In this episode of Talking Business Shelly Peterson, Founder and CEO of Promoting Me and Holly Hansen, Community Development Director for the City of Cloquet are discussing the Hidden Gem of Fairchild Equipment.

Fairchild Equipment, a premier heavy equipment distributor and forklift provider, is a family-owned business headquartered in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Owned by Gary and Chad Fairchild, the company has expanded to eleven locations across the Midwest, employing 335 dedicated professionals. With a focus on collaboration and providing excellent service, Fairchild Equipment has built a loyal customer base that consistently returns for their extensive range of services and products.

Fairchild Equipment offers a wide array of services including sales, service, parts, rental, fleet management, training, and engineered storage systems. Their clientele spans Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, and northern Illinois. The company also specializes in construction equipment distribution, warehouse layout and design, contractor rentals, docks and doors, and battery distribution. This broad spectrum of services ensures that Fairchild Equipment can meet the diverse needs of their customers.

A robust digital marketing team supports Fairchild Equipment’s operations, emphasizing digital advertising to reach a wider audience. The company’s website is a comprehensive resource featuring new, used, and rental equipment, with categories for forklifts, construction and agriculture equipment, floor cleaning machines, aerial lifts, utility vehicles, railcar movers, and warehouse automation. Customers can also browse through an extensive online catalog. Additionally, Fairchild Equipment provides financing options and offers group or individual safety training to achieve OSHA certification, further supporting their customers’ needs.

Outgrowing their West Duluth facility, Fairchild Equipment decided to consolidate their Duluth and Grand Rapids locations into a single, larger facility in Cloquet. They purchased the former Wear-A-Knit facility on 18th Street, which spans 20,300 square feet and features high ceilings, a drive-in door, and a loading dock—ideal for their operational needs. This new location allows them to stock parts, maintain rental inventory, and offer open shop service space, all while being centrally located for their major customers.

The company invested significant “sweat equity” into renovating the Cloquet facility, temporarily operating without a location for a year during the transition. The new facility currently supports 18 staff members, with plans to expand to 35 by adding more field-based technicians and parts representatives. Fairchild Equipment is committed to offering paid training, particularly for those with a background in construction equipment or automotive, and a technical college degree.

We had the opportunity to meet with Van Clarkson, the President of Fairchild Equipment and Chairman of the Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association, along with Justin Cheever, the Product Support Representative based in the Cloquet office. Their enthusiasm and deep understanding of the industry were evident.

Fairchild Equipment is dedicated to fostering career opportunities and partnerships within the regional business community and technical schools. The company is deeply embedded in the region, supporting various events and teams, and aims to continue their community involvement.

With a commitment to excellence, customer satisfaction, and community engagement, Fairchild Equipment is poised to remain a leader in the heavy equipment distribution industry. Their new Cloquet facility marks a significant milestone in their ongoing journey of growth and service.