Gruett's Inc. expands at New Holstein site

The opening of a new farm equipment sales, service and parts business here by the family-owned Gruett's, Inc. stands in contrast to the decades long industry trend, which has been the closure of many such businesses and the consolidation of others either in ownership or location.

Gruett's Inc. has been in business in Potter, about 15 miles from New Holstein, since 1958. It was founded by the late Harland Gruett and is operated today by his children and their families.

An opening for an expansion at a second site developed for Gruett's when another multi-site farm equipment dealership, which operates in the area gave up its contract with New Holland, company president Steve Gruett notes.

During Wisconsin's Farm Technology Days in 2010, some of New Holland's farmer customers talked about this with New Holland representatives at their display and indicated they would like to have a conveniently located dealership available to them again.

This led to a contact between New Holland and Gruett's and resulted in having Gruett's agree to become a dealer for New Holland.

One caveat, however, Gruett points out, is that Massey Ferguson, which also has a dealership agreement with Gruett's, did not want to have a major competing line of farm equipment at Gruett's headquarters in Potter.

Overcoming that restriction was resolved with the purchase of an existing building at 2310 Calumet St. here in 2011. The building, which housed an automobile dealership and vehicle service center before standing idle for several years, was a good fit as a second location for Gruett's.

The property also includes a large parking lot facing Highway 57. Gruett's also purchased an adjacent lot to allow for the potential of an expansion at the site.

Before the official opening on Nov. 1, a new floor, new ceiling and larger overhead doors were installed in the building and some painting was done, according to Dave Gruett, who is the manager at the site.

Other employees here are salesmen Lyle Roehrig and Doug Wallander, service manager Randy Scheidt, and mechanic/technician Eric Woelfel.

As a result of opening the new site, Gruett's shifted some employees and has hired five new employees, Steve Gruett notes. As business volume dictates, hirings for the parts department and for a mechanic are possible at New Holstein.

In addition to the New Holland line of tractors and self-propelled forage harvesting equipment, the outside lot and showroom here are likely to be filled in the coming weeks and months with displays of Krause tillage equipment, Great Plains grain drills, and Wil-Rich equipment, Steve Gruett indicates.

Hours at the new location are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays. The telephone number is 920-898-5479.