The Cooke Brothers - Chad, Ben, and Andy - never miss an ARA Show. They go there with a list of things to buy to supplement inventories at their four North Carolina locations. They also walk the floor to see what’s new and interesting in both party and equipment offerings.
“My brothers and I kind of split up to take in different parts of the show floor and various seminars, and continue to develop relationships with suppliers and manufacturers,” said Chad, who first attended the show as a five-year-old with his father. “On the equipment side, we cater to homeowners and general contractors with everything from forklifts and man lifts to generators, air compressors, backhoes and rollers. We also specialize in party and event rentals.”
Chad mentioned that in addition to what’s on their to-do list at the show, they always see something that piques their interest. Ben, he added, purchased a couple LED light towers at this year’s event.
“The light towers intrigued me for a couple of reasons,” said Ben. “They’re plugged into a power source, either a small generator or outlet. They’re also very portable, can be used indoors and out, and are much less expensive than buying a traditional light tower with a generator.
“I also saw several new battery-powered products, including a battery-powered stair climber and power pusher/wheelbarrow, both of which we purchased. I know that Andy took a close look at a generator battery pack.”
The brothers’ four locations are in Mount Airy and King, north of Winston-Salem, and Cornelius and Denver, north of Charlotte. “All stores are doing very well. The state’s economy is strong,” said Chad. Speaking about his store in Denver and his brother’s in Cornelius, he noted the power and technology industries, along with the growing commercial development and residential construction, as well as the popularity of nearby Lake Norman, should keep his employees in both equipment rental and events busy all summer long.
Georgia Rental Company Keeps an Eye on the Future
One-Stop Shopping Builds Business in Oregon
Rental Business Says ARA Show Well Worth the Time and Effort
