From BEE GEE RENTAL & SALES
Bee Gee Rental and Sales, Inc. will be closing its doors and ceasing business operations on Dec. 21, 2022. Owners Rick and Myra Van Vorhis announce Rick’s retirement and the end of the 65-year-old business.
A public auction will be conducted to liquidate the rental equipment, vehicles, and other business assets at a later date.
A pending sale of real estate to an investor and the desire to retire has prompted the closure of the business. No information is available concerning the plans of the investor.
Van Vorhis family reflects on 65 years n business
Bee Gee Rental and Sales, Inc. Bee Gee Rental and Sales, Inc has been our lives and a passion for Rick, who began his rental career in 1967 at the age of fifteen. We have tried for several years to find someone with the same commitment to equipment, service and the community to purchase the business. A recent offer on the real estate has prompted us to sell the property and discontinue business operations.
The final day of business operations will be on Dec. 21, 2022. Bee Gee Rental and Sales will be phasing out certain services until then due to the time element of our rentals and service time requirements.
When Rick first started working at Bee Gee Rental and Sales just prior to beginning his junior year of high school in 1967, the party side carried glassware, dishes, tables, chairs, tents and much more. He started working by preparing party rental orders, cleaning returns and repackaging returned orders. Within the year, Rick began helping on the tool side of the business, as well. He was drawn to the power equipment and the many tasks that could be completed more quickly and easily with the proper equipment.
“Helping people solve problems and find the proper equipment to do the job efficiently and safely has been the most rewarding part of this job,” according to Rick. “Working with this equipment has provided a lifetime of opportunity to learn and share that knowledge with employees and customers”.
When Isaac and Marian Loose, who founded Bee Gee Rental and Sales in the mid-1950s decided to retire in 1977, they provided Rick, a 10-year employee at that time, the opportunity to assume ownership. They worked hard to update equipment and assure that the equipment was working safely and to its full potential. Over the years, rental has changed a great deal.
When Rick first started at Bee Gee Rental and Sales, all that was needed to rent a piece of equipment, no matter the value, was a name, address and phone number. Back then, we knew almost everyone coming in the store by name or where they worked or lived. Of course, over the years, insurance companies have required identification, it became a better business practice to require pre-payment of rental charges and of course computerization.
Bee Gee Rental was one of the early rental companies to embrace the technology that allowed us to have better information, the ability to track the availability of products and uniform application of rental charges. As our first year progressed, the request for purchasing Stihl chain saws prompted us to assume a Stihl dealership. Over the years, Stihl has become one of the most recognized brand names in the country and has resulted in Bee Gee Rental and Sales selling nearly 13,000 Stihl power units.
In 1983 we ventured into Snapper mowers and over the years have represented Troy-bilt, Husqvarna, Simplicity and Exmark resulting in the sales of over 3,600 mowers, tractors and snow blowers.
Bee Gee Rental and Sales owes its success to family, employees and its many customers. Myra’s most important role in the business was patient wife and business partner, sounding board, assistant worrier and support system. Both sons have worked in the business, both starting at an early age. Gregory worked through high school, college and later, part time as time provided in addition to his regular career. Lance worked through junior high, high school and his associates degree and full time up until 2020 when he and his wife sought a warmer climate in Arizona. Lance was responsible for customer service, parts and service scheduling as well as chief cleanliness and orderliness supervisor.
Of course, no business is successful without good employees. We have been lucky to have had many dedicated employees over the years, but a special acknowledgement is in order for Roger Thorn, who has been a loyal employee for thirty-five years.
Roger has been a major contributor to all facets of the business, but most importantly, he is the technician that keeps our equipment and our customers’ equipment running at peak performance.
And of course, we would not have existed without our customers who have relied on us for their rental needs, power products and repair needs. We have met many wonderful people and formed many relationships, and we hope that we have made their lives a little better and their work more productive and easier through the years.
In retirement, Myra and Rick hope to have some time to relax, spend time with Greg, his wife Jenn, and their three children. They also plan to travel and to visit Lance and his wife Kristy to see what the Arizona climate is like. Rick, Myra their family and employees wish to thank everyone who has trusted us to provide their equipment needs, encouraged us and made this career possible.
