OPE+ May 2026 | Page 3

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sue Inside This Issue Inside This Issue Inside This Issue Inside This Issue Inside T

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MAY 2026

VOLUME 69, ISSUE 3
4 FROM THE EDITOR
The Parts People Don’ t See by Brian Ethridge
6 HEALTH AND WELLNESS
Skin Cancer Awareness Month highlights risks facing outdoor workers.
8 ECOMMERCE UPDATE
Digital retail trends continue influencing how equipment buyers research and purchase products.

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10 LANDSCAPE DESIGN
Outdoor living trends focus on wellness, functionality and natural materials.
14 HARDSCAPE EQUIPMENT
Compact loaders and compaction tools help crews work efficiently in tight-access jobsites.
16 SUCCESSION PLANNING
How dealers can protect value and prepare for ownership transition.
20 ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
Industry expertise becomes the real competitive advantage as AI lowers technical barriers.

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24 LANDSCAPE AND GROUNDS MANAGEMENT
Plant varieties offering pollinator appeal, seasonal color and lowmaintenance performance.
30 BRANDING
Reputation is built through consistency, trust and the experiences customers remember most.
32 SOFTWARE
Integrated platforms help landscape companies improve visibility, efficiency and decision-making.
32 EQUIPMENT FOCUS
The latest compact loaders and attachments help crews handle a wider range of jobs.
OPE PLUS( ISSN 0192-7558)( USPS 0006-257)( Reg. U. S. Pat. & T. M. Off.) is published seven times yearly by EPG Brand Acceleration, 7760 France Avenue South, Suite 810, Bloomington, MN 55435. POSTMASTER: Please send change of address to OPE Plus, P. O. Box 96, Port Jervis, NY 12771-0096. For subscription information and requests, call Subscription Services at( 763) 383-4492. Registration Number: R125906743. © COPYRIGHT 2026, OPE PLUS. Material may not be reproduced or photocopied in any form without the written permission of the publisher. To subscribe visit www. ope-plus. com / subscribe.
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