Worthington Ag Parts - President's Blog

Worthington Ag Parts - Goldsboro, North Carolina

Greetings from our store in Goldsboro, North Carolina.  It's been my privilege to visit the last few days for the first time in a few years.  Steve Mittlestadt one of our new IT staff was making his first company plane trip to install new phone and data lines so I decided to join him.  This store was started in early 1989 the same year I started with Worthington Ag Parts.  It's been too long and I forgot just how beautiful it is out here.  The only down side to the trip was Skip (Albert) Leigh our store manager was gone to Kentucky visiting his grand children so I missed him.   

Speaking of Skip as I sit in his office I see a black and white photo printed off the printer and pinned to the wall of his wonderful family and I just have to share it with you!  I'm not sure which of these grand children he is visiting but I am confident whichever one it is they love Grandpa and Grandma because it's hard to beat Skip and Nancy!  What a beautiful family!  Sorry the photo is rough but I just shot a quick picture of it with my phone but I just couldn't resist sharing it!

It's truly a long term family out here.  The average employee has worked 16 years for us here at our North Carolina store.  We have a seasoned crew with plenty of parts knowledge on the counter, Sherrill, Danny and Skip can get you the right parts to keep your tractor, combine and cotton picker back up and running!  If they are busy our office manager Tammy Sutton has been known to grab a phone and sell a few parts too.  Tammy has been with us for twenty years!  She handles all the bookkeeping functions for this store and our Evansville, Wisconsin location and any other store that needs her help!  I tried to negotiate a photo but after 20 years of service I guess she has the right to veto it.  She looks her lovely self and you'll have to take my word for it!

As I sit here and look out the window the farmer is actually spiking his tobacco field. Danny was quick to educate me that the farmer is replacing the tobacco plants that died and didn't take. They pull the dead plant and spike a new plant into the ground using a Pepsi Cola bottle. Well I guess you learn something new every day and especially if your around Danny for any length of time.  Those of you that have meant him know what I'm talking about - Ha!

The store is located right on Highway 70 straight west of Goldsboro.  You can't miss it just look for the big red tractor on top of the sign.  You can see in the picture above just how it looks.  That tractor has been able to survive a many straight line winds cause by the hurricanes that blow in off the coast.  That's a problem we don't have to worry about at the rest of our stores in the United States.  I have to wonder if any of our customers have tried to climb up there and take a few parts off the old fella! 

The phones are up and running with the new lines today - Internet access is cruising so we'll be able to fly home later this afternoon!  Good job IT department you had things lined up well for the conversion.  That's all for today remember to call 1.888.845.8456 to be routed to a store near you for all your tractor parts, combine parts, and cotton picker parts needs and our website is always open at www.worthingtonagparts.com. 

Cheers,

 Mike Winter

Highway 60 is changing but Worthington Ag Parts is NOT! We have the Same Parts - Same Great Service!

My day started off interesting at the very least. It was suggested to me that some people in the Worthington, Minnesota area think we are closing down for a move to Sioux Falls, South Dakota given our expansion in that city. This couldn't be father from the truth!

Yes, we have invested in Sioux Falls, but this investment is in our Export Division and Capello Implement Division. Worthington Tractor Parts, Inc. has many different business units not only Worthington Ag Parts our parts retail distribution business.

I want to let everyone know that we have also invested almost a half a million dollars in reconstructing the front of the Worthington, MN store to accommodate the highway project. We would not have been able to function if didn't get ahead of the highway and it's reconfiguration. A couple of buildings had to be removed along with a lot earth work so the area could handle the water runnoff and be able to handle vehicles on the south frontage! A new loading dock was constructed in the back of the facility as the old one was out front along the highway.  We also contructed new a new privacy fence required by the county when the state required us to remove our existing fence. Here are some photos of the new look in front of our yard in Worthington!

At the current time no one gets to just pass by on the highway anymore.  It's going to be awhile before that happens again.  So if you want to see the new frontage drive on out - the coffee is always on and Dan, Arnie, Dennis, Roger, Rick and Mark are waiting to visit with you!

If you would like to see a video of how to get to our store in Worthington - click here!

 

I'd also like to inform everyone that we did close our rebuilt starter shop but we carry a complete line of after-market new starters, generators and alternators that in most cases is cheaper than rebuilding your old one!  We are expanding our rebuild facility at the Worthington store with engines, transmissions, final drives and more all to serve you better!

We are committed to the farmers in the Worthington, MN area for decades to come!

Have a great weekend!

Mike Winter

President - Worthington Tractor Parts, Inc.

 

 

National Farm Machinery Show!

Well it's day two of the National Farm Machinery Show.  We are displaying here at booth number 3035 in the South Wing C.  The first couple days have been very busy.  I have been coming to this show for fifteen years and I can't remember a time where the mood has been so "wealthy".  Remember to stop by and get 10% off your order at the show and free shipping!

This year we raised the bar a little and added a parts counter to our display.  It's not to hide from our customers but provide them a sense of home at one of our parts stores.  They love walking straight to the parts counter when they come to buy parts and it's turned out no different here at the show.  We still have our knowledgable parts staff working the trade area but we also are covering the parts counter.

 

 

This year we split the booth one side is our Worthington Ag Parts display the other is our Capello Corn Head display.  We are the exclusive distributor in the United States for Capello corn heads.  It's amazing how things can change in the two full years we have been the distributor.  There is a lot of interest in the corn heads and most have heard the amazing performance of the hundreds we have running already in the United States.  We also offer an industry best two year warranty.  Stop by and get your quote today.  You can build your own quote at www.capellousa.com.

Well I need to get back at it things are busy here at the booth and we have vendor meetings as well.  Stop by and say hello!

Cheers,

Mike Winter

 

Happy New Year!

2011 was another successful year for agriculture and Worthington Tractor Parts, Inc. as a whole. I hope that you are able to reflect the same as us. As you plan for 2012 I'd like to remind all that Worthington Tractor Parts, Inc. has a few different companies under our umbrella but don't let that confuse you our partner in parts. We are committed to being your economical replacement parts supplier.

In 2012 Worthington Ag Parts will show you renewed focus on providing you and all of our valued customers with the most economical, reliable and value added parts line in the industry. This includes our used, after-market new and re-manufactured parts line. We have over 100,000 after-market new parts in our growing line.

2012 also marks our 48th year in the replacement parts business. Over this time we have seen significant changes in the farming industry. We have been able to change as well to meet our customers needs but we never have stopped developing a relationship with our customers.

If you are curious about all of our different operation around the world their websites are below.

www.worthingtonagparts.com - Retail U.S. Website

www.neils.com.au - Neil's Parts of Australia our sister company providing replacement parts to "down

www.capellousa.com - Implement Division providing Capello corn heads to the U.S. market.

www.exportagparts.com - Parts Export Export Division B2B site for our European customers providing after-market new parts to our world wide dealer network. We now have a warehouse in Germany!

Thank you for your patronage in 2011 and from the Worthington Ag Parts family - Happy New Year!

Sincerely,

Michael Winter

Wortington Tractor Parts, Inc. - President

DBA: Worthington Ag Parts, Capello Implement, Parts Express

Director - Neil's Parts Australia

Change is a Good Thing!

Everyone needs to grow and to do that a certain amount of change in your life is necessary. The world is changing - twitter, face-book and mobile phones, almost everyone now has a mobile phone! Fifteen years ago that was not common. Can you imagine not having your mobile phone now? We have customers emailing us for parts from the comfort of their cabs! I have often said when you get comfortable in your comfort zone and you want to stay there then your done growing whether it's in your personal life or your career!

Worthington Ag Parts is growing and to do this it requires a certain amount of change. Our customers are constantly changing to farm their operations more efficiently. Our dealers are always changing to service their customers more efficiently. Everyone should be trying to do better and this requires the drive to embrace change. If you are standing still you are going nowhere fast. You wonder what has changed at Worthington Ag Parts? The answer is a lot the last three years!

Used Parts:

Everyone knows us as a used parts supplier for a value price versus the Original Equipment Manufacturer. We still are committed to providing you the "value" used parts or hard to find parts but we have expanded into carrying more late model equipment to provide parts for your tractor and combine that has been put into production the last ten years. Originally the business was founded on used parts for equipment in production 15 years prior! Now we are buying tractors and combines no matter what the year when the opportunity arrives to service your parts needs. Every piece of equipment we purchase is listed on our web page and has a minimum of four digital photos that allow you to view the salvage. You can view all the latest salvage by make and model on our web page click here! We have over 20,000 used parts now priced on our web page for you to order direct on line. You don't have to call the store to ask for your part and as all web pages our site is open for business 24/7!

New Parts:

Did you know we carry just as much after market new parts as used parts? We sell just as much too! We have an ever expanding after market new parts line and continue to expand through domestic and foreign manufacturers. All of our NEW parts are manufactured to meet or exceed Original Equipment Manufacture expectations. We are constantly trying to provide the best price on the market for our our new parts. Every new part we carry is available on our web page within seconds after it's added to our product offering. If you have a replacement number from your original part just enter it and search on our site and you can see where we have it in stock! The stores who have stock are listed. Check out this example - WN- MINIGACPLUS! DO NOT just think of us as a used replacement part alternative - we have over 30,000 after market new parts available!

Capello Chopping Corn Heads:

Worthington Ag Parts has become the exclusive distributor of Capello corn heads in the last twenty four months. Capello has the best chopping corn head on the market and has been the OEM manufacturer for Klaas - Cat Lexion for years. They wanted to expand their reach in the United States to include CNH and John Deere corn heads. How does that happen to a used parts company? Well it's easy. We know equipment all makes and models, we know replacement parts as good as anyone, we know after market new parts to support the capello line and we have over 100,000 row crop farmers who are currently active customers! Find a dealer today or build your own at www.capellousa.com.

Parts Express:

Worthington Ag Parts also is a worldwide distributor of parts through our Parts Express division. We not only sell to the U.S. market but we now export parts to over 30 countries in the world. On October 1st we opened a distribution warehouse is Germany to better service our Eastern and Western European customers. All of our containers will be loaded in the new facility we are building in Sioux Falls, SD. We have out grown the existing leased facility in Renner, SD. Our new facility will open November 1st for business. It will be home to our Parts Express, Capello and New Product divisions! As you may know we will be moving our corporate headquarters to this location as well in 2014! You can have a peek at our B2B website which services our European customers at www.exportagparts.com. Remember we also do business in Australia as Neil's Parts with five locations on the eastern sea board and new operations to be opening in 2012 in the west near Perth! www.neils.com.au.

We are not just a used salvage yard anymore! We are a world wide provider of replacement parts from scrap metal processors, used parts suppliers, re-manufactured parts suppliers, after market new parts suppliers, used equipment resellers to new implements. We've changed and we'd like you to change and purchase all your parts from Worthington Ag Parts from used to new and perhaps even a state of the art chopping corn head! Thanks for your business!

Sincerely,

Mike Winter

President

Notice of Store Closure - Blakely, GA

Effective June 30, 2011 we will be closing the Worthington Ag Parts store in Blakely, Georgia.  This decision does not reflect the overall financial stability of Worthington Tractor Parts, Inc. or Neil's Parts of Australia.  It resonates more with the fact the market does not have the breadth to support operating a parts business in this area.

Worthington Ag Parts continues to grow and diversify to support it's customer base world wide.  In fact just this week, we signed papers for our bonded warehouse in Warstein Germany.  I will blog more on this next week.  We are excited with the new ventures we have in emerging markets worldwide and we will continue to be a leader in our industry.

Sincerely,

Mike Winter

Australia Trip Summary

The last two weeks I have spent in Australia visiting every one of our Neil's Parts stores.  To the left is a picture of the Sydney Harbor bridge as we flew out of Sydney to Coolongatta Queensland.  As I write this morning I am feeling the effects of jet lag - wide awake at 5 AM and now at 9 AM ready to crawl in bed for the night.  Having travelled the world I can honestly say the jet lag is the worst traveling to Australia but I wouldn't change a thing.  The country and people are outstanding.  I say all the time everyone should visit Australia once in their life time. 

Used Inventory!The first week we flew to every store to appraise their used inventory, check after-market new parts and rebuilt parts inventory.  Nick Moeller and Randy Mittlestadt, Directors of Operations for the U.S. appraised their used stocks and provided guidance on yard operations etc.  Actually, being year three in the process, they more or less overseen Jason Atkins and Tim Allan who handled the appraisal process.  It's just another example of how our two companies have become so integrated all on a focus to service the customer world wide.  We continually purchase the latest model salvage for parts to insure we have the broadest inventory of used parts in the world.

New Location!The first day we visited our new location in Ayr, Queensland.  The weather was tropical and the sugar cane fields were a plush green and very tall!  This store once it gets a foot hold will be very successful.  We are currently in the process of having sugar cane after market new parts manufactured to service the large industry.  There is a large amount of used tractors for salvage parts waiting for dismantling and another 40 on the way this week.  We had barrmundi fish for lunch and I have to say it was the best fish I had ever eaten, if you get the opportunity try it some time!  I made a brief video of the new location in Ayr that can be viewed with a click here or below this.

 

On Friday we were back at the corporate office in Toowoomba launching the new and improved web site for Neil's Parts.  The customers in Australia can now order their parts on line with a secure credit card processing system, check available stock at a store near them, view fresh salvage and review used equipment for sale.  We also have a sale shed where all the overstocked parts are located and the customers can take advantage of liquidation pricing.  I know Neil's Parts now has the most comprehensive ag parts web site in Australia.

We finished up the last part of the trip with manager's meetings.  They were very productive and Neil's Parts has never had a stronger management group.  Watch this video to meet the management team!

 

We look forward to expansion in the near future to Western Australia, the starting of our rebuilt division in Dubbo and continued growth in the existing stores. As the song goes "The future is so bright we gotta wear shades!"

THANKS! I'd like to take a moment and thank the Worthington Ag Parts team who sacrificed two weeks from their families unconditionally and focused on providing guidance and expertise to our sister company.  We truly are one world one team.  It's hard to imagine six grown men spending so much time together with no egos, issues or self indulgence just flat out teammates! (Randy Mittlestadt - Director of Operations, Nick Moeller - Director of Operations, Mike Chorzempa - Financial Controller, Jamie Neldon - Director of Business Development and Colin Taylor - International Export Manager)  A big thank you to my Australian team who make our stay seem like home!

The one disappointment from this trip was the heavy travel schedule didn't allow me time to visit my sister Jane who lives in Sydney hopefully she can forgive me!  Love you Jane I will visit later this year when I am back down - PROMISE! 

Well that's enough for today - Sorry Michael Libbie I know the blogs aren't supposed to ramble on!

Cheers,

Mike Winter

Argentina Supplier Trip

Well it’s been awhile since I’ve written a blog!  A lot of things have been happening here at Worthington Ag Parts.  Did you know Worthington Ag Parts and its subsidiaries sell more after-market new parts than used salvage parts?  Yes that’s right!  We are always looking to expand our after-market new product line and reduce costs along the way to our valued customers.

Recently I traveled to Argentina with Jason Atkins (General Manager – Neil’s Parts), Jamie Neldon (Director of Business Development) and Larry Frodermann (Director of New Product) to visit several manufacturers of after-market new parts for combines and tractors.  While it’s a long way away from the United States, you will see many similarities in agriculture between our two countries!   This trip was very busy to say the least.  We did nearly 1,800 miles in a week driving from manufacturer to manufacturer. 

As we toured the countryside the soybean harvest was in full swing.  Trucks were rolling full of grain to the elevators and combines were marching through the fields.  The one difference I did see was an actual palm tree in a fence line of a soybean field – now that’s unique!

The first day of travel had a few setbacks and the local people were more than happy to accommodate us, from Pablo (Michael J Fox's look alike brother), Cao our interpreter and parts sourcing company in Argentina (Tach Consulting) to our driver, Adria'n (Al Pachino look alike) Machado.  Pablo dropped everything for a whole week to translate for us when our original translator pulled out with family commitments.

We started the first day with our good friends at Tecnologi'a Parez.  As always they were more than willing to drop everything and show us the plant and talk business.  On top of this we got treated to an Argentinean BBQ with local cuisine, wine and the odd local beer of course!  A warm thanks to Juan Carlos (President) and his family.  Whose hospitality was warming to us, especially when you are so far away from home.  They are real people with real family values.  We are the exclusive supplier in the United States for Perez’s products.  Their product quality is second to none.  Like everyone we met over there, they are ready to increase our range and move forward with Worthington Ag Parts and Neil's Parts of Australia.

 
The next day the van was headed north to Rossmet.   The day started two hours late due to political demonstrations but our driver made our trip light hearted with his mix of 80's music and his willingness for us to join him singing in English ... it made the 4 hours pass very quickly and it was a laugh to say the least.  I am pretty sure he could tell I quit choir at an early age!

When we arrived at Rossmet, the family greeted us with open arms.  It was amazing the work Luciana and Santiago Rossi (sister and brother) had put in to be able to speak some English with us.  This made things a lot easier. I know I am going to have to start studying Spanish for the future.  The children had great passion for their Father (Santiago Senior - President) and the business he has built from scratch.  The products they manufacture are quality products with the consumer in mind. 

Rossmet did their homework on us as well and were more than willing to have us represent their parts in the United States and Australia. We are proud to be their exclusive distributor and we are committed to strengthening the relationship over time!  We had a wonderful dinner with their family and friends and it was sad to leave their hospitality.

 
The next day we made our way to Fagtor.  We have dealt with this company for a long time and are the exclusive distributor of their products in the United States and Australia.

This is another very impressive manufacturing plant with an emphasis on quality.  These businesses don't mass produce inferior products, they make parts that last and it shows with the commitment of the local OE manufacturers to deal with them.

Hern'an Pedro Torres and his father Manuel (President) gave us a tour of the plant and then had a local TV station do an interview with me.  All of which was translated by Pablo Cao.  It was difficult but I hope it turned out okay for production.  Larry and Hern'an have a great relationship and I am sure both Worthington Ag Parts and Neil's Parts will benefit greatly from this.  The meeting was concluded once again with another Family BBQ where nothing was spared to make us comfortable.

Jason and the team continued on to two more manufactures while Larry, Jamie and I made our way home.  The personal thing I take away from this trip is each business we visited was built with family traditions.  Those of you that know me or read my blogs know I always preach family first – your family then your Worthington Ag Parts family.  These businesses all value family and with their extensive range of products they are a perfect fit with Worthington Ag Parts. 

I would like to personally thank everyone that helped make this trip so beneficial and comfortable.  I look forward to long lasting business relationships and friendships.  I feel like we are all part of the same family now.

Cheers,

Mike Winter

Setting the Record Straight!

There has be a lot of press on our recent announcement of expansion in Sioux Falls - some truthful and some not.  I'd like to set the record straight on what is happening in Sioux Falls.  Yes we did purchase six acres of land from the Sioux Falls Development Foundation to build our new Export Division combined with our Capello Corn Head Implement Division.  The Sioux Falls Economic Development Foundation was very helpful gaining our trust and business.  The price was right and our new location will be less than one mile from interstate 29 and 90 with great access from the new Marion Exit! 

The Worthington Ag Parts - Export Division is currently located just north of Sioux Falls in Renner on property we currently lease.  The lease expires on August 31, 2011.  The business has grown extensively over the last five years and we need more space than the current facility provides us.  In 2010 we exported parts to over 30 countries. It's a emerging business unit for Worthington Ag Parts.

In 2010 Worthington Ag Parts became the exclusive distributor of Capello corn heads which are manufactured in Italy.  The product has been a huge success and will continue to grab market share within the United States. It became necessary for us to have a facility to handle hundreds of corn heads annually for distribution to our growing dealer base. You can read more about the Capello corn head and it's state of the art stalk chopping system at www.capellousa.com.

The Worthington, MN retail store is not closing and relocating to Sioux Falls, South Dakota.  It will remain at it's current location.  The business was founded there in July of 1964 and we have no intentions of relocating it.  We remain committed to the local farmers in and around the Worthington area along with all of our domestic customers!  In error some radio stations in Minnesota, Iowa and South Dakota has been reporting we are relocating the operations. Careful consideration was given to expand the Worthington, MN facility and include the base operation plus the Export and Capello implement division.  The problem was the expansion of highway 60 in front of our store.  As a result of the highway expansion MN DOT will be removing all three of our exits and entrances to the highway and replacing it with a frontage road that dead ends at our facility.  As of result of this it leaves us with a non-conducive environment that prohibits further expansion of the existing MN location. Thus Worthington, MN was eliminated from consideration.

The corporate head quarters is currently located in Maple Grove, MN.  It handles all administrative tasks for our world wide operations, accounting, finance, human resources, purchasing, business development and information systems.  We currently lease office space and that lease runs through 2014.  It is our intention to relocate our corporate head quarters to the new facility in Sioux Falls, South Dakota once our lease expires.  Having said this, we are actively pursing acquisitions of other businesses that will continue our growth and with them could come revised strategic plans involving the corporate headquarters!

The construction of our new facility begins in early 2011 with completion by August.  It will consist of 20,000 square feet of warehouse space along with the potential of 8,500 square feet of finished office space. 

That's the facts - we are excited about our emerging business units along with our long lasting parts operations in the United States providing quality used, new and re-manufactured parts for tractors, combines, cotton pickers and implements.

Cheers,

Mike Winter

 

 

What are you thankful for?

Thanksgiving is a time to sit back and reflect on all the things we are grateful for in our lives.  Worthington Ag Parts is thankful for all of our loyal customers, vendors and friends around the world. 

Here is a little story that one of our customers can be thankful for today.  As many of you know a customer can order parts on our web site (www.worthingtonagparts.com) and pay by credit card.  We use a very secure credit card processing system and we never see your card number only the processing company sees it.  An order came in yesterday for a few parts to be shipped to California, not something out of the ordinary.

We always screen the orders when the ship to and bill to address don't quite add up.  Katie Sanders our web order processor tried contacting the phone number that came in with the bill to address.  It's a good thing because it was a brand new credit card received in the last two weeks and the customer had no idea that someone was using his card to order combine parts!  The card is not formally charged and the authorization was cancelled on our secure processing software.  That customer can be thankful that Katie and Worthington Ag Parts are always out to protect you!  GREAT JOB Katie! 

This past week I passed twenty one years with Worthington Ag Parts, I am thankful that I've had the fortune of working with one company as long as I have.  Our customers are great people across the globe starting here in the United States to South Africa, Australia, Ukraine, Russia, Germany, Italy, Kazakhstan, New Zea-land, Malasia, Mexico, Argentina, England, Canada and many more.  Day in and Day out I am thankful for the "team" of employees that I get to work with here at Worthington Ag Parts and Neil's Parts of Australia.  While we can all agree to disagree from time to time and share some "robust" dialogue we always work together to satisfy our customer's needs. 

On the personal side - I am most thankful for the three wonderful women in my life, Karen my wife of 20 years, and my two daughters Kristen (18) and Allison (15).  My family and my Worthington Ag Parts family mean the world to me!

Take the time to ask yourself "What are you thankful for?"

Thanks for reading and Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

Cheers,

Mike Winter