Power Surge: U-Haul Rentals Come to Whittington at Outdoor Power
WHITTINGTON, ILL. (April 8, 2015) – From working as a farmhand to owning his own sales and service center, James Zimmerman has come a long way.
Outdoor Power at 14960 State Hwy. 37 has been in Zimmerman’s hands for 10 years. In that decade, the company has grown from a basic, small-equipment repair shop to a dealership for Toro®, Maruyama®, and Generac® products.
Once James gauged the success from stocking marquee equipment, he opted to add a household name and industry leader to his growing inventory: U-Haul.
U-Haul® trucks, trailers, towing equipment, support rental items, in-store pick-up for boxes and after-hours drop-off are now available at Outdoor Power, located just off Interstate 57. Hours of operation are 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday and 9 a.m.-noon Saturday.
Reserve U-Haul products here by visiting http://www.uhaul.com/Locations/Truck-Rentals-near-Whittington-IL or calling (618) 629-1366 today.
Outdoor Power is the only U-Haul neighborhood dealer serving the Whittington community.
With a steady stream of customers coming through the doors, Zimmerman has enlisted the help of his three oldest children: Darla, Larry, and Delvin. The trio has helped their dad at home and at work for many years.
“When I was 14, we ran the shop out of our home,” Larry said. “You can read all these books, but you never really understand something until you do it in the grease.”
While Larry handles the phones, invoices and sales center, Darla covers the financial side of the operation and Delvin serves as a mechanic.
In 2007, Zimmerman became an ordained pastor at the Ewing Mennonite Church. Needless to say that he, his wife and their nine children are actively involved in the community.
“We do a program every other week where we split the congregation into four groups and go to rest homes, or to visit individuals who are too sick to get out of bed, and we hold a little service for them,” Zimmerman explained.
Outdoor Power is a business deeply rooted in servicing the customer. And as a U-Haul dealer, Zimmerman knows he can do that now more than ever. In addition to meeting the community’s moving needs, Outdoor Power customers can rent a U-Haul truck or trailer to get their new lawn equipment purchases home.
“Our main goal with Outdoor Power is not to simply sell equipment,” he said. “Instead, we want to be able to service the individual in every way we know how.”
U-Haul and Outdoor Power are striving to benefit the environment through sustainability initiatives. Truck sharing is a core U-Haul sustainability business practice that allows individuals to access a fleet of trucks that is larger than what they could access on an individual basis.
Every U-Haul truck placed in a community helps keep 19 personally owned large-capacity vehicles, pickups, SUVs and vans off the road. Fewer vehicles means less traffic congestion, less pollution, less fuel burned and cleaner air.
Outdoor Power is a great place to become U-Haul Famous. Take your picture in front of a U-Haul product and your face could land on the side of a U-Haul truck. Upload your photo through Instagram using #uhaulfamous, or go to www.uhaulfamous.com to submit your photos and learn more.
About U-Haul
Contact:
Andrea Batchelor, Public Relations Intern
Jeff Lockridge, Public Relations Specialist
E-mail: jeff_lockridge@uhaul.com
Phone: 602-760-4941
Website: uhaul.com