Kicking off GIE+EXPO 2014 way before the bright lights went on were several classrooms-full of dealers and their service guys who rolled in around 7 a.m. for the first technician training sessions on Dealer Day.
Those early-bird trainees were just the first wave of more than 3,500 dealers who packed the Dealer Resources Pavilion in the South Hall atrium at the Kentucky Exposition Center for the popular dealer-only events that give exhibitors and suppliers valuable time to communicate and network.
For example, dealership consultant Bob Clements’ Wednesday seminar—the first of his five free sessions for dealers—drew 320+ dealer attendees, almost double the number of dealers as in 2013.
The training sessions for Dealer Day also doubled attendance from 2013, with basic technical training sessions seeing a 213% increase in attendance while advanced training session attendance was up 14%. Overall, as according to show officials, registrations for all paid dealer education programs were up 35%.
In addition, the inaugural Keynote Dealer Luncheon, sponsored by Gravely and Stihl, drew nearly 200 participants to hear best-selling author Steve McClatchy discuss how to work smarter, reduce stress and lead more effectively.
The Dealer Day events stretched into evening, as exhibitors held prize drawings and entertained dealers and retailers with music, food, beverages and games. Stihl Inc. hosted a “Beer and Brat” reception at its booth that included games and live music and a $5,000 cash giveaway. Tanya Kistner, owner of Eau Claire Lawn Equipment in Wisconsin, was the big winner.
This year’s sponsors for the GIE+EXPO Dealer Resources Pavilion were ARI Network Services, Bob Clements International, c-Systems Software, Inc., DeWalt, the Engine Equipment & Engine Training Council (EETC), Gravely, Husqvarna, Ideal Computer Systems, the North American Equipment Dealers Assn. (NAEDA), Stanley Vidmar/Lista International and Stihl Inc.
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