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!

The Master’s Program in Machinery Dealer Management – Dealer Distance Learning Format

A Customized Distance-Learning Program for your Entire Machinery Dealership Team: Parts, Service, Rentals, Used Machinery, New Machinery Sales Management, Information Technology, Finance and Accounts and Customer Service Managers

Researched and Presented byWalter J. McDonald, President The McDonald Group, Inc. walt@mcd.winsbystorage.com • www.mcdonaldgroupinc.com The 13 module Distance Learning and private, personalized development program designed for senior machinery dealer executives and managers. This is the Dealer Curriculum Track. A Certificate in Machinery Dealer Development will be awarded upon successful completion of all course and study… Continue reading The Master’s Program in Machinery Dealer Management – Dealer Distance Learning Format

How to Avoid 7 Deadly Sins in Used Equipment

By Walter McDonald

Your Used Equipment Business Can Be Profitable If you have been losing money or just breaking even when you sell your used equipment now is the time to audit your operations. Selling trade-ins or former rentals can be a big profit challenge. If you have more than fifteen rental units that have either a poor… Continue reading How to Avoid 7 Deadly Sins in Used Equipment

Industry Executive Reviews

Service Management – Machinery Dealer Manager's Handbook

I don’t know how much further Walt can take his guidance to our distribution channel and businesses, but I keep reading and learning. As soon as I start feeling too comfortable, the business evolves again and I better adjust or lose ground.John M. Vandy I carefully read through your latest release, “Service Management: The Machinery… Continue reading Industry Executive Reviews

How to Field a Winning Team

By Walter J. McDonald

Collaborative Relationships Between Dealer Sales and Product Support Are Essential to Overall Success From the Sales Manager’s perspective, the primary objective of a machinery dealership is to increase market share, profitability, and customer service. But, achieving these goals is often frustrated by continuous conflict between sales and parts & service. When you objectively examine these… Continue reading How to Field a Winning Team

Photoshoot On The Serengeti

By Walter J. McDonald

How To Improve Deal Visibility and Closure Rates Reprinted with updates from Achieving Excellence in Dealer/Distributor Performance Have you ever considered signing up for a camera safari in Tanzania East Africa? It’s famous for large numbers of big game species at home on the sweeping Serengeti plains! Just think about it. This is the classic… Continue reading Photoshoot On The Serengeti

Sales Operations Assessment for The Newly Appointed Multi-Branch Dealer Sales Manager

By Walter J. McDonald

Congratulations. You have just been appointed manager of new and used machinery sales and rentals in a large multi-branch machinery dealership. This is a significant challenge and the purpose of this guide is to help you get a quick start and help ensure long-term success for you and your sales team. In my experience, highly… Continue reading Sales Operations Assessment for The Newly Appointed Multi-Branch Dealer Sales Manager

How Technology Can Transform Efficiency of Field Service Requests

By Steve Ross

Worldwide, customers and dealers lose billions of dollars per year not repairing equipment on the first visit to the site. Current methods of phone calls and email are challenging for the equipment user to supply the servicing dealer with enough information to prioritize down units and enough details about the issue to fix the unit… Continue reading How Technology Can Transform Efficiency of Field Service Requests

Confessions of a Service Manager

By Bill Pyles

I’ve been working in Product Support most of my life. Most of those 30 years have been primarily focused on service department product support. I spent time as a shop mechanic, field mechanic, shop foreman, and service manager. I learned a lot during those years. I learned: How to move labor and material around on… Continue reading Confessions of a Service Manager

Bus Drivers, Controls, Maps, and Tools

By Walter J. McDonald

As Dealer Manager, you may be in charge of a Dealer Revenue Center. Dealer Revenue Center Management has been the pivotal dealer Best Practice for over four decades. Yet, why are so many dealers still floundering in specific areas of their business? I think it has to do with Bus Drivers, Controls, Maps, and Tools.… Continue reading Bus Drivers, Controls, Maps, and Tools

Thoughts on Effective Service Management

By Walter J. McDonald

In my experience, the Field Service business is the most complex Revenue Center in a machinery dealership. Field Service is more difficult to manage than sales, parts, rentals, or shop service. The problem involves pricing as well as a cost. Field service is fraught with potential inefficiencies that dramatically impact the cost. Step 1- Optimize… Continue reading Thoughts on Effective Service Management

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Resources and best practices for machinery dealer development