Deere brings in Truttman for One Source rollout

Golf Course News, Nov 2002 by Overbeck, Andrew

CARY, N.C. -John Deere Landscapes is hitting the ground running with its One Source initiative on the East Coast. The company plans to gradually roll the concept out nationwide as it adds more locations and products.

The initiative was born last year as John Deere purchased McGinnis Farms and Century Rain Aid. They have slowly rolled out the new division that aims to become a single-source supplier for the golf course industry.

So far, the company has retrofitted McGinnis Farms locations and built 12 additional facilities on the East Coast. Expansion across the rest of the country will occur as the company builds and acquires other locations.

Industry veteran David Truttmann has come on as national golf sales manager to oversee One Source sales of irrigation equipment, chemicals, fertilizers, seed, sod and nursery stock. On the irrigation side, John Deere Landscapes offers the full line of Hunter irrigation products.

"I will handle all the products that we sell to golf courses other than turf equipment and utility vehicles," said Truttmann, who was previously director of golf development for Landscapes Unlimited in Lincoln, Neb. "We are initially approaching all the golf courses that are already preferred customers of John Deere in an effort to offer them the full line of golf course supplies."

In order to put the One Source initiative into action, Truttmann is setting up a communication system to allow sales people from each product segment to share information.

"One person will not sell all the products because there are technical specialties involved," said Truttmann. "Leads will be shared so that our appropriate specialist in irrigation, chemicals or fertilizers can follow up."

According to Truttmann, superintendents will be able to realize substantial cost savings by taking advantage of the One Source program.

"If you think about it as a co-op under the John Deere name, you have access to tremendous buying power," he said. "With all these stores across the country, we should have more buying power than anyone else in the U.S. and we should be able to give superintendents the best prices.

"One Source should simplify the buying process," Truttmann added. "Instead of dealing with 15 or 20 sales people, you can deal with two or three that will facilitate the course's needs through specialists."

There is more work to be done, however, to ramp up the One Source initiative.

"We are working with our independent distributors and getting them trained in irrigation," said Truttmann.

In addition to expanding across the country, John Deere Landscapes is working with other companies to score additional distribution deals.

"We are in talks with major manufacturers of irrigation, fertilizer, chemical and golf accessory products in an effort to complete our product offerings to the golf industry," Truttmann said.