10 Statistics Every OPE Dealer Should Know for 2025
As we enter 2025, outdoor power equipment dealerships are navigating a more stable market compared to the volatility of recent years. However, numerous challenges still require attention.
To understand how dealerships are adapting, we surveyed OPE dealerships across North America to identify the key obstacles they expect to face, the strategies they plan to implement, and the emerging trends that will shape the market.
Here’s a closer look at the top insights from the survey, offering a glimpse into 2025 for OPE dealerships.
Click to Jump Ahead:
- Top Challenges for Dealers
- Shifts in Customer Base
- Service Department Automation
- Battery-Powered Equipment Demand
- Expected Service Demands
- Impactful Advancements
- Online Sales Trends
- Digital Strategies on the Rise
- Investment Priorities for Dealers
- Changing Customer Expectations
1. Top Challenges for Dealers
While 2024 shaped up to be a more stable year compared to recent times, dealers still face a range of challenges that require thoughtful planning and innovative solutions. After years of navigating supply chain issues and fluctuating consumer demand, the focus has shifted toward workforce management, economic pressures, and improving operational efficiency.
When asked what the biggest challenges OPE dealers expect to face in 2025, there were a few notable changes since the year prior. According to our survey, 32% of respondents said the biggest challenge they expect to face in 2025 is staffing shortage, a notable decrease from 56% last year. The next notable expected challenge was decreased consumer spending at 29%, down from 71% the previous year.
Dealers are navigating a more stable business environment, but the lingering workforce and economic pressures highlight the need for innovative hiring practices and customer-focused strategies to maintain momentum.
2. Shifts in Customer Base
As the OPE market evolves, dealers are seeing a shift in their customer base. 37% of dealers report an equal mix of professional landscapers and homeowners, with 25% noting an increase in homeowner interest. On the other hand, only 12% are seeing more demand from professional landscapers.
These changes reflect a broader trend, with homeowners seeking higher-quality equipment and landscapers maintaining steady demand. Dealers need to adapt their strategies to meet the diverse needs of these two important customer segments.
3. Service Department Automation
Automation is becoming an essential tool for OPE dealerships, with a focus on improving efficiency in key areas. Dealers are prioritizing status updates and warranty submissions (both at 30%), while parts ordering automation has risen to 21% from 17% last year.
This shift highlights that dealers are increasingly relying on automation to streamline processes that directly impact both customer satisfaction and operational productivity. By focusing on these high-priority areas, dealerships can ensure smoother operations and better service delivery.
4. Battery-Powered Equipment Demand
The demand for battery-powered equipment continues to grow, with 50% of dealers seeing moderate increases and 12% reporting significant growth. However, 27% of dealers have not seen any change in demand.
This shift is largely driven by environmental concerns and the performance benefits of battery-powered tools, though regional preferences still play a significant role. To capitalize on this trend, dealers should keep an eye on local market demands while educating customers on the advantages of battery technology to encourage broader adoption.
5. Expected Service Demands
Based on our findings, equipment repairs are the clear priority in this department, with an overwhelming majority of 81% of dealers anticipating increased demand. Additionally, home delivery services was the next largest segment at 14%, signaling rising customer expectations for convenience.
This data underscores the importance of a well-staffed service department, as well as exploring add-ons like delivery to stay competitive in an evolving market.
6. Impactful Advancements
As the OPE industry continues to adapt to changing consumer demands and technological advancements, it’s clear that innovation will play a significant role in shaping the future. Dealers are increasingly focusing on emerging technologies to enhance efficiency, sustainability, and customer satisfaction.
When looking at the technologies that dealers believe will have the most impact in the year ahead, we found that battery technology is expected to have the most significant impact on the OPE industry, with 61% of dealers identifying it as a key advancement. Additionally, automation and robotics follow, being highlighted by 22% of respondents respectively.
As these technologies continue to develop, it’s crucial for dealers to stay aligned with the latest advancements to meet customer demands. Early adopters will be well-positioned to lead the way in offering efficient, sustainable, and smart equipment to their customers.
7. Online Sales Trends
E-commerce has become an increasingly important channel for many dealerships as the digital landscape continues to evolve. While some dealers are seeing a notable uptick in online sales, others are navigating the challenges of online competition and fluctuating demand.
The digital shift is evident, but it is clear that the adoption of e-commerce strategies is not uniform across the board. As we look toward the year ahead, dealers will need to carefully assess their online sales potential and take proactive steps to ensure they’re capitalizing on digital opportunities.
Here’s how our surveyed dealers are forecasting their e-commerce performance for 2025:
The online sales outlook for 2025 reveals that 10% of dealers expect a significant increase, doubling last year’s 4%. Meanwhile, 32% anticipate some increase, a slight decline from 36% last year. The majority, 42%, foresee no substantial change, marginally down from 44% in the previous year. Finally, 10% predict a decrease due to online competition, consistent with last year’s figure.
As online competition remains a challenge, the potential for growth in digital platforms is clear. Dealers who leverage e-commerce strategies can tap into new revenue streams and expand their market presence, positioning themselves for success in the evolving digital landscape.
8. Digital Strategies on the Rise
As dealerships plan for 2025, digital strategies and services are becoming more critical to success. Dealers are increasingly focusing on online tools to enhance customer engagement, sales, and communication. Here’s a look at the strategies we found dealerships are prioritizing in the coming year:
Dealerships are leveraging various digital strategies for 2025, with 27% focusing on text messaging for customer service, a slight decrease from 33% last year. E-commerce platforms are a significant focus for 23% of OPE dealers, showing substantial growth from 7% the previous year. Social media advertising and engagement also climbed to 28%, up from 25%. Email marketing saw a notable decline, with 9% prioritizing it compared to 19% last year. Additionally, 13% of dealers reported pursuing other digital strategies, reflecting a diverse approach to meeting customer needs.
These shifts indicate that dealers are prioritizing real-time communication, e-commerce, and social media to engage with customers. By leveraging these tools, dealerships can enhance customer relationships and drive sales in an increasingly digital world.
9. Investment Priorities for Dealers
As dealerships continue to navigate a shifting landscape, their investment strategies are evolving to meet both operational demands and customer expectations. Dealers are placing a greater emphasis on enhancing their workforce capabilities and physical infrastructure, signaling a focus on delivering superior service and creating a more engaging in-store experience.
While digital investments have somewhat slowed, there’s still a recognition of the need for technological upgrades. Here’s what dealers had to say about where they plan to allocate resources in 2025:
41% of dealerships are focusing on staff training and development, an increase from 37% last year. Store renovation or expansion plans have also risen significantly to 25%, compared to 17% the previous year. E-commerce and digital capabilities have seen a decline, dropping to 20% from 27%.
Looking ahead, these investment choices reflect a shift toward balancing service excellence and physical upgrades with necessary digital enhancements. Dealers are prioritizing these tools to keep pace with changing market demands and strengthen their competitive position.
10. Changing Customer Expectations
As dealerships prepare for 2025, it’s clear that customer service expectations are shifting. A closer look at dealer predictions reveals key changes in what customers want, with personalization and attention to detail becoming more crucial than ever. The demand for faster service is waning, while the desire for a more customized experience is on the rise.
These evolving trends will challenge dealerships to adapt their service offerings in response to changing consumer preferences, ensuring they stay competitive in a market focused on high-quality customer interactions.
When it comes to customer service expectations, 15% of survey respondents said they foresee increased demand for personalized service, up from last year at 13%. Meanwhile, the need for online support has dropped significantly to 17%, down from 23%. Expectations for speed and efficiency have increased slightly, with 48% anticipating a higher demand, compared to 44% last year. Additionally, demand for post-sale services has fallen to 11%, down from 13%.
This data highlights a growing shift towards quality interactions over quick responses, emphasizing the importance of personalized care and detailed service. Dealers can seize this opportunity by adapting their strategies to meet these expectations and create more meaningful customer relationships.
Stay Ahead with These Insights
As we look toward 2025, dealerships have a unique opportunity to embrace innovation and adapt to a rapidly changing landscape. With the right approach, dealers can turn these challenges into opportunities. For a deeper dive into industry forecasts and trends, we encourage you to explore the full industry report, where you’ll find valuable insights to help you navigate the year ahead.
