Kioti Holds Annual Dealer Meeting in Mexico

Feb. 29, 2008
Kioti hosted a dealer meeting in Cancun, Mexico, Jan. 20-22. The agenda included a welcome reception, educational seminars and break-out sessions on a variety of topics including managing parts & service as a profit center, product support, successful marketing, product reviews, floor planning and customer satisfaction.

Kioti hosted a dealer meeting in Cancun, Mexico, Jan. 20-22. The agenda included a welcome reception, educational seminars and break-out sessions on a variety of topics including managing parts & service as a profit center, product support, successful marketing, product reviews, floor planning and customer satisfaction.

Kioti dealers from around North America attended the annual meeting, as well as a variety of vendor partners and Kioti personnel. Throughout the meeting, dealers provided valuable feedback to Kioti about the products, marketing materials and how the tractors are perceived by customers and potential customers across the country.

As part of this meeting, Kioti introduced dealers to its new 5 Paw Dealer Certification Program, which was designed to ensure that Kioti dealers represent themselves in a manner consistent with Kioti 's image and to be sure that end-user customers receive top-notch customer service and a pleasant purchasing environment when shopping for a Kioti compact tractor.

The program has five qualifying areas for each dealer: sales, parts and service, a customer satisfaction score (CSS), issue resolution and facility appearance. To receive a 5 Paw Dealer designation for 2008, each dealer must meet or exceed the qualifying standards set for each of these five criteria. Qualifying dealers will be promoted to the public as a “5 Paw Dealer” on Kioti 's website. They will also be given a special 5 Paw Dealer promotional package for use within their dealership to further promote the Kioti Tractor product line. In subsequent years, dealers will receive an annual evaluation to ensure they continue to meet the criteria of a 5 Paw Dealer.

Kioti also announced the implementation of a new 4-year, full- fleet warranty. This new Kioti warranty extends commercial use coverage to 48 months and eliminates all hourly usage ceilings for coverage eligibility within the first four years. By removing the maximum hours covered by the warranty, all those who purchase a Kioti tractor will have few worries about unexpected repair costs, regardless of the tractor's use, during the first four years of ownership.

At a dinner on the last evening of the meeting, Kioti recognized and presented its 2007 million dollar dealers with award plaques. The company also recognized its 2007 dealer council members. C. G. Kim, president of Kioti North America, thanked both the dealers and Kioti personnel for all their hard work in 2007.

“We have come a long way since starting our business in North America more than 20 years ago,” Kim said. “We anticipate this growth will continue throughout 2008, with your continued hard work and dedication.”

Headquartered in Wendell, N.C., Kioti Tractor manufactures 20 tractor models in the 20-to 90-hp range for homeowners, farmers, landscapers and a variety of other contractors.