Flaman Rentals Blog

What's it like being a Flaman Rental Dealer?

Posted by Jeff Brown Jan 17, 2023

We decided to become a Flaman Rental Dealer because it complements our farm. We have a year-round livestock operation and don’t have the same seasonal demands as grain producers. Flaman Rentals just made sense as a cash-flow business. Now that rental income has morphed into its own enterprise in the 11 years since we’ve partnered with Flaman.   
 
There’s an unforeseen advantage in creating this massive relationship with the community. You really don’t know what other producers are doing. We sort of became this hub, and we get to see how innovative other growers have become.   
 
Our success in the first year happened because of the early support from Flaman Rentals. Whenever we had a question or concern, we could count on Flaman, and the local farming community could count on us.   
 
—Brian Headon, Headon Rentals, Lloydminster, AB.   

The Roots of Flaman Rentals 
 
The national company you now know as Flaman began in 1959 with Frank Flaman and a baler and swather. You could say that custom baling and harvesting in the Southey, Sask area was Frank’s first rental venture. The commodities were his equipment and his manpower. This was the seed that would grow to become Flaman Rentals in 1993. It was nurtured by Frank’s desire to reduce the financial pressure on farmers and help make a difference in his community.   
 
Over 80 Flaman Dealerships exist across Western Canada and the U.S., supported by management, administrative, IT and marketing teams in our head office. We’ve expanded the range of products offered by our rental services to meet our client’s ever-changing needs. Even though many things have changed, one thing that remains the same is Flaman’s commitment to the customer.   
 
With the success of our existing Flaman Rental dealers, we expect to see many new ones sprout up. Many people share our vision of making a difference by helping local farmers succeed in today’s climate.   
 
The greatest thing about being a Flaman Dealer: Chad Cissell
 
Chad Cissell of Darkside Rentals shares a story similar to Brian’s. He took over an existing Flaman dealer five years ago.   

Flaman support was top-notch as we were first getting started. And even through the years, if you have a question, our Territory Manager will have an answer. We are one of the larger dealers with loads of experience, and we pass on our expertise to other Flaman Dealers.   
 
We serve lots of smaller farms that can’t just buy high-dollar equipment – ones that need quality implements in the short term to remain competitive. We offer that option at a fraction of the cost.   

Being part of the dealer network is the greatest thing about being a Flaman Dealer. We share tips and tricks, stories from the field, and help each other grow. There is still that competitive spirit amongst the dealers but… it just makes everyone better. That network is valuable.   
 
For those considering becoming a dealer, it’s very different day to day. Especially when you’re working with 100-plus customers over the year. You're used to seeing them at the grain market or auction house on occasion. It’s different when you become hands-on with them and understand what they need.   

Being a Flaman Rental Dealer is a challenging experience and I enjoy every minute of it!   
 
—Chad Cassel, Darkside Rentals, Ponoka, AB.   

Big Commitment. Ample Rewards. 
 
As you can see, a lot goes into becoming a Flaman Rental Dealer, but it comes with ample rewards. If you operate a farm or an agriculture-related business like delivering fuel or fertilizer, it's a great way to supplement your income. Dealership candidates with a solid understanding of the needs of farmers, farming communities, and agri-business go to the front of the line. We look for people like Brian and Chad who realize that maintaining that level of involvement is a reward.
 
At Flaman, we pride ourselves on being supportive; If you think you’re the kind of person who’d enjoy this kind of opportunity, join our team, you can count on our help finding the right equipment for your location. Flaman helps you succeed so you can continue to be the center of the community - meeting everyone in the surrounding area and being part of an invaluable and coherent dealer network.

If you are interested in joining this mutually supportive network of dealers, learn more about the Flaman Rental opportunity here.   

Flaman Launches First Storefront Location in Peace River Region

Posted by Jeff Brown Oct 27, 2021

WELD (verb) 

1. join together (metal pieces or parts) by heating the surfaces to the point of melting using a blowtorch, electric arc, or other means, and uniting them by pressing, hammering, etc. 
2. cause to combine and form a harmonious or effective whole. 

Oxford Dictionary 

The bond between Flaman and Dunvegan Fab & Welding has made both parties stronger – not to mention what it’s done for life in the Peace River Country. 
 
It was officially forged at the beginning of March 2021, when Flaman Sales purchased the busy shop from Trevor Kerschbaumer of Kerba Group. But Flaman’s relationship with DF&W goes back for years, and its presence in the Peace River Country goes back even further. 


Flaman’s Presence in the Peace River Country 

Frank Flaman got to know the beautiful Peace River Country well, travelling through it extensively in the 1980s. It didn’t take long for him to see how Flaman could serve this productive agricultural region. Over the years, several area businesses incorporated Flaman Rentals into their product/service offering. 

These businesses now operate in Fahler, LaCrete, Grande Prairie, and High Prairie in Alberta and Dawson Creek in BC. However, the opening of the Peace Country’s first Flaman storefront operation is a very recent development. 

Dunvegan Fab & Welding 

Norm McLachlan opened his first welding shop on the family farm in the mid-90s. Around 2003, the demand for agricultural welding and fabrication spurred him to open a second shop in Fairview, Alberta. In 2011, in response to his customers’ needs, McLachlan expanded his in-town operation to include Flaman Rentals. 

Dunvegan Fab & Welding wasn’t the first Fairview shop to offer Flaman Rentals, but the partnership clicked. As in other agricultural regions, Flaman’s selection of rental products was the perfect fit for farmers in short-term need of expensive equipment. 
 

The Rental Advantage 

We rent grain vacs, disc harrows, heavy harrows, rock rakes, rock pickers, and bale carts,” says Tina Gelech, in charge of Flaman Peace Country Administration. 

She adds a mower, bio spreader, and grain bin mover to that list – as well as two or more post pounders, grain bin cranes, stock trailers, gooseneck trailers, and flat-deck trailers. 

Customers have also been able to rent man lifts, scissor lifts, and even a washroom car for leisurely family and community gatherings. Renting makes economical sense, Gelech says. 

“When you're looking at a 60 foot set of disc harrows that costs like 160 grand. That's a big payment if you only need to do 1,000 acres. You’re going to take the one-time payment versus paying $160,000.” Before Flaman’s arrival, the region’s counties and municipal districts were a farmer’s only rental resource. 

Full-Fledged Flaman 

McLachlan’s successful record of customer service and his relationship with Flaman continued until 2017, when he sold Dunvegan Fab & Welding to Kerba Group, which in turn sold the operation to Flaman this March. Becoming the region’s first full-fledged Flaman distributor brought some changes to Dunvegan Fab & Welding, but some things remain as they were before. 

The Flaman Fairview location is now a hub, meaning it also shares its equipment with Falher, Grande Prairie, and Dawson Creek. That makes for some long delivery drives, especially with some roads having 60 km per hour speed limits. It’s one of a few new responsibilities that Regional Manager Kevin Kulak and his staff are working to streamline. 

It’s been hard to gauge how the new status has affected farm equipment rentals. That’s because the weather has been the predominant deciding factor in 2021. 

“This year, the discs have been in and out all summer because of the weird weather we've had,” Gelech says. “Lots of people started discing way earlier this year because there was nothing growing in the field. So why wait until fall?” 
 

More Staff to Do More Stuff  

However, some benefits of storefront status are more tangible. For instance, the Walinga Blower Systems sold through Flaman are customized to meet the needs of each individual farmer. That calls for more of the expert welding and fabricating the Fairview shop was built upon and delivers 40 hours a week.  

The business also offers these services onsite. This has resulted in the hiring of another welder and another potential hiring in the future.

The shop’s even brought on a full-time “security guard” – a brown tabby with the imposing moniker of “Miss Kitty” (AKA “Missy.”) She mops up on any opportunistic mice daring to take advantage of an open shop bay door. Not surprisingly, this fierce feline is a hit with the customers. So is the service.  
 

The Future of Fairview, Flaman, and Farming 

Tina Gelech says dealing with the customers is the best part of her job. New faces are always refreshing. Greeting them with a friendly smile and thorough attention is one of Tina’s many responsibilities. These include invoicing, record-keeping, managing rentals, and reporting to the Alberta headquarters in Nisku.  

Gelech says the aim is to build a fully stocked store modeled after Flaman’s Nisku, Medicine Hat, and Lethbridge locations. That plan is good news for Fairview – a town of around 3,000 souls keenly interested in a thriving agriculture-based economy.

The Peace Region represents Canada’s northernmost agriculture-ready lands – over 5.8 million acres for canola, oats, peas, barley, cattle ranching, and honey bees. Since Western Canada’s last great wave of agricultural settlement in the 1910s, farmers have survived the great depression, mosquito-bitten summers, bitter winters, droughts, and floods.  

Today, Peace River farmers set the pace for agricultural seed production and own 14% of Canada’s bison-producing herd. New challenges will undoubtedly arise, but they’ll be met by a resilient community always plowing toward that next goal.  

“Everybody's always happy when a business is growing versus moving out of town,” Gelech says. Signs like the town’s first Tim Hortons location inspire hope, but you still have to venture to a bigger center to buy a pair of jeans. 

That’s one of many things Flaman’s new storefront location is helping to change.

Medicine Hat celebrates its Grand Opening

Posted by Adam Diakow May 17, 2013

On Wednesday May 8 Flaman Group of Companies in Medicine Hat held its grand opening to celebrate its new, larger location. We couldn’t have asked for a better day weather-wise, although this meant that most farmers were in the field and unable to attend.

We held a free BBQ lunch and had a great turn out. The official ribbon cutting was done at 12:30 p.m. by the Medicine Hat Chamber of Commerce and also in attendance was the mayor of Medicine Hat Norm Boucher.

To top off the day the Frank Flaman Foundation donated $7,000 to the Medicine Hat Women’s Shelter, which is the largest donation they had received to date.

The day couldn’t have gone better for everyone. Thanks to everyone who attended.

For more photos of the event, please visit our Facebook page here

Flaman Rentals introduces new Damage Waiver Fee

Posted by Flaman Apr 19, 2013

As of May 1, 2013, all Flaman Rentals stores and agriculture rental dealers across the prairies will be introducing a new damage waiver fee for all of our equipment rental customers. This new fee is designed to help our customers offset the high cost of equipment repairs if they accidentally damage any rental equipment while in their possession.

By paying this small fee, our customers can now feel good knowing they have coverage for any accidental damage to tools or equipment they rent from Flaman. This coverage could save them hundreds of dollars in repairs.

It’s just one more way Flaman is helping our customers have a positive rental experience, knowing that those expensive pieces of rental equipment are covered while in their possession.

Please stop in or call your nearest Flaman rental store for full details.

Flaman Rentals in Moosomin, Yorkton and Swan River currently offer a similar fee and this will remain unchanged.

Exciting experiences at rental dealer meeting in Cuba

Posted by Flaman Jan 09, 2013

Cuba… oh boy where do I start? It was a fun filled week mixed with both business and a little pleasure. I was rather excited about this trip, as this was my first full dealer get together. I was rather nervous and not sure what to expect, especially with 100 of us crazy Canadians down in Cuba.

Flaman Shares with the Community

Posted by Flaman Jul 17, 2012

As the new territory rental manager I had the chance to personally hand deliver a $10,000 donation cheque on behalf of the Frank Flaman Foundation to Ike Friesen of Morden, MB. Ike is one of Flaman’s all-time longest rental dealers, and has been part of the Flaman team for over 10 years now. He is also chairman for SHARE (Sharing Hope and Agriculture Resources of the Earth).

The SHARE project already has 425 acres of farmland planted this year with all proceeds donated to the Canadian Foodgrains Bank. Community growing projects are a unique way for people to contribute grain and other agricultural commodities to help people who are hungry around the world.

A typical project involves a group of people working together to farm a common plot of land. After harvest, the production is donated through the Canadian Foodgrains Bank for overseas food ais and agricultural development projects.

Flaman’s donation will be used towards crop input costs. Frank Flaman likes to donate money that's going to go right to the people. I was honoured to present this cheque to SHARE as it made me feel part of something that is a good cause and helping to fight hunger in our world.

Ike Friesen and Parrish Kondra

Third Time's A Charm

Posted by Jennifer Thompson Jun 26, 2012

For the third year in a row, Flaman Rentals in Saskatoon has been named a Consumer Choice Award Winner. This division of Flaman rents out enclosed and flat deck trailers, along with agricultural equipment like discs, land rollers or mowers.

I recently attended the Consumer Choice Award ceremony with our marketing VP Steve Whittington at the beautiful Delta Bessborough in Saskatoon. We got to sip champagne and rub elbows with a lot of great business owners in the city, and of course, celebrate our own success!

This award is special because the winners are picked by our customers. It means a lot to us that people recognize our efforts to offer great customer service. We were also very pleased to win a Consumer Choice Award three years in a row. This means our team is consistent taking care of our customers’ needs. And we’re proud of that!

What’s great is that the Consumer Choice Award is becoming a trusted name in the Saskatoon area. Looking at the other winners gathered in the room that night, we knew we were in good company amongst other top businesses in Saskatoon.

A big “thank you!” is due to our rental team in Saskatoon for all their efforts and hard work every day and to our customers for continuing to choose Flaman Rentals.

New Rental flyer is out now

Posted by Flaman Mar 30, 2012

Flaman Rentals has just finished producing and distributing the new Rental Rate Flyer for our eastern Saskatchewan and western Manitoba rental stores. It contains details and safety information as well as rental rates on all of our most popular equipment.

The Moosomin rental store is expanding!

Posted by Flaman Jan 19, 2012

Flaman Sales and Rentals in Moosomin is happy to announce that we have officially begun construction on our new facility here in Moosomin. As part of the original take over from Wayne’s Rental Centre back in the spring of 2011, Flaman knew that they would soon need a much larger facility to work out of as business grew and expanded.

Three successful open houses/contractor appreciation days!

Posted by Flaman Jul 07, 2011

New website, new dealers for summer 2011

Posted by Barrett Prokopie Jul 05, 2011

This spring has been a very different one for many producers in the prairies, from near disastrous flooding in the southern parts of Saskatchewan and Manitoba, to drought in northern Alberta and B.C. It seems that nothing is predictable in the agricultural sector anymore (if it ever was).

Flaman Rentals wins Consumer Choice Award

Posted by Jennifer Thompson Jun 28, 2011

For the second year in a row, Flaman Rentals has received the Consumer Choice Award for the best Equipment Rental dealer in Saskatoon. 

Steve Whittington, an executive at Flaman, accepts the Consumers Choice Award for Flaman Rentals in Saskatoon.