With contractors around the region traveling to western North Dakota on the heels of the oil boom, the demand for construction equipment has rippled east, and one Grand Forks retailer is reaping the benefits.
Acme Tools, a longstanding regional tool and equipment retailer, has responded to this new demand with the opening of Acme Equipment in Grand Forks, a shop solely dedicated to the sale of construction equipment.
Jim Christensen, equipment sales manager for Acme Equipment, said the influence of the oil boom has affected contractors as far east as Bemidji, Minn., and Acme Tools’ broad regional reach has helped bring in more business.
“We started to see a higher demand in 2011 when more and more contractors in the area were going west,” Christensen said. “Business and demand continued to pick up, and we were getting tighter and tighter for space.”
Before the opening of Acme Equipment, all operations were run out of the Acme Tools location on 13th Avenue.
“With all the new lines of equipment coming in, things started getting tight,” equipment salesman Justin Pic said. “But now we have a lot of space to work with and a huge floor, so it’s definitely an improvement.”
Acme Equipment, which held its grand opening May 22-23, is housed in a newly renovated 40,000-square-foot facility at 3401 Gateway Drive.
Good trend
Pic said business has been strong since the opening.
“We have local contractors, regional contractors, oil guys and companies from all around coming in,” Pic said. “Most of the time it’s people just passing through, but we are in a great spot here right along I-29.”
Operations at Acme Equipment have been strong enough that management has moved workers from the Acme Tools site to Acme Equipment.
Christensen said the business has grown to more than 35 lines of equipment with a focus on Kubota tractors, and if business continues as it has over the past two years, more growth could be coming.
“I wouldn’t doubt it if the company continued to expand this way,” Christensen said. “We have been doing very well here, and if things continue this way it could be a great opportunity.”
According to Pic, contractors traveling west come into Acme Equipment in search of products such as excavators and light towers, along with other large construction equipment.
“It’s good to see business going as well as it has,” Pic said. “Hopefully this keeps up.”
The company also has plans to build a warehouse and distribution center on nine acres of land to be purchased from the city of Grand Forks in its industrial park.
While the oil boom has helped bring in increased profit for Acme Tools, the company has continued to grow around the region since its start in 1948.
Opened originally as Acme Electrical Motor by George Kuhlman in downtown Grand Forks, Acme Tools has since changed its focus to tools and construction and expanded its business across North Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa with nine additional retail stores.
George Kuhlman’s grandsons, Steve and Paul Kuhlman, currently act as vice presidents of Acme Tools.
A new Acme Tools in Williston is scheduled to open in September.
Acme Tools, a longstanding regional tool and equipment retailer, has responded to this new demand with the opening of Acme Equipment in Grand Forks, a shop solely dedicated to the sale of construction equipment.
Jim Christensen, equipment sales manager for Acme Equipment, said the influence of the oil boom has affected contractors as far east as Bemidji, Minn., and Acme Tools’ broad regional reach has helped bring in more business.
“We started to see a higher demand in 2011 when more and more contractors in the area were going west,” Christensen said. “Business and demand continued to pick up, and we were getting tighter and tighter for space.”
Before the opening of Acme Equipment, all operations were run out of the Acme Tools location on 13th Avenue.
“With all the new lines of equipment coming in, things started getting tight,” equipment salesman Justin Pic said. “But now we have a lot of space to work with and a huge floor, so it’s definitely an improvement.”
Acme Equipment, which held its grand opening May 22-23, is housed in a newly renovated 40,000-square-foot facility at 3401 Gateway Drive.
Good trend
Pic said business has been strong since the opening.
“We have local contractors, regional contractors, oil guys and companies from all around coming in,” Pic said. “Most of the time it’s people just passing through, but we are in a great spot here right along I-29.”
Operations at Acme Equipment have been strong enough that management has moved workers from the Acme Tools site to Acme Equipment.
Christensen said the business has grown to more than 35 lines of equipment with a focus on Kubota tractors, and if business continues as it has over the past two years, more growth could be coming.
“I wouldn’t doubt it if the company continued to expand this way,” Christensen said. “We have been doing very well here, and if things continue this way it could be a great opportunity.”
According to Pic, contractors traveling west come into Acme Equipment in search of products such as excavators and light towers, along with other large construction equipment.
“It’s good to see business going as well as it has,” Pic said. “Hopefully this keeps up.”
The company also has plans to build a warehouse and distribution center on nine acres of land to be purchased from the city of Grand Forks in its industrial park.
While the oil boom has helped bring in increased profit for Acme Tools, the company has continued to grow around the region since its start in 1948.
Opened originally as Acme Electrical Motor by George Kuhlman in downtown Grand Forks, Acme Tools has since changed its focus to tools and construction and expanded its business across North Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa with nine additional retail stores.
George Kuhlman’s grandsons, Steve and Paul Kuhlman, currently act as vice presidents of Acme Tools.
A new Acme Tools in Williston is scheduled to open in September.
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