Kelly and Melissa Case recently purchased two new businesses in Prineville, acquiring both Prineville Rentals and Prineville Landscaping Materials.
The husband and wife team have several goals for their new enterprises, including keeping people employed, providing goods and services to a local market and expanding to supply services that Central Oregonians are struggling to find. Extended work with suppliers and vendors could bring in hard-to-find items like fasteners, heavy duty tie-downs and straps.
Kelly’s background provides him the knowledge and experience needed to run successful businesses. In his 23 years working at Les Schwab, he did everything from change tires to work in the front office. Kelly says, “I know both ends of it, with the retail and merchandising, but I also have a strong background in being able to shop people around to find what they’re looking for. I’m very familiar with the equipment and I know how help people find the right things for what they’re doing.”
Case has put in extensive effort to stay local and keep on as many employees as possible. He articulated that he was definitely not getting rid of any employees, and is actually bringing several new ones in. “That was my goal,” he said, “I wanted to have a business where we could support local employees.”
Concerning changes to how the ventures would be run, Kelly said, “I have a lot of things that I’m doing, but the basic structure – the bones – of the business is staying the same. We’re not going to change what we’re doing, just how we’re doing it, sprucing things up a bit.”
However, Kelly does have ideas for the future of both companies. “A big thing we’re moving to do is to expand our lines. On the rental side we’re going to become more of an industrial supply, providing a range of products. For example, we’re going to carry a hardware line. These are items that are not readily available in Prineville, so while we are doing things to help our customers, we’re not necessarily competing against other local businesses. If we can save anybody a trip to Bend to purchase these items, then that would be our goal.”
The first business, Prineville Rentals, is right up Kelly’s alley with a strong emphasis on mechanics. There is an abundance of standard tools for rent, but he also has plenty of specialized equipment for contractors. The bigger gear that resides at the back of the rental shop includes posthole augers, trenchers and loaders.
The other business, Prineville Landscaping Materials, is a perfect complement to the rental shop. Every imaginable landscaping item is available there such as fruit trees, flowering shrubs and hanging baskets as well as stocked greenhouses. Also offered are variations of rock, bark, mulch and gravel; even railroad ties can be purchased individually and by the bundle.
Info: Prineville Landscaping Materials: 541-447-5020
Prineville Rentals: 541-447-8145
