General Equipment and Supplies, headquartered in Fargo, N.D., will now carry Takeuchi equipment at its Valley Industrial Boulevard South location in Shakopee, Minn., and Rice Lake Road facility in Duluth, Minn. General Equipment will offer rental, sales, parts and service for Takeuchi compact excavators, track loaders and wheel loaders.
“Takeuchi equipment has an excellent reputation for durability and reliability,” said Jon Shilling, president and CEO of General Equipment and Supplies. “Furthermore, they support their dealers with the right tools and resources to help them be successful. We’re pleased to now offer their equipment at two of our Minnesota locations, and we expect our customers there will quickly come to appreciate the difference a Takeuchi machine can make on their productivity and profitability.”
General Equipment and Supplies was founded in 1984 by four former employees of General Diesel and Equipment Co. The company’s primary focus is on supplying heavy construction and aggregate equipment to the construction, mining and oil exploration industries, as well as municipal governments in North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa. Since its beginnings with a single location and 22 employees, General Equipment and Supplies has grown to employ more than 300 people across 10 U.S. branches, as well as three locations in Canada.
“General Equipment has always strived to provide the best products and back them up with outstanding customer support,” said Shay Klusmeyer, Central/Western U.S. division sales manager for Takeuchi-US. “Their tremendous growth is due in no small part to their ongoing customer focus and their ability to find the right equipment for every application. We’re pleased to have General Equipment as our newest dealer.”
Ewing Outdoor Supply opens new facility in Ball Ground, Ga.
Ewing Outdoor Supply celebrated the grand opening of the Ewing Ball Ground Branch, located on Ball Ground Highway in Ball Ground, Ga. This new location is designed to serve both professionals and homeowners with landscaping, irrigation and hardscaping products all in one place.
At the Ewing Ball Ground Branch, customers can find a wide range of products, including irrigation systems, hardscaping materials, outdoor living essentials and more, according to the company. The new location’s team says it aims to provide expert advice and help guide customers in selecting the right products for their projects.
“We are thrilled to open the Ball Ground Branch and bring our services closer to the Ball Ground community,” said Betsy Norton, regional manager at Ewing Outdoor Supply. “This location will make it easier for both professionals and homeowners to access the products and support they need for their outdoor projects. We are committed to providing quality products and expert guidance every step of the way.”
The Ewing Ball Ground team also said that there will be a heavy focus on customer service and assisting customers with project planning and execution.
“We’re excited to be part of Ball Ground’s growth,” Norton said. “This branch isn’t just about the products; it’s about building relationships and ensuring every project is a success. We look forward to serving our customers for years to come.”
Conserva Irrigation and JAN-PRO Systems earn spot on Top Franchises for Women list
Empower Brands, a franchising portfolio consisting of residential and commercial service providers, recently had two of its brands, Conserva Irrigation and JAN-PRO Systems International, earn spots on Franchise Business Review’s (FBR) 2025 Top Franchises for Women. Only 100 brands were chosen for the award.
“What a great way to celebrate Women’s History Month (in March),” said Empower Brands CEO Scott Zide. “We are so proud of Conserva Irrigation and JAN-PRO’s commitment to inclusion and ability to attract outstanding females into the franchising world. And these awards are made even more important because it’s the franchisees’ satisfaction that determines whether a franchisor makes this list.”
Empower Brands, founded in 2022, is an award-winning franchise platform consisting of commercial and residential service providers across North America. Its brands include Archadeck Outdoor Living, Bumble Roofing, Canopy Lawn Care, Conserva Irrigation, FRSTeam, Jan Pro Systems International, Koala Insulation, Outdoor Lighting Perspectives, Superior Fence and Rail and Wallaby Windows.
Conserva Irrigation is headed by brand president Heather Todd, and JAN-PRO is led by brand president Gary Bauer.
Franchise Business Review, a research firm that conducts independent surveys of franchisee satisfaction, provides the only ratings of franchises based solely on actual franchisee satisfaction and performance, according to the company. FBR publishes its rankings of top franchises semi-annually in its Guide to Today’s Top Franchises, as well as industry reports throughout the year that highlight research on the top franchises in specific sectors.
Conserva Irrigation and JAN-PRO were among 350 franchise brands, representing nearly 9,000 female franchise owners, that participated in Franchise Business Review’s research on the Top Franchises for Women. Both Empower Brands franchises were surveyed on 33 benchmark questions about their experience and satisfaction regarding critical areas of their franchise systems, including leadership, training and support, financial opportunity and work/life balance.
“Franchising is a fantastic option for women seeking business ownership on a full- or part-time basis,” FBR president and COO Michelle Rowan said. “With so many franchise opportunities to choose from, it’s critical to do in-depth research to understand how satisfied current female franchise owners are with the training and support, work/life balance, financial opportunity, culture and leadership of any brand they’re considering before making an investment. When you look at the brands on this year’s list of the Top Franchises for Women, 88 percent of women said they enjoy being part of their franchise organizations, and three of four said they would recommend their franchise to others; powerful feedback for women considering the transition to business ownership.”
Talbert Manufacturing awards Hale Trailer Brake and Wheel as its 2024 top dealer
Talbert Manufacturing, a North American producer of specialized heavy-haul solutions, awarded Hale Trailer Brake and Wheel as its 2024 top dealer. Hale, headquartered in Voorhees, N.J., earns this spot for the 17th consecutive year alongside being the dealer with the most parts sales. Other dealers in the top 10 of 2024 include Blackburn Truck Equipment, Columbus Equipment Company, Coogle Truck and Trailer Sales, Freightliner of Grand Rapids, Leslie Equipment Company, Lucky’s Trailer Sales, Royal Truck and Utility Trailer, TNT Sales and West Side Tractor Sales.
“We extend our thanks to all the dealers we work with for their commitment to partnering with Talbert and our customers. They provide exceptional support, maintenance and aftermarket service, ensuring that customers receive comprehensive care throughout the lifecycle of their trailers,” said Geisler. “They truly come together to represent Talbert’s core values: safety, durability and value.”
Talbert’s top stocking dealers are selected based on 2024 sales.
Hale Trailer Brake and Wheel is a full-service dealership with 15 locations including much of the East Coast from Maine to Florida, as well as Arkansas and Iowa. The dealership provides customers with various new and used trailers and related equipment. In addition, Hale offers customers full service and repair, a complete stock of parts and accessories and trailer rental services.
“Our dealers are paramount to what we do,” Geisler said. “They provide the one-on-one support our customers need to keep their trailers in good condition. We take every opportunity to support them throughout the year and want to show our gratitude for their hard work. We stand by our dealers throughout the year by attending their events, making visits and offering assistance whenever it’s needed. We’ll continue to draw attention to their efforts throughout 2025 and beyond.”
According to the company, Talbert’s parts ordering system, Parts 1 2 3, is an example of how it continues to support dealers and customers, making it easier for dealers to order parts and provide their customers with accurate timelines for service, spare parts and delivery. Both dealers and customers can also benefit from Talbert’s multiyear Sourcewell contract, which streamlines procurement processes for more than 70,000 government and education agencies. This is because Sourcewell satisfies the bidding process by sourcing and qualifying vendors, then offering purchasing agents the ability to procure from ready-to-use, competitively solicited contracts, like Talbert, more efficiently at the best possible price.
