Long- and short-range tracking services offer insight before seasonal merchandising decisions are made
"It's not a hard and fast tool, but it's been very good [in determining] the beginning and ending of seasons," Fohl said.Alamo Group Inc. (NYSE:ALG) is pleased to announce that effective today, it acquired 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of Schulte Industries, Ltd. and all of its affiliated and related companies. Schulte Industries is a privately owned Canadian manufacturer of mechanical rotary mowers, snow blowers and rock removal equipment.This release contains forward looking statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause the Company's actual results in future periods to differ materially from forecasted results. Among those factors which could cause actual results to differ materially are the following: market demand, competition, weather, seasonality, currency-related issues, and other risk factors listed from time to time in the Company's SEC reports. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update the information contained herein, which speaks only as of this date.pleased to have Jim, Earl and their entire team with us on an ongoing basis. The Schulte products are highly regarded within the agricultural and industrial industries both in North America and overseas, which will strengthen our leading position in our major markets."For additional information, visit www.worldlawnpowerequip.comNATIONAL REPORT -- The vicissitudes of weather have always perplexed retailers whose stores sell out of fans every summer and come up short on snow-blowers after a winter storm. But "impact" weather forecasting, a kind of service that predicts consumer demand based on long-range weather data, is cutting down on guesswork for some larger industry retail chains.General Power Equipment, Columbus, Ohio, will work the territory of Ohio, Michigan and Indiana. Based in Denver, Colo., Beaver Valley Supply will represent World-lawn in Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Arizona and New Mexico. Lawn Equipment Enterprises, Waycross, Ga., now covers Florida in addition to Georgia and Alabama.On average, the weather-impact forecasts are provided a year in advance. But Planalytics is also testing a "short-range" weather forecasting service that would help store managers make decisions on advertising, product placement and staffing levels.Jim Carnago commented, "In addition to the marketing synergies that will be realized by joining Alamo Group, Schulte will be able to preserve the close relationships that have been built with our customers and employees." Earl Schulte added, "The transaction should enable us to expand our product distribution by cross-selling our product offerings with Alamo."The Schulte family of companies was founded by John Schulte in 1923 and is managed jointly by Earl Schulte and Jim Carnago. Operations are conducted out of their headquarters in Englefeld, Saskatchewan, Canada, where it employs approximately 90 people. Schulte has major markets in the U.S. and Canada, and serves both the agricultural and industrial markets. Sales for the fiscal year ending July 31, 2000 were approximately US$12 million.As production of mowers and snow blowers gears up in Beatrice, Worldlawn is expanding its engineering staff and giving them the directive to develop new, innovative, made-in-the-USA power equipment for the North American market.
Smaller retailers who can't afford Planalytics' services needn't be left out in the cold. Those willing to try their hand at weather-impact forecasting can always log onto to weatherplanner.com, a free Internet service that provides moisture and temperature ranges for different geographical regions up to a year in advance.
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