Q&A: Meet HIRI’s new president
The non-profit Home Improvement Research Institute commissions industry research for the benefit of its members and under the direction of its board of directors. That board is getting new leadership in 2016, and the head is Terri Hulesch, of MTD Products, a manufacturer of lawnmowers and outdoor power equipment.
Hulesch was elected president during HIRI’s recent board meeting earlier this month in Chicago.
The non-profit Home Improvement Research Institute commissions industry research for the benefit of its members and under the direction of its board of directors. That board is getting new leadership in 2016, and the head is Terri Hulesch, of MTD Products, a manufacturer of lawnmowers and outdoor power equipment.
Hulesch was elected president during HIRI’s recent board meeting earlier this month in Chicago.
She spoke with HBSDealer about the home improvement research, trends in outdoor power equipment and goals for HIRI.
HBSDealer: What do you like most about home improvement?
Hulesch: I have to be honest -- my husband is a general contractor, so home improvement pays the bills. But also, I've always been interested in home improvement -- real estate, not just outdoor power equipment. The housing market and remodeling are interesting. The products are creative, it's technology driven, and I like looking at all the products.
HBSDealer: How would you describe HIRI?
Hulesch: What I usually tell people is membership is the best bang for the buck. You get a lot out of your investment. And I think it's applicable beyond traditional home improvement areas -- it's aging in place, generational studies. Those apply to all sorts of marketing across all types of organizations. So I try to promote HIRI it to everybody.
HBSDealer: What are your goals as incoming chairman?
Hulesch: I would like to try to boost this organization and bring people back and attract new members. I would like to make it more exciting, as well try additional research in different areas -- expanding to landscaping and gardening, for instance. I’d like to change up some of the formats and have more networking.
HBSDealer: What trends to you see in the outdoor power equipment arena?
Hulesch: The largest and fastest growing trend we've seen is fuel types. Looking more at battery, the electric market and gasless technology. And that has to do with smaller lawns. People are able to buy a battery-powered product and use it in their smaller lawns They want to be more environmentally friendly. They want less noise. So we're really seeing a lot of research done in that area.
HBSDealer: What signs do you see that make you optimistic for growth?
Hulesch: The No. 1 variable that affects outdoor power equipment is the housing market. And there's only one way to go in the housing market, and that's up. We've been growing, but really we've been muddling through it. I don't think we're going to see a huge spike, but it's going to be nice, even growth for us, one month at a time.
HBSDealer: What type of lawnmower do you have?
Hulesch: Which one? I have five. In season, I mow about four hours every week. My most recent acquisition is a 54-in. Troy-Bilt Super Bronco. I love it.
More than 70 home improvement companies are members of HIRI. For more information, visit HIRI.org.