In 1964, when Kennebec Equipment Rental was founded, paper mills drove the market place. More than 50 years and five new stores later, the market has changed.
“Up in Maine, we’ve seen a shift over the years from the larger industrial paper mills to accommodating the small to midsize contractor and DIYers,” explained General Manager Dan Morris. “Yes, we still have paper mills, but many have been shuttered or downsized, their place in the market taken up by an increase in tourism and the construction of second homes. Because of this we’ve added more weekend warrior items like chippers and stump grinders, along with other lawn care equipment for our landscape contractors.”
These are just a few things that were on Morris' “needs” list at The Rental Show in New Orleans. “We generally go to the show with a known list, based on needs that have come up throughout the year,” he explained. “This year, our focus was on updating our fleet of small portable generators, dewatering pumps and compaction equipment. We're also in the second year of updating our scaffolding fleet, and I have a big interest in vacuums and dust control accessories to stay in compliance with OSHA silica dust control regulations.”
The company’s general manager has been with Kennebec Equipment Rental since 2000 and attending The Rental Show since 2013. This year, he also had his eye on trenchers as well as any new items on the floor that fit the stores’ inventory, what he calls his "wish list."
“All our stores, including our main store in Fairfield, were strategically founded around industry,” said Morris. “Today, though, as that has changed, each of our six locations essentially has the same customer mix of homeowners and large and small contractors and carry the same inventory to support them.
“Today, we probably do most of our business with small to mid-size contractors. Usually, we end the year a little slower and start off slow because of the cold weather and snow. But even with the rough winter we’ve had, our contractors have been busy, and all seem to have a lot of work lined up. Building on some good momentum from the end of 2017, we expect 2018 to be a good year for us.”
