OPEI SmartBrief

Reading this on a mobile device? Try our optimized mobile version here: http://r.smartbrief.com/resp/efAICfbwoceZhpyxJGcf

January 22, 2013

News for the outdoor power equipment industry | Click here for GIE+EXPO information

Top Story

Can an online dealer help bricks-and-mortar dealers?
Power Equipment Direct is an online dealer of outdoor power equipment, but dealers shouldn't worry, says PED founder Jon Hoch. PED has launched an initiative that it says actually helps dealers. If a customer goes to the website looking for a commercial riding mower, the site directs the person to the manufacturer's local dealers. "You'll start to see [commercial equipment] on our sites, but it will be in a format that will benefit the local dealer," says Hoch. GreenIndustryPros.com (1/18)

Industry Buzz

Concrete makes "green" walls easy
Green walls absorb carbon dioxide and can add to aesthetics. Now, there's a way to make those walls easier, with no need for supporting structures to hold the vegetation. A biological concrete created at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya in Spain is a regular concrete whose pH, porosity and texture have been tweaked to make it conducive for plants. FastCoExist (1/15)

Ground covers offer water-efficient solution for Fla. lawns
Ornamental ground covers are starting to replace grass in some yards in Florida's Hillsborough County, as residents look for ways to reduce the amount of water they use for irrigation. The perennial peanut and minima jasmine plants are some of these "Florida-friendly turf alternatives," said Pat Rey, owner of the Green Thumb Nursery. "Once they are established, you have minimal maintenance. You don't need as much water or fertilizer," said Lynn Barber, Florida-friendly landscaping agent for the Hillsborough County Extension. The Tampa Tribune (Fla.)/Northwest News (1/21)

Economic Indicators

U.N. agency expects record-high unemployment worldwide
Global unemployment will exceed 200 million this year, a record high, despite economic improvement, according to the International Labor Organization. The U.N. agency says it expects joblessness to increase by 5.1 million people. Reuters (1/21)

Inside & Out

Why sales and marketing alignment is essential
You can improve the possibility that your new product launches will succeed and do a better job of managing your company's brand if your sales and marketing teams are aligned, writes Janet Spirer of Sales Horizons. Sales and marketing alignment has been a key topic for a long time, but "the time may have arrived to just fix the problem rather than talking about it," she explains. SalesTrainingConnection.com (1/18)

Stop reacting and start leading
Some managers take a reactive approach, helping their salespeople solve problems rather than giving them the skills necessary to do so on their own. It's better to be a proactive leader who focuses on communication and helps salespeople learn how to address problems. TopLine Leadership Blog (1/20)

Policy Update

Obama pledges to confront climate change
President Barack Obama surprised many in Washington, D.C., when he used a portion of his inaugural address to commit to dealing with climate change. "We will respond to the threat of climate change, knowing that the failure to do so would betray our children and future generations," he said. Climate change was rarely mentioned in the U.S. presidential campaign. Reuters (1/21), The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (1/21), Houston Chronicle (subscription required)/Texas on the Potomac blog (1/21), The Globe and Mail (Toronto) (tiered subscription model) (1/22)

GOP bill would suspend debt ceiling temporarily
In a shift in the debt-ceiling debate, House Republicans have released a bill that would suspend the U.S. debt ceiling through May 18. The move is meant to pressure Senate Democrats to pass a budget with lower spending. Democratic leaders say they will pass a budget this year, for the first time in four years, and that it will have tax-code changes that bring in new revenues. Politico (Washington, D.C.) (1/21), The Hill/On the Money blog (1/21), The Washington Post (1/20), The Hill/On the Money blog (1/21)

SmartQuote

It ain't what they call you, it's what you answer to."

--W.C. Fields,
American comedian, actor and writer

Subscriber Tools

Print friendly format | Web version | Search past news | Archive | Privacy policy

Advertise

Associate Publisher: Kathy Dowdy 469-305-7122

Read more at SmartBrief.com
A powerful website for SmartBrief readers including:
Industry Home Readers' Choice Search Archive Get this RSS Feed Publish your Press Release Download a SmartBrief Mobile app today


	Recent OPEI SmartBrief Issues: Monday, January 21, 2013 Friday, January 18, 2013 Thursday, January 17, 2013 Wednesday, January 16, 2013 Tuesday, January 15, 2013			Lead Editor: Jennifer Hicks Mailing Address: SmartBrief, Inc.®, 555 11th ST NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20004