Welcome -- The Evolving Niche
Northside Tool Rental shares some insightful best practices.
by Clair D. Urbain, Editor and Publisher
It was interesting to hear how Northside Tool Rental, which serves the Atlanta area, has evolved over time. How the Atlanta metropolitan area has changed over the last 75 years is breathtaking, going from less than 600,00 residents to 6.3 million today and projections for reaching 8 million by 2050.
Having grown to four local branches, Northside Tool Rental has gotten there by identifying early changes in the market and has stayed nimble to position its fleet – and employees – to best serve those changing needs.
Northside’s adoption of tools and technology has served it well. Jeff and Steffen Lignugaris, owners, fondly remember the computer system that their grandfather, Roy E. Milling, Jr., installed in the business in the early ’80s. It was one of the first computer systems in the country set up to help manage rental operations.
Other examples include bringing on types of equipment that became instant hits with customers because they made arduous jobs easier. A ride-on aerator became an instant hit, and most recently, battery-powered cut-off saws have been a rental favorite of contractors who must make cuts indoors.
Perhaps the greatest evolution is in how Northside Tool Rental approaches employee development. Instead of using sink-or-swim tactics to newbies working the rental counter or phone lines, they take deliberate steps on training and coaching to help employees provide the best customer service the first time, every time. Read how they do it in our story, Serving the “underserved” BY CLICKING HERE.
This article originally appeared in the September-October 2025 issue of Pro Contractor Rentals magazine ©2025 Urbain Communications LLC. All rights reserved.
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