PEAK SEASON PREP
If you do nothing else this month, ensure your shop has checked these boxes:
Revise labor and diagnostic rates: Ensure your pricing reflects the new-cost environment.
Implement intake triage: Create a plan to separate routine maintenance from complex repairs.
Stock wear-part kits: Build your inventory of filters, blades and belts now.
Schedule off-season training: Use the remaining weeks of late winter to master new diagnostic tools.
Identify admin support: Determine if you need seasonal help to handle intake and calls, freeing up your techs.
Level the workload: Use early-bird incentives to encourage customers to bring in equipment before the grass grows.
“ EETC supports retention by promoting structured career pathways,” Tallman explains.“ By encouraging progressive skill levels, stackable credentials and employer-supported training plans, EETC helps dealers improve morale, engagement and long-term loyalty to both the dealer and the industry.”
However, the industry also faces a pipeline problem. Many potential candidates— students and career changers— simply do not realize that OPE service is a high-tech, sustainable career. The lack of visibility results in a weak talent pool long before the spring demand hits. Dealers are encouraged to work with education and workforce partners to clarify skill expectations and highlight the viability of the trade.
Worry No. 3: Technology and training gaps
Modern equipment has evolved far beyond simple mechanical engines. Today’ s mowers and power tools integrate mechanical, electrical, electronic and software-driven components. This evolution has created a cultural resistance in some shops where new technology is perceived as a disruption.
“ Many technicians were trained primarily on mechanical systems, so advanced diagnostics, electronics and software-based tools can feel disruptive,” Tallman says.“ This often leads to cultural resistance, where new technology is perceived as adding complexity rather than enhancing technician skill.”
To combat this, training programs are evolving. Tallman points to a systems-based training model that emphasizes how different components, such as electronic fuel injection( EFI), electronic chokes and battery charging systems, interact.
The off-season advantage: The best time to innovate is when the shop is quiet. Tallman advises using the slow season( late fall and winter) for:
1. Structured training: Upskill on diagnostics and battery platforms when pressure is low. Avoid introducing unfamiliar technology during the peak of the spring rush.
2. Refurbishing trade-ins: This is a dual-purpose strategy. It creates hands-on training opportunities for younger technicians under the guidance of senior mentors in a low-stress environment.“ Refurbished equipment can then be sold as certified used units, adding a valuable secondary revenue stream while developing future-ready technicians,” Tallman notes.
Worry No. 4: Parts and shop readiness
Even common wear parts— spark plugs, belts, filters and blades— can vanish from inventory just when demand surges. A shop that lacks an organized parts strategy is a shop that loses billable hours.
Preventive measures: Experts suggest building a“ spring kit shelf” well in advance. By stocking high-turnover items before March, shops avoid mid-job stalls. Additionally, parts should be organized and tagged logically so that technicians do not waste time searching for a common air filter during their busiest hours.
Transparency also plays a role here. If a part is on backorder, communicating that lead time to the customer immediately prevents the“ where is my mower?” phone calls three days later.
Worry No. 5: Customer expectations and communication
In the heat of the season, communication can be the first thing to fall by the wayside. However, proactive communication is often the best tool for reducing the administrative workload.
Using simple status updates for each stage of repair— check-in, diagnosis, parts ordered, work started and ready-for-pickup— can significantly reduce customer anxiety. A short text message or automated update can save a staff member a five-minute phone call.
8 OPE + March 2026 www. OPE-Plus. com