Page 26 - Westman Business 2018

26 THE BRANDON SUN • WESTMAN BUSINESS • OCTOBER 2018

Rental Experts in Brandon art 155 Glen Street. (Theresa Nett/The Brandon Sun)
Rental Experts goes the extra mile for its customers

There are plenty of other companies in here,” Wannop said. “We get that every
the same business, but the key for Rental day. People say, ‘I didn’t know you were
Experts is that they don’t care what their here!’ And we’ve been here for three years.
competition does. So we are here, we are available, we are an
To paraphrase the old song, they do it option.
their way. “The big companies are all here too –
With a focus on good, old-fashioned there’s rental companies everywhere – but
customer service, a large inventory, and a you don’t have to deal with the big multi-
genuine willingness to help, Rental Experts nationals. The locals are here.”
has carved out its own niche in the three Rental Experts two owners are proud
short years it’s been operating in Brandon. to have been born and raised in Manitoba,
Started by two friends in Winnipeg 16 and Wannop has lived here since he was 12
years ago, Rental Experts brought on an- years old. His staff is all from Brandon, too.
other friend, Doug Wannop, to manage And it appears the citizenry is very happy
its Brandon operation. All three men have to deal with people who have local roots.
worked for corporate stores, and all three “Our client list grows daily – a lot of
much prefer the independent approach. contractors, some industrial clients, some
“We rent pretty much everything,” Wan- homeowners, heavy equipment guys as
nop said. “Port-a-Potties, homeowner well, the heavy construction guys, land-
equipment, lawn and garden, aerial equip- scapers, builders, welders – all of them,”
ment, booms and scissors, skid steers, scaf- Wannop said.
fold – it’s pretty much you name it, we’ve And the company’s philosophy is Rental Experts manager Doug Wannop. (Theresa Nett/The Brandon Sun)
got it.” knowing their customers and providing ex-
Although the business is growing and ceptional customer service. to come in after hours, but if someone says, day and we’ll work it out. It’s that kind of
expanding on a daily basis, the name of- “Dealing with people and being able to ‘Hey – I really need to unload this on Sat- stuff that people don’t realize we do. Or
ten confuses people who think they’re in shake a hand, and say hello, or come in on urday – just don’t call me before 8 o’clock somebody says, ‘Geez – I’m in a bind – can
the property rental business, which they’re Saturday to help somebody out, instead of – let me sleep in a little bit – and I’ll meet I get a tool?’ And I’d say, ‘Well, it’s Sunday,
not. And Rental Experts wants to ensure saying, ‘No – we’re not open’ – that’s im- you at the shop. I’m 10 minutes away. It’s but let me meet you there.’”
every customer becomes a repeat custom- portant to us,” Wannop said. “The corpo- not like I have to drive two hours to go to Rental Experts offers everything from
er, which is why they’re working hard to rate stuff is very regimented – they don’t go work. Ten minutes from the shop, so if you short-term to long-term rentals – anything
establish a bigger reputation in the public any extra mile for anybody. And that’s what need to unload something and it’s really from daily rentals to as long as someone
consciousness. we do – we go that extra mile. kind of messing up your weekend, then wants something for. And unlike many
“It’s mostly people don’t know we’re “I’m on call all the time. Nobody likes we’ll do it. Or just hold on to it until Mon- » Continued on Page 28