GIS 2014

       The Golf Industry Show 2014 is now in the record books. While some guys had to return to Philadelphia earlier than planned to try and do some emergency cleanup from the ice storm, the majority of attendees I spoke with were really enjoying Orlando. Now to put it in perspective, we have had an AWFUL winter here in the Mid-Atlantic and to be in Florida for a record high temp for February is something that we might not want to gloat to our wives at home about!
       Arriving on Tuesday for the annual Toro business meeting, the week began on a high note. Much of the meeting was discussions about Toro's 100th anniversary. Starting with a video of customers and their feelings and experiences with Toro that was really well done. The high light for me being Matt Shaffer of Merion Golf Club saying 'I have the best Toro Salesman in the world". With lots of grief to come from other Reps, it is really tough to put into words how much Matt's words were appreciated!
       The trade show on Tuesday was really busy. I would say there was a lot of buzz in our booth regarding the new automatic transmission Workman HDX and the new Toro Infinity irrigation head.
To me you know a new product has a bright future when the comments are "it makes so much sense, why hasn't someone done this yet?".
       The Pennsylvania Allied room on Wednesday night was a great time as always! It was really good to see some people that I have not caught up with in a while. Add in few other receptions and it was a full week of  great events.
       Now on the social media angle, I was really impressed with Aquatrols use of hosting Golf Course Industry Magazine & Turf Republic's Tweet Up event on Wednesday. Many people commented on the traffic by their booth. It is still in it infancy but the use of social media is absolutely going to play a bigger and bigger roll in the Turf business in the future.

Hope everyone had a safe trip home!




The Toro Company 100th Anniversary hat that was being given away in the booth

WJC