As you’re looking ahead to the 2022 season for your commercial lawn and landscaping business, keeping up to date on the latest industry news can give your company an advantage. One thing to keep an eye on for this upcoming year is supply chain issues.
Here at Richardson Saw, we’re noticing supply chain and sourcing issues are something that could present a challenge as we start the new year. We want to make sure to give you a heads up on that so you can make informed decisions and prepare for a successful 2022 season.
Don’t Sell Your Equipment
You might be in the habit of selling off your equipment at the end of each season and buying new. This year, you’ll probably want to hang on to what you have if at all possible. Servicing and continuing to use the equipment you have can help prevent downtime if the supply shortage doesn’t improve.
If it turns out you don’t need the equipment you hang on to, you can always sell it next year. Chances are someone else will still need it, so you won’t be out anything keeping your equipment one more year. That way, you’ll make sure you have the equipment that you need to keep your business running.
Remember to Winterize
If you choose to hang on to your equipment, make sure you winterize and maintain it so it’s ready for next year. Whether this equipment will be your primary or backup option, servicing it now will help keep it in good working order.
For any equipment you’re storing to use next year, start by cleaning it well. Use a fuel stabilizer or drain the fuel (depending on your owner’s manual’s recommendation) to keep the engines from getting gummed up by degrading ethanol in the fuel. For more information, read our article “The Basics of Winterizing Your Tools.”
Plan Maintenance Early
The supply chain shortage is also affecting parts. Right now, we’re experiencing some parts having delayed shipments up to double our historic lead times. Because of this backorder, there’s a good chance that if you wait to repair and service your equipment until spring of 2022 you might have a hard time getting the parts you need. That could then lead to extended downtime.
To prevent this issue, start planning for maintenance now. Our service department remains open in the winter so you can schedule repair and maintenance services now, before the spring rush. Taking care of maintenance during the winter will help prevent down-time when you’re busy in the spring.
By hanging onto your old equipment, winterizing it, and planning ahead for needed maintenance, you can help ensure your company has a successful 2022 season. And you can count on Richardson Saw to help keep you informed about and find ways to overcome the challenges facing the lawn and landscaping industry.
