People-Powered Profit
Family-Owned Distributor and Barnes Dennig Achieve Success Together
For long-term success, you need the right people, the right tools, and the right know-how.
Need proof? Consider the story of Bryan Equipment Sales, Inc., a family-owned and -operated enterprise led by third-generation CEO Rick Bryan IV. The company has a long history of distributing outdoor power equipment to independently-owned servicing dealers. And for most of that history, Barnes Dennig has been an indispensable ally.
The challenge
In an era of online and big-box retailers, Bryan Equipment has found ways to thrive.
The company — which operates in multiple Midwestern, Mid-Atlantic, and Southern states — is committed to its employees and a people-first approach to business. “We’re always striving to keep it a family organization, so our people feel like they’re part of a family,” said Rick.
One of the ways it does this is by offering some of the industry’s most comprehensive training for employee success. Bryan Equipment’s employees stay for an average of 14 years — an impressive statistic in a world where job change is the norm. The longer they stay, the more knowledge and experience they have to offer customers.
Barnes Dennig contributes to the company’s family environment with tax-smart ideas for expanding and improving employee benefits. “Barnes Dennig brings insight that we may not have thought of, such as tax advice related to self-insurance, risk management, employee benefits, and benchmarking, among others,” said Rick.
The strategy
Year after year, Barnes Dennig professionals have used their in-depth accounting, tax, and industry knowledge to generate the innovative insights and strategies that help keep Bryan Equipment competitive. Barnes Dennig’s dedicated Wholesale Distribution team spends its time working with clients in the industry to better understand the issues distributors face. This enables the firm’s client engagement team to grow alongside Bryan Equipment, helping it achieve its goals.
“The events presented by distribution industry experts like Michael Marks bring tremendous value, allowing us to educate and train our leadership team,” Rick said. Barnes Dennig also brings nationally recognized thought leaders to speak to clients.
According to Rick, “The success of the customer makes us successful.” That’s why Bryan Equipment prioritizes quality products and customer service. The distributor sells high-quality STIHL products exclusively through independent retailers, which it provides with hands-on training. Next-day shipping to retailers and a 99% order fill rate ensure that customers get exactly what they need, when they need it.
Like Bryan Equipment, Barnes Dennig strives to continuously improve the service it provides. That means communicating regularly with clients to check on their needs and goals. It also means providing its own employees with professional development. Barnes Dennig’s Wholesale Distribution practice leader Steve Bailey says, “We stay current on the latest thinking for top-tier distributors with our proprietary compensation and benefits benchmarking study and analysis of research findings.”
The results
Since 1965, Bryan Equipment and Barnes Dennig have worked together to build a mutually rewarding relationship. Today, Bryan Equipment is the country’s leading distributor of STIHL power tools. It’s shipped millions of them — and counting.
Rick’s vision for his company? “Continuing the family-owned business model that has helped Bryan Equipment outperform the industry, investing in new and existing relationships, and working with other family-owned businesses,” he said.
Like it has so often over the years, Barnes Dennig helps realize that vision and keep Bryan Equipment profitable for decades to come.
About Barnes Dennig
Barnes Dennig is a Certified Public Accounting and consulting firm serving businesses and organizations in Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky. We offer tax, accounting, auditing, business consulting, and business advisory services to help our clients make the most of every financial opportunity.
Learn more about Barnes Dennig and the industries we serve.
Got questions? Contact us.
About Bryan Equipment Sales
Since 1948, Bryan Equipment Sales, Inc. has been distributing outdoor power equipment tools to full-servicing retailers. The company is one of the leading distributors in the Outdoor Power Equipment (OPE) industry, as well as the number-one distributor of STIHL power tools in the US. Bryan Equipment has aggressively marketed STIHL products since 1967 throughout its six-state region: Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, middle and western Tennessee, and West Virginia. To date, the company has shipped over nine million STIHL power tools.