LOUISVILLE, Ky — Dealers attending Equip Exposition will have no shortage of education with two new additions to the show.
For the first time, a panel of Consumer Reports editors will be on hand to discuss what’s driving consumer sentiment when it comes to buying outdoor power equipment. The show will also include sessions led by The Farnsworth Group, which will discuss macro-economic trends and how they impact the outdoor power equipment industry.
Organizers expect to attract tens of thousands of attendees and more than 1,000 exhibitors to the show at the Kentucky Exposition Center Oct. 21-24.
Two current themes in the landscape industry right now are resilience and how to offset labor shortages.
“Even when markets tighten, the grass continues to grow,” Kris Kiser, President & CEO of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute, which owns Equip Exposition, said. “Businesses that adapt and stay strong come out ahead.”
Contractors are also looking for ways to mechanize and offset labor shortages. “Dealers want to better understand their customers’ mindset to sharpen sales strategies and build stronger teams,” he said.
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Equip Exposition decided to ramp up its education in response to demand among attendees. “Education and learning take place everywhere at our show,” Kiser said. “Not everyone wants to learn in the same conditions or in the same way, so we create unique spaces for peer-to-peer connections — from our keynote with Jesse Cole of the Savannah Bananas to casual, high-energy discussions at ENERGIZE! and the Morning Show.
“We see education as the spark for new ideas, big breakthroughs and stronger businesses. The more opportunities we give people to connect and learn, the more powerful the impact on their companies and the industry.”
Sessions, both free and premium, will be tailored to all levels of experience. “We design a catalog of 100+ education sessions and events for everyone from newcomers just entering the industry to seasoned leaders, contractors, dealers and manufacturers,” Kiser said. “This industry often forces people to ‘figure it out on their own,’ and we aim to close that gap.”
For example, the new Tree Care Arena offers live demonstrations on everything from shrub planting to advanced tree trimming on a real 50-foot tree. The Drone Zone will offer a quick, high-impact AI landscape design session.
“With flexible formats, approachable pricing, hands-on demos and language options, it’s almost impossible to leave Equip without a new solution,” Kiser said.
Reach Kris Kaiser at kkiser@opei.org
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