GIE+EXPO 2014 Show Preview

By Steve Noe


For the 31st consecutive year, Louisville, Ky., will serve as host to the outdoor power equipment industry for its premier annual trade show, with the Green Industry & Equipment Expo (GIE+EXPO) taking place Wednesday, Oct. 22, through Friday, Oct. 24, at the Kentucky Exposition Center. And from the moment that dealers arrive at GIE+EXPO, they will receive the red carpet treatment and have plenty to see and do.


WEDNESDAY, OCT. 22 (DEALER DAY)


Wednesday has been designated “Dealer Day,” with the show open exclusively to dealers, distributors, retailers and media. This allows you the chance to take a sneak peek at all of the new products, as well as to meet one on one with manufacturers and suppliers before the show opens to the rest of the industry on Thursday and Friday.


 

 Steve McClatchyTech Training and Certification will be available from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the South Wing (Lobby A) through the Equipment & Engine Training Council (EETC), which will also be offering discounted opportunities for certification testing. Cost per class is $30-$45.


The Dealer Resource Pavilion, which is a dealer networking hub with access to a dealer-only lounge and Wi-Fi, will be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. It will also serve as the location for free seminars for OPE dealership owners and managers, led by Bob Clements. The pavilion features a showroom, along with a parts and service department, where Clements and his team will share their latest ideas and tips. He will offer the first of five management classes, titled “Dare to be Different,” on Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The remaining four management classes will be held 11 a.m.-noon and 2-3 p.m. on Thursday and Friday.


New for this year’s show, a Dealer Day keynote lunch — sponsored by Stihl Inc. and Gravely — will be held Wednesday from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Steve McClatchy, author of New York Times bestseller Decide: Work Smarter, Reduce Your Stress & Lead by Example and president of Alleer Training & Consulting, will deliver the keynote speech. During a fast-paced, interactive and engaging presentation, McClatchy will teach dealers how to stay motivated and perform at their personal best on a daily basis. Online pre-registration for the keynote lunch is required at www.gie-expo.com, and the cost to attend is $25, which includes a box lunch.


 

 Jeni Carr and TwangTown

 

 Montgomery Gentry

 

 Jamie Lynn Spears

 

 The Crashers

 

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 Josh Logan

 

 Olivia HenkenA welcome reception will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on the show floor with many exhibitors offering fun-filled festivities, free food and drinks, as well as games and giveaways in their booths, including a $5,000 giveaway sponsored and presented by Stihl Inc. in its always-festive booth (#5074) at 6:30 p.m.


At 7:30 p.m., the party will shift to downtown Louisville with free concerts by Montgomery Gentry and opening act Jeni Carr and TwangTown on the Nissan Commercial Vehicles stage at Fourth Street Live!


THURSDAY, OCT. 23, AND FRIDAY, OCT. 24


The show will be open to all industry participants on Thursday and Friday. On both of those days, the indoor exhibits, including the Dealer Resource Pavilion, will be open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Likewise, the Outdoor Demonstration Area will be open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday, but 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday.


Back by popular demand, the Dealer Summit has expanded from two to three sessions this year. From 8 to 9:30 a.m. on Thursday and Friday, panel discussions will take place over a light breakfast, with both being sponsored by the North American Equipment Dealers Association (NAEDA). The Thursday session will feature a panel discussion of manufacturers, who will address questions and issues important to dealers’ future and profitability, while the Friday session will be a panel discussion of your peers sharing dealer best practices. Cost of those two sessions, including breakfast, is $25 apiece. On Thursday, a Dealer Summit Special Report on new research about landscapers’ buying and attitude trends will be presented from 10 to 10:55 a.m. Cost of that session is $15. Online pre-registration for all three Dealer Summit sessions is required at www.gie-expo.com.


On Thursday, Bob Clements will present “Add Dollars to Your Bottom Line by Improving Your Service & Parts Department’s KPIs” from 11 a.m. to noon and “Get Out of Your Financial Rut and Generate Instant Income” from 2 to 3 p.m. On Friday, he will conduct seminars on “Radically Transform Your Dealership by Improving Your Absorption Rate” from 11 a.m. to noon and “Turn Your Slow Season into a Profitable Part of Your Year” from 2 to 3 p.m.


Free concerts will also be held on both Thursday and Friday nights at Fourth Street Live! Jamie Lynn Spears will open Thursday at 7:30 p.m., with The Crashers to follow at 9. On Friday, Josh Logan will open at 7:30 for Olivia Henken at 9.


On Fabulous Friday, every show registrant is entered to win $1,000-$4,000 during a $10,000 giveaway that will take place in the afternoon. You must be present to win $1,000 at 1 p.m., $2,000 at 2 p.m., $3,000 at 3 p.m., and $4,000 at 4 p.m.



For more information and online registration for GIE+EXPO, go to www.gie-expo.com. Other contact points for GIE+EXPO include Facebook, info@GIE-EXPO.com and (800) 558-8767/(812) 949-9200. Also, be sure to check out the rest of our GIE+EXPO 2014 Show Preview in this issue, as well as visit OPE’s website at www.outdoorpowerequipment.com for the latest GIE+EXPO 2014 news.


GIE+EXPO 2014 DAILY SCHEDULE


The 2014 Green Industry & Equipment Expo (GIE+EXPO) will be held Wednesday, Oct. 22, through Friday, Oct. 24, at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Ky. Hardscape North America (HNA) will co-locate with GIE+EXPO.


GIE+EXPO will kick off with Dealer Day, open exclusively to dealers, distributors, retailers and media only, on Oct. 22 and then be open to all industry participants Oct. 23-24. The annual event is sponsored by the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute, Inc. (OPEI), Professional Grounds Management Society (PGMS) and Professional Landcare Network (PLANET).


Following is a schedule of events (as of Aug. 27), but it is subject to change. All events for GIE+EXPO and HNA will be held at the Kentucky Exposition Center unless otherwise indicated, and Louisville is on Eastern Daylight Saving Time.


*Note: Pre-registration and/or additional fees are required for activities marked with an asterisk. For online registration and more information, visit www.gie-expo.com. Other contact points: Facebook, info@GIE-EXPO.com and (800) 558-8767/(812) 949-9200.


WEDNESDAY, OCT. 22
Open to dealers, distributors, retailers, rental dealers and media only


7:30 – 9:30 a.m.
*Basic Tech Training – Fuel Service Training, Carburetor Systems/Diagnostics 101, Electrical Basics 101, Propane Fuel Systems 101, Drivetrain Systems. Check-in desk – Dealer Resource Pavilion, South Wing Lobby A.


8 – 11 a.m.
*Advanced Tech Training – Two-Stroke Engine Failure Analysis, Four-Stroke Engine Failure Analysis, Compact Diesel Engine Failure Analysis. Check-in desk – Dealer Resource Pavilion, South Wing Lobby A.


9 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Dealer Resource Pavilion open.
South Wing Lobby A.


9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
*HNA Distributor & Dealer Program


10 a.m. – noon
*Basic Tech Training – Fuel Service Training, Carburetor Systems/Diagnostics 101, Electrical Basics 101, Propane Fuel Systems 101, Drivetrain Systems. Check-in desk – Dealer Resource Pavilion, South Wing Lobby A.


11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Dealership Managers’ & Owners’ Seminar – “Dare to Be Different.”
Dealer Resource Pavilion, South Wing Lobby A.


Noon – 3 p.m.
*Advanced Tech Training – Two-Stroke Engine Failure Analysis, Four-Stroke Engine Failure Analysis, Compact Diesel Engine Failure Analysis. Check-in desk – Dealer Resource Pavilion, South Wing Lobby A.


1 – 2:30 p.m.
*Dealer Day Keynote Lunch – Decide: Work Smarter, Reduce Your Stress & Lead by Example, Steve McClatchy, Kentucky Exposition Center C101.


1 – 3 p.m.
*Basic Tech Training – Fuel Service Training, Carburetor Systems/Diagnostics 101, Electrical Basics 101, Propane Fuel Systems 101, Drivetrain Systems. Check-in desk – Dealer Resource Pavilion, South Wing Lobby A.


3 – 7 p.m.
Indoor exhibits open for dealers, distributors, retailers and media.


5 – 7 p.m.
Welcome reception on the exhibit floor for dealers, retailers, distributors, rental dealers and media.
6:30 p.m.: $5,000 giveaway sponsored by Stihl, Inc. Booth #5074.


7:30 p.m.
Free concert for all industry participants – Montgomery Gentry with openers Jeni Carr and TwangTown
Nissan Commercial Vehicles stage at downtown Louisville’s 4th Street Live!


THURSDAY, OCT. 23
Open to all industry participants


8 – 9:30 a.m.
*GIE+EXPO Workshop – Hardscape Workshop. “Outdoor Kitchen Design and Installation.”
Kentucky Exposition Center C108.


8 – 9:30 a.m.
*Dealer Summit Breakfast – “The Crystal Ball Manufacturers’ Panel.”
Kentucky Exposition Center East Hall 4.


9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Indoor exhibits & Outdoor Demonstration Area open.


10 – 10:55 a.m.
*Dealer Summit Special Report – “Contractor Buying and Attitude Trends.”
Kentucky Exposition Center East Hall 4.


10 – 11:30 a.m.
*GIE+EXPO Workshop – Hardscape Workshop. “How to Survive and Prosper as a Hardscape Contractor.”
Kentucky Exposition Center C108.


11 a.m. – noon
*Hardscape Demonstration 1. “Basic Concrete Paver Installation.”
HNA Outdoor Arena.


11 a.m. – noon
Dealership Managers’ & Owners’ Seminar – “Add Dollars to your Bottom Line by Improving Your Service and Parts Departments’ KPIs.”
Dealer Resource Pavilion, South Wing Lobby A.


1 – 2 p.m.
*Hardscape Demonstration 2. “Fire Pit and Outdoor Fireplace Construction, Safety and Design.”
HNA Outdoor Arena.


1 – 2:30 p.m.
*GIE+EXPO Workshop – PLANET Workshop. “Financial Budgeting for the Land Care Company – What are your 2015 Goals?”
Kentucky Exposition Center C108.


2 – 3 p.m.
Dealership Managers’ & Owners’ Seminar – “Get Out of Your Financial Rut and Generate Instant Income.”
Dealer Resource Pavilion, South Wing Lobby A.


3 – 4 p.m.
*Hardscape Demonstration 3. “Permeable Interlocking Concrete Pavement Construction.”
HNA Outdoor Arena.


3 – 4:30 p.m.
*GIE+EXPO Workshop – PLANET Workshop. “Marketing that’s more than Lead Generation.”
Kentucky Exposition Center C108.


7:30 p.m.
Free concert for all industry participants – The Crashers with opening act Jamie Lynn Spears
Nissan Commercial Vehicles stage at downtown Louisville’s 4th Street Live!


FRIDAY, OCT. 24
Open to all industry participants


8 – 9:30 a.m.
*Dealer Summit Breakfast – “Dealer Best Practices Panel.”
Kentucky Exposition Center East Hall 4.


8 – 9:30 a.m.
*GIE+EXPO Workshop – Snow & Ice Workshop. “Adopting Best Practices in Advanced Snow Management.”
Kentucky Exposition Center C108.


8 – 9:30 a.m.
*GIE+EXPO Workshop – Irrigation Workshop. “Cycle and Soak: The Methods and Reasons.”
Kentucky Exposition Center C 109.


9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Outdoor Demonstration Area open.


9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Indoor exhibits open.


10 – 11:30 a.m.
*GIE+EXPO Workshop – Snow & Ice Workshop. “Advanced Snow Management Focus: Equipment Capacity & Managing Expectations.”
Kentucky Exposition Center C108.


10 – 11:30 a.m.
*GIE+EXPO Workshop – Irrigation Workshop. “Utilizing Drip (Micro) Irrigation.”
Kentucky Exposition Center C 109.


11 a.m. – noon
Dealership Managers’ & Owners’ Seminar – “Radically Transform Your Dealership by Improving Your Absorption Rate.”
Dealer Resource Pavilion, South Wing Lobby A


11 a.m. – noon
*Hardscape Demonstration 4. “Tools for Paver Installation Efficiency.”
HNA Outdoor Arena.


1 p.m.
$1,000 giveaway Belgard #1216


1 – 2 p.m.
*Hardscape Demonstration 5. “LED Lighting – Impress Your Clients and Increase Your Profits.”
HNA Outdoor Arena.


1 – 2:30 p.m.
*GIE+EXPO Workshop – PLANET Workshop. “Business Essentials: Do the Right Things and Do Things Right.”
Kentucky Exposition Center C108.


2 p.m.
$2,000 giveaway Belgard #1216


2 p.m.
Dealers’ Choice Awards
Dealer Resource Pavilion, South Wing Lobby A.


2 – 3 p.m.
Dealership Managers’ & Owners’ Seminar – “Turn Your Slow Season into a Profitable Part of Your Year.”
Dealer Resource Pavilion, South Wing Lobby A.


3 p.m.
$3,000 giveaway Belgard #1216.


3 – 4 p.m.
*Hardscape Demonstration 6. “Raised Paver Patios and Segmental Retaining Walls.”
HNA Outdoor Arena.


3 – 4:30 p.m.
*GIE+EXPO Workshop – PLANET Workshop. “Controlling the Sales Beast. Sales Systems and Finding Peace.”
Kentucky Exposition Center C108.


4 p.m.
$4,000 giveaway Belgard #1216.


7:30 p.m.
Free concert for all industry participants – Olivia Henken with opener Josh Logan.
Nissan Commercial Vehicles stage at downtown Louisville’s 4th Street Live!

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