Desert Rentals celebrates one year since opening

Greg and Candice Mead with some of their big rental equipment.

Miguel Filomeno became the first employee late last year when small engine repair was added.

by Ted Escobar & Royal Register Editor
| July 21, 2015 6:05 AM

Miguel Filomeno became the first employee late last year when small engine repair was added.

MATTAWA - Opening a new business is always a scary adventure. You just don't know how the public will react.

For Greg and Candice Mead, opening Desert Rentals a little more than a year ago was the right idea. Located in the Port of Mattawa Business Park, Desert Rentals has grown in inventory and scope.

"The best news was that we were able to hire Miguel (Filomeno). We could see we needed to add small engine repair, and he answered our ad," Greg said. "It's a big deal to us. He's a life saver."

The inventory of rental machinery has doubled since Desert Rentals was opened. To the portable lighting towers have been added two man-lifts, two excavators and two loaders.

The Meads have added a Seattle Tarp line of fabrics for wind screens and pond liners.

"We do a lot of business with agriculture and construction," Greg said. "And we are getting a lot of business with the Hispanic community. We really appreciate that."

With Filomeno available in the early hours, Desert Rentals is able to operate from 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. He takes care of business while the Meads are taking care of logistical matters or making the rounds with potential customers. The store is open from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturdays.

While things are great now, the Meads admit they got a good two-week scare in June last year. The opening month of May was better than they expected, then two weeks in June went dead.

"We were sitting around looking at each other wondering if we'd made a big mistake," Candice said.

No they hadn't. It was just a matter learning the territory. The few customers who did come in apprised them of the fact that cherry harvest calls for all hands on deck.

Activity picked up again after harvest, and the Meads were relieved.

The other thing the Meads learned in their first year is the nature of the people in the Desert Aire-Beverly corridor. They don't just rent but also like to visit, and they spread the word of their developing association with the Meads.

"This is completely different than Seattle (from where the Meads came)," Greg said. "Everybody is so friendly."