Weingartz and Ball Equipment announce e-commerce joint venture

On March 27, two Michigan dealerships — Weingartz Supply Company (Utica) and Ball Equipment (Sandusky) — announced a joint venture agreement to combine resources in an effort to maximize e-commerce opportunities in the outdoor power equipment and powersports industries.

Under the agreement, both Ball’s and Weingartz’s e-commerce marketing and fulfillment operations will be consolidated and relocated to a newly purchased 45,000-square-foot warehouse in Chesterfield, Mich. All e-commerce inventories warehoused in Chesterfield will continue to be independently owned by Ball and Weingartz, and sales will remain independent of both companies’ respective online sales channels.

Together, Ball and Weingartz will form a new jointly owned entity, BW Retail Solutions, LLC, that will manage marketing, fulfillment and customer service for both organizations’ e-commerce businesses. Chris Ball, vice president, Ball Equipment, will serve as CEO of the new joint venture. As part of the joint venture, Ball Equipment has also sold a minority share of its stock to Weingartz’s owners.

“We could not have asked for a better opportunity or partner,” said Chris Ball. “Together, our organizations combine more than 145 years of industry knowledge, experience and trust in our communities. We know that as retail environments change, we have to continue to innovate, diversify, and stand together with like-minded partners in order to be successful. This joint venture begins a new chapter in the long history of both family-owned companies.”

“Finding a partner with Ball’s expertise in e-commerce while sharing common retail backgrounds and values has really been invigorating,” said Dan Weingartz, president of Weingartz. “Collaboration of our strengths and capabilities allows for very high expectations of growth together.”

This new relationship puts Ball and Weingartz in a position to be market leaders in outdoor power and powersports parts and accessory sales, while continuing to independently focus on growing their separate dealership retail businesses.

Family owned and operated since 1945, Weingartz continues to serve as an industry leader in outdoor power equipment sales, service, and expert advice. A long-time advocate of commercial and residential buyers, Weingartz carries top-name equipment and replacement parts at each of its five Michigan locations and online at www.weingartz.com.

Ball Equipment (www.ballequip.com) has been a premier eastern Michigan retailer of powersports and outdoor power equipment, parts, and service since 1944. In addition to two retail locations in Richmond and Sandusky, Ball Equipment owns and operates FixMyToys.com, a leading e-commerce retailer for off-road vehicle parts and accessories.

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