Independent rental business is coming to town

Published 6:35 pm Monday, March 27, 2017

LaGRANGE- Nickell Rental is a new equipment rental company soon to open that’s looking to blend right into the LaGrange community. If you’re looking for a place to rent out some quality landscaping equipment or to purchase tools to remodel your home or yard, then the family-owned business just might be the place for you.

Nickell Rental owner Josh Nickell’s grandfather Wayne Stringer, started operating his own rental company in Jacksonville, FL. That’s when Nickell’s father, Tom Nickell went to work for him and gained a love for the rental industry. Later, Tom Nickell opened his own rental company in 1998  in Newnan, Georgia called Nickell Equipment Rental. The company has since shortened the name to Nickell Rental and expanded the business to three other stores in the Greater Atlanta area, including a grand opening in LaGrange. With the company making the move to Troup County, Josh (the current co-owner) has his sights set on establishing the family-brand’s business in LaGrange.

“We really like the community so far,” said Nickell. “When we starting to make the transition here, the three things that we were looking for that are hard to find were land space, rental space and good visibility on the road. I think we found that here. We’re more of a suburban, or even rural company. We’re really good with the customers who have a little land, like to landscape, like to do things themselves, like to garden, and like to hunt or fish. We have more of a consultative business versus’ the big national companies.”

Nickell Rental is a full-line rental company that carries everything from small equipment like tillers, chainsaws, aerators, shovels all the way up to larger equipment like forklifts, boom lifts, scissor lifts and excavators. They provide rental equipment for contractors, homeowners, and DIY customers with additional delivery and pick-up services.

“We feel like we’re the experts on rental equipment,” said Nickell. “That’s our job. Our job is to help them get their job done as fast, efficient and cost-effective as possible. If we don’t have something the customer is asking for, then we will find somebody who does.”

“Consulting with customers is what I enjoy the most,” said branch manager, John Muzio. “We’re not just here to take orders. I really want to find out what they’re trying to do. I want to find out what project they’re working on.”

While the national rental chains are serving the larger national and regional construction and rental businesses, Nickell Rental likes to focus more on catering to the local businesses and smaller contractors.

“Our company is in the people business,” said Nickell. “We want to support our local churches, the local schools, the farmer’s markets. If you’re not a part of the people, then you can’t be a part of the community. We want to be more active with individuals and be a part of the community.”

While Nickell Rental is still in the mid-stages of construction and getting everything situated and ready, the building will first open on Monday, April 3. The business is located on Roanoke Road, behind CVS pharmacy.

 

Shirttail- Reach James Simpson II at 706-884-7311, ext. 2155, or by email at james.simpson@lagrangenews.com