Explorer: OPE Across America – April 2022
We spotted the following OPE news from dealerships around the country in the past few weeks.
Ispheming, Michigan – In April, O.K. Rental Sales & Service (okrentalsales.com) held a ribbon cutting in conjunction with the Greater Ishpeming-Negaunee Area Chamber of Commerce to celebrate the one-year anniversary of its new facility. Rather than use the traditional giant scissors, however, Gordon Conradson, O.K.’s co-owner/president, used a Stihl electric chainsaw to cut the ribbon.
Jamestown, New York – Schutts Saw and Mower (schuttssaw.com) has been named a 2021 Elite Cub Cadet independent retailer, the sixth time it has garnered the Cub Cadet award. “Our success is a team effort,” says owner Dan Schutt. “We’re thankful for a successful year and with the hard work and dedication of our team we’re looking to make 2022 an even better one for us and our customers. Our whole team shares in this recognition.” In addition to Cub Cadet, the dealership features such brands as Scag, Stihl, Toro, Little Wonder, Arctic Cat, Triton, Textron Off-Road and others.
Weiner, Arkansas – Greenway Equipment (gogreenway.com), with dealerships across Arkansas and Missouri, presented $172,000 to the Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas, SEMO Food Bank and Arkansas Foodbank in March to support their Backpack Programs. The Backpack Programs provide food for hungry children on the weekends when other resources are not available.
Fort Wayne, Indiana – Schaefer’s Indiana Turf Outdoor Power Equipment (indianaturf.com) recently celebrated its 100th anniversary in business. In an interview with the Greater Fort Wayne Business Weekly, owner Ryan Schaefer says: “What I always tell people is, ‘You never buy a piece of equipment. You buy a dealer. Parts and service matters. All equipment makes tall grass short. If you are comfortable with the person you are dealing with and you are comfortable with the service side of it, the sales part of it is nothing. It is really the parts and service that makes the big difference.”
Lynden, Washington – Brim Tractor (brimtractor.com) is the first certified Solectrac dealer on the West Coast. It will offer the full lineup of Solectrac electric tractors including the e25 compact electric tractor as well as the e70N tractor for vineyards and orchards. Brim Tractor will sell the tractors at all of its locations, including five in Washington (Lynden, Mount Vernon, Pacific, Rainier and Chehalis) and three in Oregon (Rainier, Salem, Eugene).
Watertown, South Dakota – Fieber Van’s Implement (fiebervans.com) won two awards at the annual PFG America/Deutz-Fahr dealer conference. Fieber Van’s won its awards for Sales – New Dealer and for Outstanding Dealer Service. Chris Fieber and Donald Fieber of Goodwin, South Dakota, partnered with Van’s Implement of Hull, Iowa, to open Fieber Van’s Implement December 2020. The dealership carries ag equipment, lawn and garden, construction equipment, side-by-sides and more.
