Most Clicked OPEI SmartBrief Stories
1. Emissions standards tightened for lawn mowers
OPEI SmartBrief | Sep 05, 2008
The Environmental Protection Agency established stricter emission standards for new lawn mowers and other outdoor power equipment by requiring their engines to have catalytic converters. "EPA's new small engine standards will allow Americans to cut air pollution as well as grass," said an EPA administrator. The new regulations are set to go into effect in 2010 and 2011. International Herald Tribune (09/04) Washington Post, The (09/05)
2. Deere to close factory in Canada
OPEI SmartBrief | Sep 03, 2008
Deere & Co. has announced the planned closure of its Canadian plant in Welland, Ontario, by the end of 2009. The facility manufactures utility vehicles as well as cutting and loading attachments, and production will be relocated to existing plants in Wisconsin and Mexico. The Welland plant employs 800 people. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (09/02) Wall Street Journal, The (subscription required) (09/03)
3. When a customer asks for a discount, try flinching
OPEI SmartBrief | Sep 02, 2008
Customers often fish for discounts, even though they do not expect to get them. Practicing a response to the question, including visibly flinching, can help a small-business owner quickly bypass the issue and avoid setting a precedent for the customer to keep returning and asking for a special price. Home Town Journal (Glen St. Mary, Fla.) (08/28)
4. Golf cart maker finds systems solution to shipping
OPEI SmartBrief | Sep 04, 2008
The orders for E-Z-GO golf carts always spike in early spring just before golf season, but the company was losing money on high transportation costs. By purchasing transportation- and warehouse-management systems, the Georgia company found a way to cut shipping costs and increase efficiency. DC Velocity (09/03)
5. Miles per gallon for lawn mowers still a mystery
OPEI SmartBrief | Sep 02, 2008
When purchasing a new car, it is hard to miss the miles per gallon rating. However, lawn mowers are not required to disclose the mpg rating. Some lawn mower engines are being produced with an automatic choke to lower emissions, but some say the engines have a long way to go to meet fuel-efficiency standards common for automobiles. Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (Little Rock) (free registration) (08/30)
6. Yanmar America moves corporate headquarters
OPEI SmartBrief | Sep 04, 2008
Yanmar America Corp. has moved its corporate headquarters from Buffalo Grove, Ill., to Adairsville, Ga. While the Illinois facility will still continue to handle customer service and applications support operations, the Georgia facility will handle manufacturing, engineering, marketing and administration activities. The 480,000-square-foot facility in Adairsville is located an hour north of Atlanta. American City Business Journals (09/03) Lawn & Landscape (09/03)
7. AGCO Corp. CEO's strategy for growth
OPEI SmartBrief | Sep 03, 2008
The CEO of AGCO Corp., an agriculture-equipment manufacturer and distributor, shares the secrets of his success in this profile. When Martin Richenhagen arrived at the company in 2004, AGCO was focused on acquiring companies as a method of growth. Instead, Richenhagen retooled AGCO's image as a brand that outlasted the competition to capture more customers. "You have to benchmark yourself and think about what are your customers expecting," he says. Smart Business (09/03)
8. Failing franchises offer lessons on what not to do
OPEI SmartBrief | Sep 04, 2008
Three root causes of franchise failures are concept, capital and management, says franchising coach Mark Siebert. The recent bankruptcies of Bennigan's and Mrs. Field's Cookies offer examples of how franchises can go wrong, he says. Entrepreneur.com (08/26)
9. Kubota to double capacity in Thailand facility
OPEI SmartBrief | Sep 02, 2008
Kubota Corp. announced plans to double the planned capacity at its plant in Thailand. The Japanese company will begin production on tractors in Thailand in March through a joint venture with Siam Cement Pcl. of Bangkok. Demand for tractors in Thailand is growing at a rate seven times faster than in Europe. Kubota is shifting its focus in North America, its largest foreign market, from residential tractors to farm tractors, because of the weakened housing market. Bloomberg (08/29)
10. Warning signs of recession for global economy
OPEI SmartBrief | Sep 03, 2008
With the economies of both Europe and Japan showing slowed growth, experts are worried about the effect of a possible recession overseas on the U.S. economy. Japan and Europe are key trading partners with the U.S., and American exports have risen recently as the weaker U.S. dollar made U.S. goods more affordable. Manufacturers John Deere and Toro, for example, have posted gains on international sales as demand increases in developing countries. USA TODAY (09/02)
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