As we enter into “a whole new world” in 2021 with great uncertainty, we also enter it with cautious optimism (and yes, I’m quoting the song from the Disney movie Aladdin, but stay with me, more Disney inspiration ahead.). The conversations we have had with individuals from different segments of the industry are buoying our optimism as we look ahead to the next 12 months. Our 35th Annual Dealer Survey gives us hope as dealers selected optimism over pessimism in a landslide, 86% to 8%. The remaining 6% of dealers were neutral.
These percentages were better than we anticipated, considering most dealers participating in our Survey responded between April and late June, some of the darkest days of the COVID-19 pandemic. As we well know, the threat has not dissipated. No one could have imagined when the Survey was being conducted that the virus would still be in the U.S. and around the world to the extent it still is as we start a new year. How many waves can a virus have?
Because of this challenge, we have found ourselves immersed in a whole new world—a world that we are better prepared for after the events of the past nine months. It’s a world where live conferences and other industry events will be the exception, at least for most of 2021. It’s a world where remote demos have replaced live demos. And it’s a world where Zoom, GoToMeeting, Microsoft Teams, and other virtual meeting platforms are staples in our Outlook calendars.
Allow me to add to the Disney playlist by saying that in light of living in a virtual world, The Cannata Report team still wants to be where the people are just like Ariel, The Little Mermaid. (Pardon the flashback to 1989. That song is embedded in my subconscious having watched that movie dozens of times with my oldest daughter who was four when it was released.).
The Cannata Report spent a significant amount of time on the road attending conferences and visiting vendors and dealers in years past, but over the last nine months, our home weariness far exceeds any road weariness we’ve ever experienced. Wouldn’t it be nice to attend a live event and interact and network with friends, colleagues, and new acquaintances? Wish we could be part of that world.
In the meantime, we will best be served by honing our virtual communication skills to keep communication flowing in this whole new world. Opportunities abound for those who can figure out how to creatively communicate virtually, whether meeting with customers or colleagues or producing a full-blown industry event with hundreds or thousands of attendees.
In keeping with the spirit of this whole new world theme, our WatchList issue highlights the trends, companies, and people we are watching in 2021. Not surprisingly, many trends are related to the events of the past nine months.
Wishing you a happy and prosperous new year in this whole new world.
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