Tools and Trucks: A Family Affair in Fargo

If you’ve ever commuted through Fargo, chances are you may have seen the giant, white-and-blue Cornwell Tools truck that belongs to J.R. Shipley. It’s a tool shop on wheels, filled with just about anything anyone might need. A North Dakota native, Shipley began his career with Cornwell Tools when he and his wife, Becky, were living in Denver, CO. He was working as an auto body repair technician when he was recruited by a Cornwell Tools dealer in 2009.

Inspired by the opportunity, the Shipleys reinvented their careers and started again, attending special training sessions for those who were starting their franchises with Cornwell Tools. In 2008 and 2009 however, the U.S. Labor market had lost 8.4 million jobs, which equaled out to a loss of 6.1% of all payroll employment, a drop that hadn’t been seen since the Great Depression of the early 20th Century. Even at the training seminars, J.R. and his wife were cautioned about their choice. “We were told this was not the best time to start,” Shipley said, as the recession was in one of its lowest points. Undaunted, the Shipleys went ahead anyway. “We didn’t even think about the timing. We were excited to start it,” he continued, “we just kind of jumped.” And in August of 2009, they began a new chapter.

After a few years, North Dakota enticed the couple back to their home state, using family and a work as an incentive to return. Both J.R. and Becky are from Devils Lake, ND, and the fact that there were no Cornwell Tools franchises in North Dakota offered him the opportunity to expand and develop his territory. “Cornwell Tools is celebrating its 95th Anniversary this year, and there hasn’t been a franchise in North Dakota since 1994.” Shipley said. “Since I’ve been here, I’ve recruited four more dealers within the state. We’re filling it up slowly but surely.” Currently, the only areas that aren’t within a Cornwell dealer’s territory are out by Dickinson and Williston.

Each dealer has his or her own established territory with a customer base that is served every week. “In any one week, I see 400 customers,” Shipley said. He services a wide variety of clients, such as mechanics, auto body shops, and even implement dealers like John Deere, Case, and Titan Machinery.

“I’m very, very price competitive,” he continued. “I have a better warranty, excellent prices, and a well-stocked truck to take care of my customers’ needs.” All the tools come with a lifetime warranty. Shipley uses his discretion to stock his truck, paying close attention to sales trends in order to keep plenty of options on his truck for everyone. “We see a lot of people during the week, so we got to keep moving.” Four days out of the week, he is traveling back and forth between Fargo and West Fargo, and one day a week he makes the trek to visit his customers in Wahpeton and Breckenridge. It’s an easy-going and efficient operation, one that lends itself to customer accessibility. If ever one of his clients needs a replacement, Shipley pulls up in his truck and hands over a new tool.

Even though it seems like it’s easily a one-man operation, Shipley would be nowhere without his wife. “I’m in the truck and do sales, and my wife does all the behind the scenes things like paying bills and keeping the rest of it afloat. I enjoy it. We probably call each other twenty times a day, talking back and forth.”

The couple has two young children, Davis, 6, and Grace, 2. Despite his long hours, Shipley still makes time to be with his family. “I work about sixty hours a week, but we still make time. I get home about seven or eight in the evening and the kids are waiting for me. While the weeks can be tough, we make the most of our time together on the weekends.” But his business is not just about himself. “We try to keep it a family affair. Some days, me and the wife will grab the kids and we’ll all stock the shelves and put tools away. The kids enjoy themselves a lot in there.” And with a truck full of tools within easy reach, who wouldn’t? “I’ll take my son with me every now and again to the shops in the evenings. He interacts with the customers very well, and likes anything tool related or with a motor. My wife and I will clean the truck together too, we’ll grab the shop vac and dusters and clean everything off.” With the business taking up so much time, they have to work together as a family. “We’d never see each other otherwise,” Shipley joked.

“In the summertime the truck stays at our home, but in wintertime, it sits indoors in a heated shop,” he said. “Things will actually run that way. It’s a lot easier to put tools away too.”

In spite of the long hours, being a Cornwell dealer is a rewarding and validating career for Shipley. “My wife can stay home with our kids. That’s the number one thing for me. We don’t have to have daycare raise our children, so in that way we really count our blessings. And I hear huge positives from my customers, things like ‘You know, that tool you sold me really makes my day.’ It’s good to hear that from your guys.”

As for now, Shipley doesn’t plan to expand his personal territory. “I’ve got all that I can handle, but I am looking for more dealers. There are franchises available. I’d like to recruit more people for western North Dakota so we can get more of a footprint with our company and franchise. There are other tool companies out there as well as some of the top dealers in the country. Whoever goes out there will do very well.”

To learn more about J.R. Shipley’s services and the products he offers, you can visit his Facebook page at www.facebook.com/JrShipleyCornwellTools or email him at jr_shipley@yahoo.com.

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