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In 1977, after an 8-year stint with John Deer and a long-term project that took him into over 100 dealerships across the U.S. and Canada, Don Van Houweling realized the dealer world was where he would be a better fit. With the help of a John Deere territory rep, he met Barney Wall (the Wall in Van Wall Equipment) who took Don on as a junior partner.
Today, the 2016 Farm Equipment Dealership of the Year has 25 locations (16 of them ag), and all three of Don’s sons — Mike, Matt and Mark —are involved in the business. Van Wall’s focus on the aftermarket business has been key to its success from the beginning, and what Don credits in helping him survive as a young dealer in the 1980s.
In reflecting on the biggest lesson Barney taught him, Don says, “No. 1 is to put the customer first and understand that if you can help the customer be successful, you won’t have to worry about your business being successful.”
Farm Equipment's podcast series is brought to you by HBS Systems.
A trusted agriculture industry leader for 35 years, HBS Systems is constantly updating our cutting-edge equipment dealership software. Our powerful application offers fully integrated Inventory Management, Sales, Parts, Service, Rental, and Accounting features designed to streamline your entire business and maximize revenue. By automating and integrating complex processes, our software improves accuracy and efficiency in all departments, while providing real-time analytics from anywhere on any device, helping you deliver excellent customer service. We’re humbled to have grown from serving 1 dealership to more than 1,500 agriculture and construction dealerships throughout the US and Canada. Learn why your dealership should trust HBS Systems at www.hbssystems.com
Music: Josh Woodward - Golden Sunrise (Instrumental Version)
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