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While the format, company names and faces have changed over the decades, securing distribution outlets for shortline equipment continues to be the primary reason our members attend our annual Marketing & Distribution Convention.

Continued consolidation of retail outlets—and the continued push for dealer purity by multi-national tractor corporations—call on us to intensify our focus on helping you find new distribution options next year and long-term. 

The distribution landscape also continues to change via state laws. Barring last-minute challenges, a law in North Dakota will will take effect August 1 that significantly changes requirements for contracts with farm equipment dealers.

It prohibits manufacturers from:

• Requiring or attempting to require a dealer to refuse to purchase farm equipment manufactured by another farm equipment manufacturer. 
   
• Requiring a dealer to separate the equipment lines within the dealer’s facility. This includes separation of personnel, inventory, service areas, and display space, or to otherwise dictate the method, manner, number of units, or the location of farm equipment displays at the dealer’s facility. 
   
• Requiring a dealer to either establish or maintain exclusive facilities, personnel, or display space, or to abandon an existing relationship with another manufacturer in order to continue, renew, reinstate, or enter a dealer agreement, or to participate in any program discount, credit, rebate, or sales incentive.

This is an attempt to address the “dealer purity” issue, and it is just one example of the many issues that should be on the minds of everyone in the industry as we gather this November for the 2017 edition of our Marketing & Distribution Convention at the Hyatt Regency in Houston.

As you make your travel plans, please make note of a few changes to the schedule. One of the major changes to this year’s schedule is the movement of our MarketPlace and the contact session hosted by the Equipment Marketing & Distribution Association (EMDA). Both of these events give manufacturers opportunities for quick visits with a multitude of distributors, in a tabletop environment, and opportunities to make appointments for more in-depth meetings during the convention. The MarketPlace and contact sessions are now Tuesday afternoon.

Schedule highlights on our meeting webpage — . 

Our best advice to members is to plan now. Many manufacturers have already contacted current and potential marketing partners. Schedules fill up early, and July is the best time to make these important appointments. Our website has links to all of the members of our Associate Marketing Section, and our staff will be glad to provide contact information for members of EMDA. 

When registering for the convention and making appointments, please note that while the published schedule covers the afternoon of Monday through Thursday, Nov. 6 through 9, we have rooms available earlier in the week. 

Acting now will save you more than $200 in registration fees. It will also guarantee you access to rooms at the Hyatt Regency Houston.

Our staff welcomes questions and is happy to help you make the most of the convention. Give us a call at 314.878.2304, and start planning a great meeting.