Sales Bits: Built by Selling and Serving
- Denny
- Feb 25
- 3 min read
January marks both a new year and a meaningful milestone. In this Sales Bit, Denny reflects on the origins of Vermeer MidSouth, the lessons learned along the way, and the enduring commitment to selling and serving that continues to shape the work ahead.
From Denny Vander Molen, President of Vermeer MidSouth and Founder and CEO of Jackson Endeavors
Happy New Year, Vermeer MidSouth team!
The month of January marks the end of thirty-eight (38) years of business we affectionately call Vermeer MidSouth. I thought it might be interesting this month to reflect or share how and why we or I got to this place.
“Year’s end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us.” Hal Borland was a writer and naturalist.
We were not always Vermeer MidSouth, as we began as Vermeer Sales & Service. Most of the dealerships started as Sales & Service companies. The other designation, then, was the town where the dealership was located. That name change happened back in January 2004.
It was perhaps early 1986 that my brother-in-law, Wendell, and I began talking about our own Vermeer dealership. His Dad, Sy, was a long-time dealership parts man in Pella, Iowa. Wendell was a route salesman for a tire wholesale company. He was itching for a change, as his territory and compensation had been changed.
I had begun my career with Vermeer in 1973, after growing up on an Iowa farm. After applying at the factory for a production job, I soon pivoted to working at Vermeer as a full-time/part-time construction worker. Pouring concrete, setting forms, and driving a cement truck were early memories. Digging ditches, running equipment, plumbing, and laying block and brick on a new factory were some hard days at work. I then took a great opportunity as a hay baler service rep, as it was early in development, and Vermeer was taking many orders for them.
Shortly after getting married in 2001, Vermeer gave me another opportunity to manage a considerable territory in the NE and Canada. For five years, I worked setting up dealerships and supporting them.
Wendell and I began the discovery stage of a dealership opportunity, first in California and then in Colorado. The sales-and-service mindset was starting to take hold. An independent dealership was the way to establish long-term relationships with more than just the equipment; it was established to service the equipment and customers so they could manage their jobs, support their enterprise, and flourish and grow with Vermeer.
Vermeer then informed us of opportunities in Memphis and Jackson. Two locations, two partners, and one company would represent all of Mississippi and Arkansas, as well as West Tennessee.
Today, there are more locations, more experts, more certified technicians, more technology, and more inventory to meet the demands of our customers. What hasn’t changed is the desire to learn more about the industries we service, the machines we support, and the customers that we partner with. Selling and serving are still the fuel that burns in the engine and gives VMS the horsepower it needs.
We are grateful for the vast amount of learning, wisdom, and experience in our team. We solve workplace problems with great solutions and excellent equipment. It is all possible with great people! You are the best!
“Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me; everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.” Paul to the city of Philippi in Philippians 4:9.
What discovery will you find this week? Or this year?
What can be learned?
What new relationship will be earned?
By selling and serving with our best, our value to others will only compound accordingly!
Have a great sales week!
Comments