Member News - ASAP Acquires Fawcett Tractor Supply

In National Tractor Parts Dealer Association News, All States Ag Parts (ASAP) has acquired Fawcett Tractor Supply of St. Mary's, Ontario giving the company a new outlet in Canada. The acquisition will allow ASAP to market ag parts to Canadian farms, ranches and dairies and it is their 13th retail location.

Asked about the acquisition John Dyke, CEO of All States Ag Parts said, "This is a great acquisition for us. We currently have 10 salvage yards, but this will be our first location in Canada. Up until now we were not able to serve the Canadian farmers with the prices and product selection we would like by shipping from the U.S. The Fawcett operation will allow us to ship more quickly and at a much more economical rate to farmers throughout Canada.”

Dyke added that the Fawcett family will continue to manage the St. Mary’s Ontario operation and all current employees will be offered employment with All States Ag Parts.

“Being part of All States Ag Parts is a great opportunity to improve our ability to take care of customers.” said Jeff Fawcett, “We’ll have access to our current inventory, but also the inventory from 9 additional salvage yards along with hundreds of thousands of new aftermarket parts. There’s not a part that we shouldn’t be able to supply.”

When contacted by NTPDA Jeff Fawcett added that he is looking forward to the new opportunity and will be with us in Phoenix for NTPDA20 in January

The St. Mary’s, ON location will continue to operate under the Fawcett Tractor Supply name.

If you've got NTPDA Member News make sure to share it with us: Michael@NTPDA.com

 

We REALLY Want You!!

OK, so you missed out on the free registration last month. Don't be sad. We get it...everybody is busy. But wait!  There's more!  Early
registration ends on November 30 and what does that mean for you?  Simple we'll knock off $150 bucks from your NTPDA20 Registration!  Rather than spending $450 (after 12/31) each registration is just $300.

Look, we really want you to join us for the business opportunities, networking and fun we'll have in Phoenix. Registration is easy and right here. 

Over the past week we've been on the phone with a number of our members who have already registered. The number one reason they've made plans to attend in January?  "Increase business!" and at the end of the day...isn't that what this is all about? Getting to know each other better and having more access to our suppliers and our fellow members. Sure, we'll have a great time, (just like we do every year) but the bottom line is YOUR bottom line. After all, we exist to bring value to our members...all our members!

So, don't delay. Register here for NTPDA20. Watch our Facebook Page for regular updates and if you use Twitter you can find us @NTPDA. 

And, yes, we'll keep bugging you because we've got a great line up of events and business education.  Plus...some special opportunities for you and your business to get noticed that you can use well after the Annual Conference and Trade Show. We'll be recording radio and video spots that you can take back with you...to promote your business on your social media channels and if you use radio spots back home.  The value of that exceeds $1,000 a crack.

Hope to see you in Phoenix in January!

Right to Repair Makes National News

The National Tractor Parts Dealer Association support the concept of "Right to Repair". Recently, during a campaign stop in Iowa a presidential candidate spoke about "Right to Repair". Here is that story

Last week Insight on Business the News Hour was covering 2020 presidential candidate Admiral Joe Sestak (right in the photo) at a farm just outside of Des Moines, Iowa. Sestak was there to outline his agricultural policy. One of the highlights of his presentation was the "Right to Repair" issue. Following the talk the Business News Hour reported the following story: (To listen to this clip, click on the player.)

Right to Repair Clip NTPDA Sestak 2019

It is impressive that "Right to Repair" is on the radar screen of at least one of the 2020 presidential contenders. NTPDA is not endorsing any candidate for public office. We are simply sharing what was heard recently in Iowa and then shared across the county.

Social Media and Business

Over the years, according to our count, we've done maybe six or seven seminars about business and social media. We've had our NTPDA members speak to the issue and brought in some social media experts. It was all meant help our members better engage with their customers and, in the end, sell more product.

Last week we thought it might be interesting to do a social media assessment of our regular members. You know, see what social media channels they are on, what they are doing with social media and get an idea of the utilization. It was very informative. We looked at blogging, YouTube, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

The results were mixed.

We didn't find many of our regular members who blogged. There were some that use YouTube and fewer who used Twitter or Instagram. It seems the social media platform of choice is Facebook with over 60% of our members engaged there.

We next looked at how often our members posted and what they posted about. We found, not surprisingly, that most were featuring products for sale and some special sales they were having. Very few members who posted on Facebook posted much else. The YouTube users, and there were a couple, did a mixture of "behind the scenes" and "how to" videos and many of those were done well.

We did find lots of Twitter accounts that were started a couple of years ago but then abandoned after only a few dozen tweets. Some members link their Facebook posts to Twitter so when they post on Facebook those posts automatically go right to their Twitter feed.

It was enough data to get us to thinking that maybe it's time to do a refresher, here on our Blog, about best social media practices. What each platform is good at and what they should be used for. You see, each really has a different audience.  

So, that's what we're going to do.  Over the next several weeks we'll post some helpful thoughts about each platform and offer up some best practices. We're hoping it will help and we promise not to go too deep into the weeds.

In the meantime if you've got thoughts about the use of social media for business let us know with a comment here. Just go to the comment section and post your thoughts about social media. We'll not make those public because, well not everybody wants to air their laundry. Right?

Thank you for being a member of NTPDA. We hope you'll find this information valuable. 

Member News from Down Under - Parts Express in Australia

The phone conversation with Mike Winter, president of long-time NTPDA Member Worthington Tractor Parts, Inc. started here when asked about the launch of their wholesale company, Parts Express scheduled for later this year in Australia: “Any business that doesn’t constantly find ways to improve its level of service to the market is bad news for the longevity of that business.” He went on to say, “Our goal is to build a global brand that will bring high quality parts at affordable prices with great speed and accuracy to the dealerships and repair shops that need them.”

Parts Express has a history of success as a wholesale supplier of agricultural parts in the United States and this launch of strategically placed warehouses throughout Australia will meet the increased demand on the continent. Winter added, “To this point products have been available through Neil’s Parts which we acquired in 1996. Now, with additional resources going to the wholesale market we believe we’ll become a world leader for the agricultural market.”

Bruce Jacobsma, Director of Parts Express added, “Our goal is to make Parts Express a globally recognized name in the agricultural spare parts market. This operation takes us one step closer to achieving that goal.”

Parts Express currently has four distribution centers in the United States and a bonded warehouse in Germany. Dealerships and repair shops are able to buy direct from Parts Express by using the B2B online website or by phone.

The addition of Parts Express into Australia is all about service, speed and affordability according to Jason Atkins, General Manager/Director of Neil’s Parts, “When we’re able to deliver quality products that are affordable and do so quickly and accurately our customers and their customers win. This move will deliver that outcome. “

Congratulations to the entire team from NTPDA!

If you’ve got news from your member business, make sure to connect with us at NTPDA@NTPDA.com!

About Parts Express - Parts Express is a leading wholesale supplier of agricultural parts in the United States. It carries a wide range of new aftermarket parts for tractors, combines (headers), grain heads (fronts), cotton pickers, and skid steers. Parts Express stocks parts for most brands of equipment including John Deere, Case IH, Ford, New Holland, Massey Ferguson, AGCO and more. To accommodate the local market, they will be distributing wholesale: CAMSO track systems, Gulf Western Oils, Redekop Mav systems, cane harvester parts and Chamberlain parts in Australia.

Parts Express USA can be reached at 800-247-1237 or online at www.Parts-Exp.com 

Member News - Rock Valley Tractor Parts Expands

We love telling stories about our members and their businesses. Today we've got an update on the expansion going on at Rock Valley Tractor Parts from our
NTPDA President, Scott Schelling. It's a story with an interesting twist. (You can click on the images to enlarge.)

Last year Rock Valley Tractor Parts acquired a company called Iowa Cutter Supply. It's a forage cutter company that, ironically, Scott helped get off the ground back in 2010. The company is in the niche business of supplying parts for forage harvesting. These are the machines that are most often associated with dairy feed. While most of us are accustomed to grain farming we had
to ask Scott about the dairy business. "You would be surprised at the number of dairy cows there are here in Northwest Iowa", said Scott. "It's sort of a secret because of all the attention given to corn and soybeans. In fact, just down the road about 34 miles is Wells Blue Bunny an ice creme giant in the United States." 

Scott tells us that he's selling forage cutter parts not only in the North America but also in Puerto Rico, Central America  and Australia. 

To incorporate the acquisition into Rock Valley Tractor Parts headquarters has required a major expansion of the company footprint.

"We're sort of land-locked here so our expansion plans centered on buying three homes near our offices. We then tore down two of them but the third we couldn't destroy. You see, it was the first house my wife Vicki and I lived in after we were married."  Rather than demolish their first home Scott had the house picked up and moved about ten miles away. "It wasn't that we were just sentimental; it was a good house and will make a fine home for the buyers."

In its place will be a new 21,000 sq. ft. building that will house Iowa Cutter Supply plus a brand new tractor parts teardown room. "The room we use now was built back in 1968 and tractors have changed just a bit since then. We need the room!"

Congratulations to Rock Valley Tractor Parts and we loved the story about the house!

If you've got a story about your business we'd love to showcase it. Drop us a line at NTPDA@NTPDA.com and let's talk.

 

 

Member News - All States Ag Parts in California

We've got some exciting news about one of our long time members All States Ag Parts and their expansion into California. That's just half of the story. Jeff Griggs (photo) from ASAP told us the company has just purchased the John F. Mahaney Company a manufacturer of fine quality agricultural, ranch and industrial hardware supplies. The family owned company was started back in 1951.

In addition to being the first All States Ag Parts California location, the acquisition strengthens All States emerging wholesale division and provides the company with manufacturing capability for popular brands including Red Rooster Tools, a line of professional grade agricultural hand tools. 

“This is a great acquisition for us,” said John Dyke, CEO of All States Ag Parts. “We’re happy to be in the heart of California’s agricultural area and look forward serving the farms, vineyards and orchards here,” said Dyke.

What this also means, according to Griggs, is that All States Ag Parts can now market these professional hand tools eastward and into the growing areas of the Midwest and Northeast.

Dyke said Steve Mahaney, previously a co-owner, will stay on board to manage the Sacramento operation. All current employees will be offered employment with All States Ag Parts.

With this expansion ASAP will now have ten locations across the country.

Congratulations to the Mahaney Family and to all our friends with All States Ag Parts. We look forward to meeting Steve and his crew at upcoming events.

 

 

Spring Decision Making On The Farm

In many parts of the nation farmers are already getting equipment ready for field work. As we check in with our members from around the world we're often caught by how so many farmers are facing the some of the roughest times since the early 1980's. With low commodity prices, for the fifth year in a row, and trade issues times in Rural America are tough.

Just last week we saw a story from Reuters that growing numbers of grain farmers are choosing to shed their machinery and find renters for their land. As these older grain farmers are retiring, fewer younger people are lining up to replace them.

While auction houses are winning...it’s putting a major strain on the farming community and the entire agricultural supply chain.

Think of it...fewer farmers means fewer customers for seed and chemical companies, fewer machine buyers, and fewer suppliers for grain merchants. 

We've heard from several members that business is still good as many farmers seek ways to cut down on repair costs by doing more of the work themselves. We've also heard that some members are actively trying to find ways to be even more assistive to their customers.

We're all in this together and times will get better. Our goal, as an association, is to continue to support our members and the many, many farmers that feed the world. Stay strong.

 

 

A Very Special Thank You!

The National Tractor Parts Dealer Association

Board of Directors - Members & Staff

Thank You!

A "Tip of the Hat" to all our sponsors that pitched in to help us with our Annual Meeting and Trade Show held in Mobile, Alabama!  We could not have done it without you. The image that  you see below was placed at all our meeting functions to make sure the attendees knew about your support of your association.

Cocktails - Early Arrival Party - Bluegill Restaurant

Allied Information Networks

Farmland Tractor Supply, Ltd.

Early Arrival Party - Entertainment

Steiner Tractor Parts, Inc.

Continental Breakfast - Friday

Fawcett Tractor Supply, Ltd.

Memo Corporation

Morning Break - Friday

Plastics Unlimited

Friday Lunch

Tractor House/AuctionTime.com

Schaefer Enterprises

Saturday Breakfast

All States Ag Parts, Inc.

Cocktail Reception - Saturday

Cook Tractor Parts, Inc.

Memo Corporation

Schaefer Enterprises

Dinner - Saturday

Abilene Machine, LLC

Allied Information Networks

Reliance Corporation

Entertainment

Steiner Tractor Parts, Inc.

 

What YOU Can Expect in Mobile!

Recently one of our speakers at our upcoming NTPDA Annual Conference and Trade Show appeared on the Insight on Business broadcast
talking about her presentation in Mobile. Karen McCullough was with us several years ago and we're grateful she is coming back to share some valuable lessons with our members. Click in and listen as she talks about branding, employees and customers. She'll also share with you exactly what you can expect in her two-part session called "Going Beyond the Brand". Join us in Mobile and take away some valuable lessons!

If you have not yet registered for our Mobile, Alabama Adventure here is a link to the registration page. Take some time and commit to working ON your business rather that working in it...you will see a difference. Join us in Mobile!