Dixie Chopper Expanding Workforce

COATESVILLE, Ind. – November 17 -- Since its acquisition by Jacobsen earlier this year, Dixie Chopper has been making significant investments in its products and people. In addition to several new products being added to the company’s portfolio, Dixie Chopper is also hiring on all sides of the business.

Last month, Dixie Chopper launched its 2015 product line-up at the GIE+EXPO in Louisville, Ky.

Currently, Dixie Chopper offers eight different mowers with various residential, light commercial, commercial and industrial models serving over 300 dealers across the United States.

Dixie Chopper now has a full portfolio of mowing products to fulfill the needs of both residential consumers or commercial cutters,” said Wes Evans, director of customer care and son of Art Evans, who founded Dixie Chopper nearly 35 years ago. “These new products are allowing us to move into new markets and we expect the business to grow rapidly over the next several years. In the 25-plus years I’ve been with this business, I’ve never seen so much excitement from our employees, dealers or customers.”

To prepare for the rapid growth, Dixie Chopper is currently adding staff across the company’s departments, especially in the customer-facing areas of sales, marketing and customer care.

“We will continue to invest in our two most valuable assets: our products and our people,” said Chris Vernon, new vice president and general manager of Dixie Chopper. “This is a very exciting time at Dixie Chopper and with the full support of Jacobsen and Textron behind us, 2015 is shaping up to be an excellent year for Dixie Chopper.”

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Dixie Chopper Expands Staff

COATESVILLE, Ind. – June 20 -- On the heels of Dixie Chopper’s recent acquisition by Jacobsen, the mower manufacturer has appointed a new general manager and added four more employees to its growing sales and marketing divisions. The new key roles are part of Dixie Chopper’s ongoing commitment to developing relationships with dealers, partners and customers.  

Chris Vernon, previously vice president of strategy and product management for Jacobsen, has accepted the position of vice president and general manager of Dixie Chopper, effective immediately. Since 2001, Chris’ extensive experience includes sales, marketing, and product management for Greenlee’s telecommunication product lines, general management for Rothenberger, a pipe tool manufacturer and Greenlee joint venture partner; and, most recently, his role at Jacobsen.

David Hunt was hired as a product sales demonstrator and will support customers in North and South Carolina. David will be based out of Charlotte, N.C. and comes to Dixie Chopper with 20 years of experience in sales.

Jason Sentell recently started as a territory sales manager and is responsible for supporting dealers and customers in western North and South Carolina. Jason joins Dixie Chopper with seven years of experience in sales and marketing.

Dena Jenkins was hired as the marketing and events coordinator at Dixie Chopper headquarters and will be specializing in trade shows, event planning and marketing strategy. Dena brings over 18 years of experience in marketing communications to Dixie Chopper.

Sierra Kennedy recently started as the public relations and communications specialist at Dixie Chopper’s headquarters. Sierra will be managing media relations, social media and other marketing initiatives.

“I am very excited about my new role at Dixie Chopper and the direction we are headed,” said Chris Vernon, vice president and general manager of Dixie Chopper. “With Jacobsen and Textron behind us, we are making significant investments in our parts fulfillment, our products and our people. The four new strategic hires in our sales and marketing departments will help us continue the positive momentum we’re experiencing in the marketplace. Expect to hear a lot more from Dixie Chopper in the near future.”

www.lawnandlandscape.com              Lawn and Landscape Magazine    

Jacobsen President Comments on Recent Dixie Chopper Acquisition

April 28 -- Jacobsen's recent acquisition of Dixie Chopper reflects the momentum the mower manufacturer has built in the turf industry over the last several years. This success breeds confidence to do more ambitious things in the turf market, says Jacobsen President David Withers.

In an exclusive interview with GCI, Withers, who has served as Jacobsen's president since 2011, says in addition to strong brand recognition and reputation in the turf market Dixie Chopper was an attractive target because there was zero product overlap. The acquisition provided a unique opportunity to cross-pollinate ideas.

"At Jacobsen, we’ve been developing hybrid and electric technology for years and these guys understand how rotary mowers interact with the grass in different conditions," he says. "[The move] enhances both products lines by the strength of each.”

In addition, while Jacobsen has a significant presence in the North American golf market, in the international market that presence is more split between the golf and municipal markets.

"This is where what we see the counter-cyclical nature of the two sides coming into play," he says. "When the private sector is doing well, quite often governments and municipalities spend less and this happens in reverse where government spends more when the private sector is struggling.

"Expanding our portfolio into municipal markets protects us when one of the two sectors goes into a downturn and gives Jacobsen more stability long-term and allows us to compete with our competitors on a broader base," Withers adds. "Today, we only compete with John Deere and Toro in the golf segment and this allows us to now complete in the commercial and landscape markets as well.”

From a market perspective, it appears parent company Textron has refocused its investment on Jacobsen. Withers concurs, adding that Jacobsen's success in the golf market has proven it can grow and expand its market presence.

"Every company is in either an upward spiral or a downward spiral," he says. "You’re either spending less, cut people and guess what, you sell less. We’re in an upward spiral, we’re making good profitability, moving the business forward and therefore you invest more into new products and better service to customers and they tend to reward you for that and that in turn leads to more sales."

www.golfcourseindustry.com   

E-Z-GO, a Textron Company, Partners with OPEESA Member Dixie Sales Company

E-Z-GO Partners With Dixie Sales Company to Offer Outdoor Power Equipment Dealers Exclusive Sales and Service Growth Opportunity

Browns Summit, NC January 10, 2011

E-Z-GO, a leading US manufacturer of golf cars, utility and personal transportation vehicles, has partnered with OPEESA member Dixie Sales Company, an independent, full service, value added distributor established in 1914, to offer qualified outdoor power equipment (OPE) dealers across the United States the opportunity to become an E-Z-GO Authorized Sales and Service Center.

Once qualified, an E-Z-GO Authorized Sales and Service Center can provide OEM E-Z-GO parts and accessories and vehicle service for hundreds of thousands of E-Z-GO cars and Cushman utility vehicles in use today. And have the opportunity to sell new and remanufactured E-Z-GO cars.

“This is an unprecedented opportunity for our U.S. OPE Authorized Service Center customers who qualify and become E-Z-GO Authorized Sales and Service Centers,” said Mike Rounsavall, President of Dixie Sales Company. “Every golf course, utility, industrial plant, distribution center, resort or hotel, retirement community, or personal E-Z-GO car user is a potential customer, offering nearly unlimited growth potential to our qualified OPE service centers. The selection of Dixie Sales Company by E-Z-GO is further acknowledgement of the value and quality of our authorized OPE service center relationships and network, established across the United States and nurtured over the past 97 years.”

Outdoor Power Equipment dealers and service centers interested in becoming an E-Z-GO Authorized Sales and Service Center, and who believe their company has the business and financial strength, and quality service reputation to qualify, should contact Dixie Sales Company at  ezgo@dixiesales.com or call the Dixie Sales Company E-Z-GO Hot Line at (877) 405-5320 to request an E-Z-GO Authorized Sales and Service Center Information and Registration Packet.

ABOUT DIXIE SALES COMPANY

Dixie Sales Company, established in 1914, is an independent, full service, value added distributor that enhances end-user experiences with consumer products in the United States and Canada, utilizing key core-competencies in customer service, integrated distribution and logistics, product-support service networks, and return product management.

Dixie Sales Company has three distribution centers in Greensboro, NC, Memphis, TN and Toronto, Canada, as well as two call centers that handle over one million calls a year with customer support in English, French and Spanish.

Long established relationships with dozens of manufacturers and multiple-store retailers has enabled Dixie Sales Company to create a network of thousands of service centers across the United States and Canada that provide exceptional service support for many types of consumer products.

Manufacturers and their retailer partners trust Dixie Sales Company to provide innovative and cost-effective product-support solutions to enhance their customers’ product experience.

ABOUT E-Z-GO

E-Z-GO, founded in 1954, became a Textron Inc. company in 1960, and is now a leading world-wide manufacturer of golf cars, utility and personal transportation vehicles. E-Z-GO builds hundreds of thousands of vehicles each year in its 650,000-square-foot world headquarters in Augusta, GA. More than 40 different vehicle models are produced under the E-Z-GO and Cushman brands for a variety of applications and industries.

Products under the E-Z-GO flagship include golf course fleet cars, shuttle and luggage carrying cars for the hospitality and retirement industries, industrial and commercial cars to move people and material around factories and distribution centers, turf maintenance cars with hauling capabilities up to 1200 pounds, and the new 2Five car, street legal on most roads with up to 35 mph speed limits. E-Z-GO also produces the Cushman® line of heavy-duty material carriers.