It’s not a stretch to say that Taylor Rental offers almost anything
a business or homeowner might need. The business that Chris Akey started on Route 3 in Plattsburgh in 2005 has grown exponentially since then. “We can offer you anything from a paperclip to an excavator,” said Parts and Service Manager Kahla Facteau.
The company began as a place to rent equipment and party supplies and then quickly moved into sales, becoming a Husqvarna dealer in 2005 and a Mahindra dealer in 2013. They offer multiple lines of specialty equipment that can be purchased or rented. The service department has parts for all of the machines they sell or rent. “We service everything we sell,” Facteau explained. Their shop is so large it can accommodate an excavator inside to allow the technicians to work on it.
The Plattsburgh store has expanded and includes the Farm and Family Center, which offers workwear; steel toe and safety toe boots and shoes, safety vests and glasses, and rain gear. In addition, the location is a True Value store that offers all the traditional hardware items, such as rakes, shovels, hoses, gloves, towing equipment, wiring harnesses, flags, caution tape, and work crew street signs for highway departments and municipalities. They also offer truck boxes, shelving and racks for work vehicles and will install them as well. “We do our best to ensure that our customers are happy with the products they receive,” Facteau said.
The business has also expanded to include other locations and additional services. In 2012, a branch was opened in Saranac Lake. Taylor Rental also owns Commercial Sales Outdoor Living on Route 3 west of its home base. Opened in early 2015, it offers landscape materials such as mulch, soil, trees, shrubs, and landscape blocks, natural stone and pavers. Last year the outdoor living division expanded, opening a second location in Vermont.
The party supply division of the business, Party Plus, used to be housed with Taylor Rental on Route 3, but recently moved into a location on Hammond Lane with a brand-new show- room. Party Plus offers rentals of tents, bounce houses, bathroom trailers, lighting, seating, games, concessions, a soft-serve ice cream machine, and dunking booths, among many other products. The new space allows customers to see the products and ensure they will be right for their event. Tents come in a variety of styles, including a tent style roof or a clear top that allows you to see the stars at night.
Another business venture, Commercial Sales Business Supply started in 2018, operates out of the same space as Party Plus. The road sales team works from Ogdensburg to Upstate Vermont east-west and from the Canadian border to Ticonderoga north-south including the Tri-Lakes.
The breadth of products offered at Taylor Rental’s various locations uniquely positions the company to handle a multitude of scenarios. Facteau emphasized, “We can provide most anything a customer might need for their home or business. We are problem solvers.”
Facteau grew up in Plattsburgh and spent 10 years working in parts and service in the RV industry before joining Taylor Rental in 2015. The company was growing and she helped develop and introduce procedures for operations to function smoothly. Reflecting on her job she said she enjoys being able to help both employees and customers. She helps to ensure employees have everything they need to do their jobs efficiently. “You have to start with your employees,” she observed. “That’s how you offer the best service.”
Taylor Rental partners with CV-TEC to offer internships and jobs for students after graduation. Currently, there are 12 CV-TEC graduates employed at the various stores. “Our relationship has helped to keep the students in the area and offers jobs that they have specialty training in. It’s a win for everyone!” Facteau emphasized.
Giving back to the community is important to the people at Taylor Rental. For five years, the company has hosted a bridal show that has raised more than $15,000 for the North Country Cancer Fund. They also sponsor children’s sports teams, blood drives and food drives. Employees drive company equipment in local parades and host an annual open house and customer appreciation day in May. “It’s one of my favorite days of the year because we get to see and interact with our customers and show our appreciation for them,” Facteau said. “We stand behind our customers,” she added. “We do our best to remain open during severe weather and power outages, when customers may have urgent needs.”
In order to be successful and able to offer great service to customers, Facteau believes that it is important to be flexible and have the ability and willingness to understand an issue from someone else’s point of view. “You must also have a vision, know what your goals and objectives are and then put in the time to achieve them.” She praised the team at Taylor Rental and its subsidiary businesses, attributing the growth and success of the business to them.