment Economics, who said, “The best decisions occur when your intuition, your experience and your analytics jive.” James has used that philosophy to become intimately familiar with the needs of contractors when it comes to equipment ownership, operating costs, disposition and rent versus owning decisions. Lucky for us, he likes to share what he knows. EquipmentWatch by Randall Reilly Website: https://equipmentwatch.com/ Visit IEDA Group: https://www.iedagroup.com/ Produced by: https://socialchameleon.us/  

If your sales reps were sea lions, would you find them reclining at Sea World while gulping fish tossed into their mouths … or would they be out doing the hard work, hunting and surviving in the treacherous ocean depths? Tune in as our guest, Elliott Vigil, helps you think about how to help all your reps stay on their game. Everyone makes mistakes – what you don't want is for a sales rep's mistake to turn into a rut or a bad habit. Of course, you have to see what's happening before you can intervene, and that's where Vigil comes in. He was a top performer with Ahern Rentals before it was acquired by United Rentals, and he's seen it all. He knows the pitfalls, and as a past regional and general manager, he understands how to help reps keep growing. In this episode, Vigil identifies five common mistakes salespeople can slip into – and what the sales manager can do to correct their course. Whether it's getting too comfy and pumping the brakes, not following up with all their accounts, or perhaps struggling with good time management, unproductive thinking and behavior has no place in the sales team. Listen in and walk away with some positive ideas to coach reps into the best version of themselves. Vigil offers good resources for management, too. Website: https://www.elliottvigil.com/ Visit IEDA Group: https://www.iedagroup.com/

During the first quarter of 2023, IEDA conducted an anonymous survey among a small group of members about their financial performance. In this episode, we asked our dealer financial columnist, Garry Bartecki, to provide commentary about the responses, as well as cautions and insight about opportunities. A long-time equipment business CFO and financial expert who has advised dealers in M&A transactions, succession planning, and more, Bartecki has also conducted Cost of Doing Business Reports for associations and has led dealer performance groups. He makes the case for IEDA members to consider how participating in a group of about 10 non-competing dealer CEOs can be a business-changing proposition.  Comparing apples to apples on revenues, profits, margins, rental rates and utilization, and processes in every segment of the dealer's operations can sound threatening but in fact, Bartecki says, open discussions and contrasting your business results to others' is a powerful way to solve problems and make financial transformations.  Listen in as we unpack dealer feedback from the survey and hear what Bartecki thinks you should focus on this year. Visit IEDA Group: https://iedagroup.com/

In our third interview with Jarrett Harris, he fills us in on highlights from OTR's latest Used Heavy Equipment Report. Harris, who is director of Cyclicals Research at Off the Record, provides fresh insight on used equipment supply and pricing, auction outcomes from February, plus a first-hand report from his personal interviews at ARA's Rental Show last month.  What kind of pricing correction is likely to occur in Q2 – Q3 of 2023? Is rental overtaking market share from used equipment purchasing? Is new equipment supply loosening and how is used supply affected?  Find out what dealers, OEMs, and other channel players have been talking about as we explore the Q1 status and make educated guesses for the next couple of quarters. A visit with Harris never disappoints. Visit: https://www.iedagroup.com/

Meet the affable, insightful Cody Bork, the youngest member of the faculty at Western Technical College's Diesel and Heavy Equipment program in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. In this episode, he talks about the motivations and expectations of students training to become the next generation of service techs in the construction equipment industry.   And he should know. Not only does he spend five days a week with his students for two years, but he himself graduated from this program – he brings an insider look into the skilled workforce shortage and how independent equipment dealers can play an active role in both supporting students and steering them toward their own companies after graduation. Bork was formerly the night shift lead mechanic for a national fleet of tractor/trailers. He then taught at Western part-time and was soon hired on as a full-time instructor.   Visit Western Technical College: https://www.westerntc.edu/ Visit IEDA: https://www.iedagroup.com/  

Is your website doing its job, pulling its weight as a member of your sales team? Is it meeting your goals? Before you answer that, consider first of all: Do you have identifiable, measurable objectives for your website? Does it have a job description – do you know what you want it to do for your equipment business? Whether you answer yes or no, you're going to pull valuable advice and ideas from this month's guest, Jessica Galfas, founder of Galfas Media LLC. We asked her to review 10 IEDA member websites, and her assessment, coupled with her web and marketing proficiency, provide the foundation for a rich conversation about how to take your website to the next level, no matter where it is today. We're talking practical, doable, logical stuff that makes a positive, professional impression on website visitors and gives them what they're looking for fast. Galfas, one of IEDA's “I Know A Pro” expert at iedagroup.com who works with many IEDA members, gives you food for thought about branding, how your website functions and looks on mobile devices, how to be a value- giver, and much more. Got some windshield time coming up? Play this podcast on your phone and listen to something that can strengthen your digital sales bench in 2023.  Galfas Media Website: https://jessicagalfas.com/   Connect with Jessica on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jgalfas/   Visit IEDA: https://www.iedagroup.com/

Section 179 of the IRS tax code has been around for decades, and it can be an effective strategy for lowering your tax liability year to year. In this program, find out what the deduction limit is for the 2022 tax year, and learn the nuances of Bonus Depreciation and how it differs from Section 179. Using these tools comes with rules, and it can get confusing – that's why we're talking to tax expert, Steve Pierson, shareholder/partner at Selden Fox accounting firm in Oak Brook, Illinois. He's been educating equipment dealers for decades ... and was a featured panelist at IEDA's 2022 Annual Meeting last February. Section 179 has great implications for an independent dealer's rental fleet, and it can be a great incentive to drive year-end sales this month. Do your customers know that the equipment they buy from you is tax deductible? Learn what's new, what kind of equipment qualifies, and how to take advantage of this small business tax benefit.   Selden Fox: https://www.seldenfox.com/our-people/steven-pierson/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/selden-fox-ltd-/about/ Visit IEDA: https://www.iedagroup.com/   Produced by: https://socialchameleon.us/  

The Fed has far from finished adjusting interest rates to slow the economy and stave off recession, but a downturn has already begun, says attorney James Waite, our guest on this thought-provoking episode. He may specialize in law, but he's about to give your business a lesson in self-defense. Waite's practice in the Denver, Colorado, area is the premier resource for contractual law in the construction equipment industry, and during our interview he raises several strategic considerations that could protect you when customers begin to struggle financially or go bankrupt, which he expects will occur in a wave in 2023. What you don't know about new laws, litigation, and liens could cost you entire pieces of equipment, so pull up a seat and listen in.  He's also providing insight about Rental Purchase Options, underscoring benefits to both contractors and independent dealers during economic turmoil, as well as insight to make sure your RPO contracts protect you in the worst-case scenario. Bottom line, as conditions decline overall and for the construction industry specifically, and people become more desperate in the coming quarters of '23, new and unexpected ways of taking what's yours or leaving you holding the bag will crop up. Right now is the time to plan and get your house in order, including all your business's contracts. James Waite Law: https://www.jameswaitelaw.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheWaiteLawFirm Visit IEDA: https://www.iedagroup.com/

State sales tax laws are numerous and complex, and when January 2023 rolls in, every state in the country will officially have its own economic nexus laws on the books when Missouri's statutes come into effect. What's even more concerning is the gusto with which states are aggressively enforcing nexus tax legislation, which means if you don't know if you're in compliance and you're hoping they don't find out, you could be in for some unpleasant surprises. Enter the state sales tax pro who can shed light on this complicated area of the used equipment business – he's Jim Margner, and he's known for educating equipment dealers and helping to get them out of state tax messes.  In this month's show, Jim defines things like nexus, Wayfair, exemption certificates, and tax liability issues surrounding drop-shippers. If it sounds like Greek to you, tune in for a clear explanation and the FYIs that can keep your business out of tax penalty doo-doo. M & A Tax Solutions: http://www.mnataxsolutions.com/jim-margner.html Visit IEDA: https://www.iedagroup.com/

Stolen cars, on average, are recovered at a rate of over 85%. Conversely, only about 20% of stolen construction equipment is recovered. Additionally, equipment theft is on the rise. Typically a crime of opportunity, stealing equipment became a new pastime for idle hands during the pandemic, and now that economic downturn is upon us, more machines are disappearing. Now's the time to get vigilant about protecting your own fleet.  In this month's interview, Melissa Somers, executive director of the Crime Prevention Program of Southern California, goes over the many tools and strategies of theft prevention every dealer should have in place––what she calls the Shrek Effect. Just as ogres have layers, it's the combination of multiple layers of technology, machine marking, developing the right relationships, and common sense protocols that makes your equipment a harder target.  Think you know what to do if your machine is stolen while on rent to your customer? There may be some surprises that you'll be wise to think through before it ever happens. Somers will get you thinking about your rental contracts and what you might want to check and modify to more thoroughly protect your rental assets. Visit IEDA: https://www.iedagroup.com/

Construction equipment industry financial guru Garry Bartecki is the Category-of-One expert you want to pay attention to in times like these – soaring inflation, rising interest rates, crazy fuel prices, a labor market in crisis, and a recessionary economic environment, not to mention Washington's alarming focus on adding a small army of armed IRS agents. Even if you're not feeling pain yet, warnings from 2008 echo from the grave: Everything is fine, until it isn't. Here's the conversation that puts you and your balance sheet under the microscope as a way to proactively keep your equipment business in business. We're talking cash, bank covenants, budgets, tax issues, rentals, new lease accounting rules that will affect you this year, and lots more. Garry did his homework and brings all his timely notes, lists and cautions to help you plan right now. Don't kid yourself – doing nothing means you're doing the wrong thing. Get some wise competitive, strategic survival advice ahead of the storm and batten down the hatches – or in non-sailor layman's terms, CYA! Visit IEDA: https://www.iedagroup.com/

Got company vehicles on the road? Then don't miss this month's conversation about a serious but preventable problem that could cost you a bundle- or even put you out of business. Insurance broker Mike Bell, CEO of Robert Bell Insurance, cautions IEDA members on the potential fallout of a blemished DOT record, which starts with voracious injury lawyers who are prepared to pounce if one of your delivery vehicles is involved in an accident, but it doesn't stop there. Since prospective customers can access your DOT record, any violations could even result in lost rental business or sales. What kinds of violations do you need to guard against? And how far can an ounce of prevention really go? Find out how to protect yourself from enormous jury awards, even if you don't have a big administrative staff or HR department. Robert Bell Insurance: https://robertbellinsurance.com/ IEDA: https://www.iedagroup.com/

Along with the rest of the world, the equipment business is becoming a strange twilight zone in which independents are experiencing price euphoria on the one hand and evaporating inventory to sell and rent on the other, not to mention the scarcity of parts and labor. Jarrett Harris, director of Cyclicals Research at OTR (Off the Record), returns to the program to put some perspective on what's happening in terms of pace of sales, zany pricing, global events, contractor behavior, and more. Throughout the distribution channel, OE dealers, rental houses, and independents are doing what they must to survive, and that invariably is beginning to drive some consolidation––for example, we may see more occurrences of a rental company or independent dealer being acquired so the buyer can gain some assets to rent and machines to cannibalize for parts. Listen in for some food for thought on whether you'll eat or be eaten if the supply chain remains unchanged a year from now. Follow Jarrett Harris: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jarrettharris/ IEDA Official Site: https://www.iedagroup.com/

What does IEDA need more of? IDEA SHARING. So says IEDA founding board member Marlin Smith, owner of TKO Equipment. Listen in as he discusses some of the big challenges independent dealers are wrestling with today, from customer rental expectations to machine and part shortages––as well as perhaps the most formidable obstacle: being handcuffed by OEMs and authorized dealers when it comes to independents' ability to repair their own rental units.  With limited political and financial clout compared to the deep pockets of manufacturers that are fighting to be exempt from any Right to Repair legislation or executive orders, IEDA members' best tool right now is each other. Smith opines on today's issues and why––despite members' entrepreneurial tendency to keep their cards to the vest––it's more important than ever for independent dealers to get together, stick together, and share information.

Look over the shoulder of fellow IEDA member Bret Creech to see some simple tools and ideas he uses to widen his prospect net and make it easier for equipment buyers to find and communicate with him. He's got a funky business name – Mr. Machinaria­– and his business card reflects a daredevil level of creative branding. Early in his career, Creech worked for two different Cat dealers' used equipment departments. He also spent about six years in South America, which has played nicely into defining some of his niche target audience today. He quickly adopted a mindset of capturing every contact and keeping in front of prospects digitally on a regular basis. You'll hear how and why he segments his list, too.   Savvy and strategic, he shares his tactics and preferences for selling equipment using social media and selling his brand with email marketing, plus some website tips.  And if you want his help, you'll also find out about his consulting work with dealers.

Winning deals, rental contracts, parts and service sales, and customer loyalty does not happen accidentally. Rental entrepreneur and dealer consultant Larry Kaye says if you want to win consistently, you need to follow the example of pro coaches who remarkably and consistently win – no matter how many times they move from team to team. They do so because they committed to being a student of the game. All things being equal, the equipment dealer who becomes the go-to source in his market is the dealer who possesses full visibility of his business, has continuous access to the Voice of the Customer, and can clearly define his operation's Unique Selling Proposition (aka his value in the marketplace). Listen in as Kaye raises important points about getting your team involved and harnessing your own data. He's also got one of the best Trojan Horse ideas ever for getting your customers to do some powerful marketing for you ... and they don't even know it. Kaye is CEO of the consulting firm Script Intl, and he has over 30 years of experience in the construction equipment industry. Follow Larry: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lbkaye/

How can you slow the continuous churn-and-burn loss of customers this year? Simple, says digital marketing expert Steve Clegg: Start using a third-party service to conduct telephone Customer Satisfaction Surveys. Dealers who embrace this system can cut customer defection by over 30% while actually doubling customer transactions! In this episode, Steve tells you not only why surveys work, he explains the top reasons customers leave you, the most important questions to ask, what to do if you receive negative feedback, and how to easily implement this vital process into your business immediately.  Ignorance isn't bliss when it comes to how you've disappointed customers – in fact, what you don't know can expedite their departure over to your competitors. Make this the year of solving problems and keeping them fixed. More About Steve Clegg: https://www.winsbyinc.com/about-us.html IEDA Official Site: https://www.iedagroup.com/

The No. 1 ranking issue keeping business owners across all industries awake at night is still the problem of finding enough skilled people to fill available positions. In this edition, renowned industry educator Ron Slee provides practical, actionable takeaways for solving the labor shortage under your own roof. Ron is one of the foremost global authorities on dealer product support and operations, so listening to him is like drinking from a fire hose – but he's thoughtful and methodical enough to make all his ideas easy to comprehend and apply to your business. Ron even offers clear, concise steps on how to prepare for a successful 2022. You might want to keep a pen and paper handy for this one!

While equipment shortages continue, what are the biggest pain points from a rental perspective? Is anyone letting go of low-hour machines from their rental fleets these days? And what will happen at Orlando auctions this coming winter? Jarrett Harris, director of Cyclicals Research, OTR, rejoins host Kim Phelan for a Part 2 discussion about the present markets and their supply chains––and what it all means for IEDA equipment dealers. There might not be answers yet, but Jarrett's insights will help you see the bigger picture and think strategically for 2022. Follow Jarrett Harris: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jarrettharris/ IEDA Official Site: https://www.iedagroup.com/

We get it: It's a bizarre market of exploding demand and imploding supply. But dealers – and everyone in the heavy equipment industry, for that matter – are sick of hearing the word “unprecedented” inserted in front of whatever the latest phenomenon is in this year's comedy of errors. So says OTR's director of Cyclicals Research, Jarrett Harris, who personally and regularly engages with North American industry players, including IEDA members, and oversees a global team to report on key market trends and intelligence. OTR stands for Off The Record, but Jarrett goes on the record with IEDA this month to discuss predictions (and a little advice) about equipment supply chains, lead times, pricing, '22's winter auctions, and more. Follow Jarrett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jarrettharris/ Official OTR Global Site: http://www.otrglobal.com/ Official IEDA Group Site: https://www.iedagroup.com/  

Clay Padilla is a second-generation heavy construction contractor based near Albuquerque, N.M., and a rental customer of an IEDA member dealer. He started his Native American-owned firm at the age of 23 and has built it into a stable, growing company serving heavy civil and utility sectors, predominantly working under federal contracts on tribal land. He graciously accepted our invitation for an interview, and while the conversation went a little longer than usual, his first-hand customer perspectives are worth every minute. Listen and learn from his likes and dislikes, priorities and pet peeves in this open, honest dialog – and ask yourself, ‘Do some of my customers feel the same way?'  Visit: https://www.cfpadillallc.com/ Official IEDA Website: 

Heather heralds from EquipmentWatch, a service of Informa, where she is the analytics lead of asset intelligence, producing a monthly market report for used construction, lift and ag equipment, as well as a quarterly rental report. In the August Q&A, she highlights noteworthy findings from the recent editions of both reports and discusses trends in valuation, availability, unit age, utilization and more – while lending observations and explanations about present shortages and market activity. EquipmentWatch Website: https://www.equipmentwatch.com Follow Heather on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heathermmessing/ Follow EquipmentWatch on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/equipmentwatch/ IEDA Website: https://www.iedagroup.com/

In this episode, we're joined by Gay Gordon-Byrne, Executive Director of the Repair Association. We unpack the fundamental OEM arguments against Right to Repair and explain why independent equipment dealers should have the same, 100% access for servicing a machine that an OEM-authorized dealer has. Listen in as Gay brings us up to date on recent federal developments, too!

Rick Newman started Newman Tractor 45 years ago. Today, rental is about half of his business. He has also made changes in his business model to adjust to changes in the used equipment market –– his company now represents five lines of OEM machinery in designated territories. Rick is also a big believer in adding value wherever he can.  Connect with Rick on LinkedIn Newman Tractor Official Website

The dynamics of a family business can be tricky to navigate; but, if approached from the right angle, can lead to great success. The Geurinks of HES Equipment share their insights into the challenges and successes of running a family business.

Tune in to hear from Al Niece, IEDA Board Member and Owner of Niece Equipment, LP in Austin TX. Al discusses how his military experience shaped him into the business owner he is today as well as some trends within the industry's workforce.

Host, Kim Hedges, catches up with Steve Udelson - Managing Partner of Easton Sales & Rentals and current IEDA Board Member. Steve shares his insight on the effect of the pandemic on the industry as a whole as well as his own business. Tune in today!