A&B OUTDOOR EQUIPMENT MIXES REPAIR SERVICE WITH RETAIL
A&B Outdoor Equipment
618-918-3357
214 N. Locust St, Centralia, IL
http://aboutdoorequipment.com/
Enjoying its seventh year of business this February, A&B Outdoor Equipment in Centralia has built its name on reliable repair services and top-of-the-line retail offerings.
Owners Allen and Barb Simmons have set themselves apart from other equipment retailers by offering trusted engine repair, something Allen had experience in before opening shop.
“My background was taking care of large and small engines for rental companies. I worked on a lot of equipment, too,” said Allen, who eventually handed the business’s repair duties over to his employees, which currently consists of mechanic, Brandon Steele.
“The first year it was just [me and Barb]. But we got busy enough that I had to hire someone. We have a full-time mechanic now.”
Allen said repair services make up roughly sixty percent of his and Barb’s regular business and can include work on everything from lawn mowers and weed eaters to construction equipment and small tractors.
“We work on just about anything that’s got an engine in it,” he said.
As for the A&B Outdoor Equipment’s retail items, Barb said the business has built a strong following in both the immediate area and abroad, with customers coming from far and wide to find the right part.
“We probably have one of the larger parts departments of any small business,” said Barb, a Centralia native. “We have a lot of customers from Centralia, and we also have people that come from Olney, Edwardsville, Carlyle, and Springfield.
“We have a little over 2,000 customers in our system right now,” added Allen. “We have a lot of loyal customers, and I think we get new ones every day. We have sold mowers from here down to the southern end of the state.”
Allen and Barb said they are currently offering 15 percent off parts and labor during the months of January and February as part of their annual Winter Sale and provide regular discounts to Veterans and First Responders.
