A Spring Unlike Any Other Dealers grapple with health concerns, business impacts as the coronavirus pandemic affects the lawn and garden industry. BY DAN SHELL & PATRICK DUNNING
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cross the country, the lawn and garden industry and power equipment dealers are adapting to drastically different operating conditions in a spring season unlike any other as the coronavirus pandemic works its way throughout North America. Plans have changed, and different states and regions have different restrictions on business operations. In most of the country, power equipment dealerships remain open as part of a Dept. of Homeland Security guideline (with discretion left up to states and localities) that lawn and garden equipment suppliers and dealerships are part of the country’s “critical and essential” agricultural infrastructure. In Washington state, Angela Longnecker, who works at the Yelm location of J&I Power Equipment, with headquarters in Olympia, says “It’s too soon to tell and it’s ever changing,” when asked about the impact the coronavirus is having on the dealership. Located in one of the early virus “hot spots” in the Puget Sound area, Longnecker says when news broke about a potential lock-down of business and much activity, it seemed to generate a spurt of business as some customers made buying decisions with that in mind. She adds that since the virus began spreading and precautions have increased, the stores have followed suit. Originally they were wiping surfaces frequently, putting up barriers to keep 8
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APRIL 2020
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In spring 2020, hand sanitizer becomes a critical business supply for dealers.
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