Ideal’s Inventory and Merchant Services Solutions Proves Profitable for OPE Dealer
Nichols Equipment knows what it takes to run a successful OPE business. Through over 50 years of industry experience, Gary Nichols has carried on the standards first set by his father to provide excellent customer service, keep inventory lean, and hire the right employees. And with the help of Ideal’s dealer management software, Gary has seen an even bigger return with advanced inventory control and streamlined merchant services. Continue reading to see how Gary achieves success…
Ideal: You’ve been in business since 1954. What steps have you taken to be successful and set yourself apart from the competition?
Gary: “Dad always tried to do the next right thing and I followed in his footsteps. We are focused on a better-than-average product and service, and charge more-than-average pricing. We try to be competitive, but we absolutely will not be the cheapest guy in town.”
Ideal: How do you compete with the “Big Box” stores?
Gary: “The staff I hire. I make sure they have a similar mindset to mine, in that the Customer comes first. We will actually talk someone out of a sale if we feel they don’t need it, or think it isn’t the right fit for them. We don’t just take their money and run.”
Ideal: How do you attract new customers to the store and keep return customers?
Gary: “We’ve always found word of mouth to be the best advertisement. As far as attracting new customers, we have a presence on the web, but ultimately it’s word of mouth and it brings people back. We actually have some third generation customers coming in now…