Page 4 - OPE March 2020

CLIPPINGS
Local and International News
STIHL takes it to the Tron
FOR ITS 2020 conference over 14-16 February, STIHL converged on Hamilton, which all too often
is the butt of a lot of jokes in New Zealand, one of the main ones being “What’s the best part of Hamilton?” Answer: “the road heading north!”
A short walk from the hotel took delegates to Claudelands Arena, which would be the venue for not just another charity team-building event, but also the hands-on sessions with new products and the gala dinner and awards presentations.
“Claudelands was an excellent venue,” says Marketing Manager, Stace Hall, accommodating as it did almost every aspect of the proceedings.
Just as accommodating was the weather during the three-day get-together, which was hot and dry.
Friday started with fun, team-based activities, including a challenge to
build a mini golf hole ... out of out of non-perishable grocery items – canned food and rice and toilet rolls, etc!
Having constructed 18 holes, the STIHL teams played them all, after which the Salvation Army turned up with a big van which was then filled with the $5,000 or so worth of groceries.
STIHL SHOP Te Rapa did a threepeat, taking out Outstanding Retailer of the Year Award (L-R): Jochen Speer (Managing Director): Anthony Mildren (NorthernTerritoryManager); DaleandPeterBanks;andWendelinGanter (Senior Manager Sales Asia, Pacific, Middle East).
2020’s Outstanding Sales Achievement Award went to STIHL SHOP Fosters (L-R): Mark Lochhead (Southern Territory Manager); Jochen Speer; Sharon and Tim Foster, Megan andSimonDunlop(STIHLSHOPFosters);andWendelinGanter.
“All a bit of fun, but also for a good cause as well,” says Stace. “We’re having fun, but it’s also about being worthwhile at the end of the day.”
Activities for the day having concluded, everyone boarded a bus for a tour of “Hobbiton”, just outside Matamata, followed by an on-site banquet dinner in a tent like in the movie The Hobbit, complete with live fiddlers and entertainment.
Conference returned to Claudelands on Saturday for commercial presentations, followed in the afternoon by hands-on time with new products including, the so-cute GTA 26 hand-held pruner. (See the next
magazine for details on the new season’s products.)
Later that evening at the gala dinner, STIHL SHOP Te Rapa’s Peter and Dale Banks were celebrating a threepeat – taking out the top dealer award for the third time in a row!
“We’re very honoured indeed,” says Peter, who was equally chuffed that his home town of Hamilton was getting some much deserved attention.
“Conference is always a good time to catch up with all your colleagues,” he says. “You think sometimes you’re the only one having some issues and, then you find
that everyone has the same issues, just on a different day or in different place.
“But it’s always nice to catch up with a lot of people you only see yearly and it’s always a great time.
“And, I have to say; to have it in Hamilton was just awesome, being the locals!”
What does Peter put Te Rapa’s success down to? “It’s a combination of a lot of things. A good team effort, good staff, good procedures and good customers.”
He adds: “I think we try to really try to focus on the customers. People like dealing with people. I’ve always said you should try and treat people how you want to be treated. That’s nothing new, but it’s a big focus from our point of view.”
New STIHL SHOP proprietors at conference for the first time included
Silver Ferns coach, Noelene Tarua, was 2020’s keynote speaker and, by all accounts she was awesome, motivating and highly focused.
Michelle and Isaac Russell (Nelson – see page 2) Murray Wilson (Cromwell) and Bill and Shelley Caines of STIHL SHOP Greymouth.
For 2021, STIHL says its conference venue will travel north of Auckland, possibly for the first time, to the Bay of Islands.
04 NZOUTDOORPOWEREQUIPMENT MARCH2020
moreat www.facebook.com/NZOPEmagazine
INDUSTRY
OUTDOOR POWER DIARY DATES
March 12-14: Hearth, Patio & BBQ Expo, New Orleans, USA. www.hpbexpo.com March 19-21: Central Districts Field Days, Manfeild, NZ. www.cdfielddays.co.nz June 10-13: Fieldays 2020, Hamilton, NZ. www.fieldays.co.nz
August 14: Young Landscaper of
the Year, Christchurch, NZ. https:// masterlandscapers.org.nz/
August 15: Landscapes of Distinction Awards, Christchurch, NZ. https:// masterlandscapers.org.nz/
September 9-13: Auckland HomeShow, Auckland, NZ. www.aucklandhomeshow.co.nz September 6-8: Spoga+gafa, Cologne, Germany. www.spogagafa.com October 1-4: Waikato Home & Garden Show, Hamilton NZ. www.waikatohomeshow.co.nz
October 21-23: GIE+EXPO & Hardscape North America, Kentucky, USA. http://gie-expo.com/