itor From the Editor From the Editor From the Editor From the Editor From the Ed

I ’ m a slow learner , but I get there eventually . And the most important thing I ’ ve learned – like , I fully understand this now – is that my life is better because of people .

Of course , I still like my alone time . But when it comes to work , shopping , entertainment , even projects around the house , I want people involved . Things that interfere with or limit human connections , I avoid them . Does my experience can apply to your business ?

GLENN HANSEN

Self-checkout machines My neighborhood has a couple big-box stores . One uses self-checkout lanes and one does not . Sometimes I forget and go to the self-checkout one , and I hate it . That business does not want a relationship with me , it just wants my money .

I can ’ t imagine any OPE dealer using self-checkout machines . But how many of you are talking with every customer who visits ? Talking to them , person to person . That ’ s what I want , a conversation with a person .

OPE BUSINESS STAFF Sr . Vice President / Sales Content Director Landscape Business Editor Associate Art Director Contributing Writers :

David Voll Glenn Hansen John Kmitta Lindsay Zigan Heather Wilson

ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVES Edwin Rosario Marketing & Engagement Sales Executive Phone : ( 763 ) 383-4495 erosario @ epgacceleration . com

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Online shopping Amazon , schmamazon . I am not a fan . I know many people who love Amazon . It delivers products for people who don ’ t have easy access to stores . And it also provides retail opportunities for many small businesses , maybe even yours . I can ’ t argue with that .

I do all kinds of research online , and I guess some of that is “ shopping .” But in the end , I want to see the products in person , look at the choices , feel the edges of that string trimmer line , try on those boots . Most importantly , I want to talk to an expert . I might pay for it online , but I ’ m visiting the store to pick it up .

This is not the future , it ’ s the now . Give customers all the options they need to shop and buy online . And when they come and get it , make that experience as personal and human as you can . Don ’ t just leave the items in a bag on a shelf by the door . Talk to people .

At our recent Dealer Forum event , I had the distinct pleasure of meeting and talking with Josh Flynn ( center ), and Jake Segrin ( right ). You can read more about these interesting people on p . 12 .

Artificial intelligence It ’ s coming and we can ’ t stop it . It ’ s only going to get better . AI will make many things a little easier , and it ’ s not here to replace people . I ’ ve heard all the cliches about AI .

We are studying AI at work here , and I ’ ve tried it for writing stories and doing research . And while AI may not immediately replace people , it does indeed replace human interaction . I could ask a coworker to proofread my work and then we could discuss it . Or I could have ChatGPT do it and then I can talk to myself .

We ’ ll all figure out some good uses of AI in the nottoo-distant future . In the meantime , I have a human connection to make . Maybe I ’ ll go out shopping . OPEB

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4 OPE Business December 2023 www . OPEBusiness . com