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“Through this new relationship, Textron Financial is enabling Stone to seamlessly move equipment through its distribution network, while providing all of Stone’s customers - contractors, dealers, and rental houses - with a broad range of financing options and a premier level of service,” says Andrew Snook, Textron Financial vice president of sales and business development. “From our golf business, we have taken a platform that has been refined by years of experience and applied it to the construction equipment industry. The result is a suite of services that can be used together, as a ‘total solution’, or selected individually to suit the needs of the particular customer.”

Prior to partnering with Stone, Textron Financial engaged in extensive customer research to determine exactly which finance products to enhance or develop, as well as how to offer them to the construction equipment industry as a whole. Based on that information, the company created a fully integrated wholesale and retail finance product tailored to the requirements of Stone’s customers.

“We chose Textron Financial as our partner because of their flexibility, creativity and professionalism,” says Gary Wilson, Stone’s manager of credit and customer financing. “They are able to provide our customers the total package - complete financing, customized solutions and exceptional service. We’re excited about the improved offerings and service this relationship will allow us to bring to our customers.”

New Italian rental support organization formed

Pier Angelo Cantù, previously editor of Italian rental magazine Noleggio, has left the publication and established a rental support organisation called the Rental Network, according to reports from International Rental News.

Cantù told IRN that the organisation will provide specialist support services to Italy’s fast growing rental companies. Cantu says the relatively immature rental sector in Italy means that rental companies are in need of specialist support, such as market research, staff training, legal advice, risk management, financial services, as well as communication and marketing skills.