DECEMBER 2021
COVER STORY- Chicagoland Dealer Looks Forward –
ELGIN, Illinois – The year 2020 marked Russo Power’s half-century anniversary for the family-owned and operated retailer. Since 1970, Russo has evolved from a hardware heritage to a multi-location company specializing in landscaping power equipment and industry supplies.
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Russo Power Equipment
ELGIN, Illinois – The year 2020 marked Russo Power’s half-century anniversary for the family-owned and operated retailer. Since 1970, Russo has evolved from a hardware heritage to a multi-location company specializing in landscaping power equipment and industry supplies.
Russo’s extensive power equipment collection bolstering the five full-service dealerships stationed throughout Illinois culminated from long-standing relationships with vendors including Bobcat, Echo, Honda, Kawasaki, Kubota, Stihl, Toro and Wright.
While the company has seen much success over the last 52 years, Russo has also had to make necessary pivots throughout rough patches, including the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as consistently evolving to meet the needs of consumer demand. To remain a prominent figure in the Midwest power equipment market, Russo continues to keep its eye on the future while keeping a finger on the pulse of consumer needs.
In the December 2021 issue Power Equipment Trade connects with Russo Power’s Director of Sales to discuss the company’s investment in electric, e-commerce and the return of in-person events.
Article by Jenna Rimensnyder
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POWERlines: Pets In PET
When I started noticing a trend in a few dealerships – shop cats and dogs on guard – my hear smiled. I am the person who goes to Mutt Madness in Louisville and has to actively remember not to bring home a dog the “needs me.” I still think about the little three-legged guy I met this year . . . Because I am still that bleeding heart, with two old dogs that I love more than life.
The next best thing to adopting all the dogs is looking at their adorable pictures. So I put the call out – send me your shop pets. And boy, did y’all deliver. It’s the end of the year, and it has been another helluva year. Sort of how I just wanted to laugh in Louisville this month I want to cozy up with these good boys (and girls) give them a few snuggles.
Article by Jessica Johnson, Managing Editor, Power Equipment Trade
POWERsuppliers
SNOW & ICE
EDITOR’S NOTE: The following companies submitted editorial profiles and images to complement their advertisements in the Power Equipment Trade December 2021.
1991: Big Transition
Founded in 1952, Chain Saw Age was acquired by Norm Raies in 1961, and he brought the publication to a higher level in terms of professionalism and quality as an Associated Publications product before he died in 1973. His wife, Marge, carried on, and soon his daughter Jenni and son-in-law Ken Morrison were working with the publication full-time.
Yet by the late 1980s, Raies was looking to sell the company. After a bit of time searching for the right fit, she found Hatton-Brown Publishers. The fit between the two independent publishers was a good one: CSA-PET found a new home where it was a priority, and the new home gained solid diversification from its logging and forest products industry publications.
Article by Dan Shell, Senior Editor, Power Equipment Trade
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An Upside To Being Your Own Boss
I love owning my own small business! Mr. Mower Man has been in business since ’06, but I’ve experienced and absolutely loved the benefit of “being my own boss” in the last two years more than ever before. The main reason is that I have control over my time more than I would if I worked for someone. I’m a free man!
Article by Sam Stearns, owner and operator, Mr. Mower Man, Scottsburg, Indiana