Service Dealer
EQUIP SPECIAL REPORT 2024
Service Dealer once again represented the UK dealer community at the world's largest outdoor power machinery industry exhibition - Equip in Louisville, Kentucky, during October 2024.
Owner of our titles Duncan Murray-Clarke attended with our magazine’s diarist of the season, dealer Jo Balmer of Balmers GM, plus our video expert David Comiskey.
The team gathered and produced content for this Digital Special Report, the through-line for much, is following Jo as a first-time UK dealer visitor to this incredible show. Her experience of the OPEI's event, illustrates just what a trip to Louisville could offer to other UK dealers. The scale of the show is genuinely something to behold. There's so much to see, interact with and enjoy, it's a lot to take in. With Jo's help, we hope this Digital Special Report offers a flavour of what other UK dealers could expect should they decide to make a trip in subsequent years.
One of the exciting activities that Jo took part in, which you can enjoy in the In-Depth section of this Report, was a table discussion with Bob Clements of BCI and Sara Hey, also from BCI (and our American columnist) and Duncan. The panel compared and contrasted the UK and US dealer contemporary experiences, with topics covered including new routes to market, the rise (or otherwise) of battery-powered and robotic machinery, trade shows - and so much more.
Also a highlight of the experience, Duncan chatted with Kris Kiser, President and CEO, of the show's organisers the OPEI. The two enjoy a wide-ranging talk, covering the development and growth of the Equip show itself - plus they got into where the wider U.S OPE industry finds itself currently and what Kris sees as trends for the future.
As well as these special events, Jo, Duncan and David roamed the huge inside machinery exhibition and the even larger outdoor machinery demo areas, in search of stories and developments that are of direct interest to our UK dealer readers. You can find these in the Around The Show section.
Duncan summed up the team's week in Louisville, saying, "Once again it has been a privilege to cover this unique show."
Jo meanwhile expressed her feelings of her inaugural visit, saying to UK dealers who may be considering a trip over to Equip in the future, "The sheer scale and professionalism of the show has been eye opening. Thank you Kentucky and I'll be back."
We hope you enjoy our Digital Special Report and that it may indeed inspire you to make the trip next year.
Steve Gibbs
Editor, Service Dealer