Blog - The McDonald Group Inc

Resources and best practices for machinery dealer development

Our blog has a mix of articles written by our founder, Walter McDonald, and by other industry experts, business owners, and equipment dealer team members. Learn about everything from marketing ideas to tips for successful branch operations to how to retain customers—and everything in between!

Product Support: a Barrier to Competition

By Walter J. McDonald, CMC
President, The McDonald Group, Inc.

A Practical Guide that Works Industrial equipment industry customers today are demanding both product quality AND quality aftermarket parts and service support. By the end of the last decade, most equipment manufacturers have learned how to delivery quality products. From forklifts to excavators and conveyors, the machinery industry produces the highly reliable products end user… Continue reading Product Support: a Barrier to Competition

Participation rate and market share

The Key to Dealer Growth and Professional Sales Compensation

By Tim J. Murphy

I attended a sales / product training meeting several years ago where customers using competitive equipment were part of a panel taking questions from our sales team. One question posed was, “how often should a sales rep call on you?” The response was classic and one that hit home. “You can call on me every… Continue reading Participation rate and market share

A Dirty Industry Secret:Service Management and Parts Management Burnout

by Walter J. McDonald, CMC

Service and Parts Managers Say, “Burnout Is Their Number One Obstacle to Top Performance.” A sinister force in our industry today is cutting down many excellent employees in their prime. The hidden problem is service and parts management BURNOUT! Many dealer executives tell me the expected time on the job for Service Managers or Parts… Continue reading A Dirty Industry Secret:Service Management and Parts Management Burnout

11 Dynamite Tools to Help Improve Dealer Market Knowledge

by Walter J. McDonald

Machinery dealers are taking data analytics more and more seriously. Enterprise software vendors are offering amazing color graphics, pie charts, graphs, bar charts. But behind all this is the question, “What do you really need to know?” What information will provide you the most helpful and useful insights into pursuing your very best opportunities? Do… Continue reading 11 Dynamite Tools to Help Improve Dealer Market Knowledge

Manufacturing Better Service Operations

By Richard Golden, Director of Operations, Material Handling Distributor

Introduction Back in 1990 manufacturing was dramatically transformed with the development of what is commonly referred to as Lean or Continuous Improvement. The result of a manufacturer adopting this system was that they could produce widgets faster, safer and at a lower cost while improving quality. As the success of manufacturers continued, the ideas also… Continue reading Manufacturing Better Service Operations

OEM Sales And ServiceAgreements

Are They Functional or Fractured?

In our highly-acclaimed textbook, Achieving Excellence in Dealer/Distributor Performance, author Walter McDonald presents his recent research on “How Dealers Evaluate Their Manufacturers” in Chapter 29. In the following article by Jim Wilson, we continue the discussion on how to improve dealer/distributor relations with their OEMs. Jim now takes this important issue to the next level.… Continue reading OEM Sales And ServiceAgreements

Four Profit Improvement Strategies

By Walter J. McDonald President, The McDonald Group, Inc.

In our McDonald Group Asset and Revenue Center Management Workshop we work extensively on profit improvement strategies for machinery distributors. As the instructor, I was impressed with the intensity and seriousness of participating managers. Each of the companies who have attended are now working on significant programs to bolster revenue center margins and improve operating… Continue reading Four Profit Improvement Strategies

The Problem Solving Process

By Walter J. McDonald

If you are facing a promotion or additional responsibilities as a Machinery Dealer Department or Branch Manager or even a Division Executive, congratulations! You are anxious to get started and do the best job you can. However, in many circumstances the challenges in this new position can be formidable. And, at first glance, the magnitude… Continue reading The Problem Solving Process

7 Tools to Build Market Share

By Walter J. McDonald

Market Share is like Mom’s apple pie, the bigger your slice the better! Market Share gains occur because we outsmart and outwit our competitors. But, to get a bigger slice, you must have the basics in place. A very surprising recent research study shows that 95% of equipment sales are to CURRENT customers, buying Parts… Continue reading 7 Tools to Build Market Share

Hierarchy of Dealer Knowledge

On Becoming a More Effective Dealer Manager

I — The Transaction Level Why do so many dealer sales and operations managers appear to be stuck at the transaction level? They may be caught up in a whirlwind of activities, chasing back orders, struggling with rework, running after sales or rental deals. They may be constantly reacting to emergencies, never getting ahead of… Continue reading Hierarchy of Dealer Knowledge

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Resources and best practices for machinery dealer development