Tech, Trust & Mowers: Inside the OPE Industry with Angela Raddant

Ready to geek out on outdoor power equipment and the future of the industry? In this episode of Channel Chatter, Kevin Sabourin sits down with Angela Raddant, a 20-year veteran in the Outdoor Power Equipment (OPE) industry, to dive deep into the business of mowers, dealerships, and the customer experience. Angela shares her unique perspective on product strategy, the role of dealerships, and what it’s like to be a woman leading in this male-dominated industry.

Angela unpacks the shift in how consumers and commercial landscapers approach buying power equipment, breaking down everything from the importance of dealership trust to how the customer journey has evolved—especially in a post-COVID world.  They discuss how battery-powered equipment is changing the game, the growing demand for smart inventory management, and what dealers need to do to prepare for 2025 and beyond.

But it's not all business! Kevin and Angela also chat about finding balance in life—whether it’s through gardening, family, or simply the joy of mowing your own lawn.  So, if you're in the OPE space or just love a good lawnmower chat, hit play, subscribe, and join the conversation!

Key Takeaways:

• How consumer and commercial buyer expectations have changed—dealership trust is everything.
• Why battery-powered equipment is the future and what that means for dealers.

Inventory management is crucial in the current economic environment—stock smart, stock right.

Timestamps:

00:08 – Kevin welcomes Angela Raddant and discusses her 20-year OPE journey
01:38 – Angela’s love for product strategy and her experience leading in OPE
02:55 – Customer vs. product-centric approaches in dealerships
04:34 – How dealers build relationships with commercial buyers
05:49 – The impact of online research on customer buying decisions
07:28 – Post-COVID customer behavior: Are we meeting expectations?
09:27 – Angela’s insights on the OPE industry lagging behind other sectors in tech
11:18 – Angela’s involvement in women’s leadership in OPE
12:19 – How dealers can thrive during economic downturns
14:07 – The importance of service, parts, and deepening customer relationships
19:17 – Why trade-ins and rental markets haven’t grown as expected
26:26 – The growing demand for online inventory visibility
32:46 – Angela shares personal stories about her family, gardening, and mowing the lawn

Tags:

#ChannelChatter #OutdoorPowerEquipment #OPE #BatteryPoweredTools #DealershipSuccess #CustomerJourney #TrustInSales #TechInOPE #SalesAndMarketing #DealershipTips #BatteryTechnology #WomenInLeadership #PowerEquipment #IndustryInsights #InventoryManagement #FutureOfSales #WorkLifeBalance #ServiceAndParts #EconomicDownturn #GardeningLife #LeadershipTips #CustomerExperience #RetailStrategy #PowerTools #SustainabilityInOPE #LawnmowerLife

For more episodes like this, check it out on Spotify, Apple or any number of other podcast platforms. (Or YouTube for those of you who prefer video... )

Apple: https://lnkd.in/gUjE-WZ5
Spotify: https://lnkd.in/gQnS3viY
YouTube: https://lnkd.in/gt9JbC5f

And don't forget to give us a like and a 5-star rating and/or review so more channel pros like you can easily find us, join in and listen along...