June 6, 2024
Stephenson’s Rental Services CEO Guy Manuel
Guy Manuel, CEO of Stephenson’s Rental Services, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, says attracting and retaining the best people and developing a clear focus on market share gain strategy supported by a robust financial structure are top factors behind the company’s growth.
“Since management took control of the company in 2017, we’ve been able to accelerate our investments in people, technology and equipment, which has allowed us to get closer to our target of reaching 20 percent market share in advance of our set calendar plans. We are also operating in a healthy marketplace with a long runway ahead,” he says.
Fleet-wide implementation of telematics connected to its operating platform and its customer portal, EasyLink, also has been key. “This is transforming our ability to maximize our fleet, help customers understand and improve their business, and convey real-time notifications and alerts to our customers for updates on deliveries, pickups, service calls and equipment issues,” Manuel says.
This all feeds into the company’s aim to deliver a caring customer experience supported by unmatched service levels and simple, effective order processes. “Our unique selling point lies in our strong relationships with our customers, which we foster from the sites up to the senior executive levels,” he says. “This approach lets us stay in tune with our customers’ day-to-day needs and overall strategic direction.”
A broad inventory featuring many specialty products also sets Stephenson’s apart. “Our climate control division, scaffold and temporary fencing division, and our unique and proprietary edge protection product line, to name a few, deliver added value,” Manuel says.
Manuel also offers his thoughts on the near future of the industry. “[Canada] is growing rapidly with an aggressive immigration policy that supports our need for specialized workers to handle our growing market needs in civil, non-residential and residential construction. Our customers are also moving quickly from owning their equipment to more of a rental model. This allows them to reduce their service costs and release CapEx [capital expenditures] that can support greater returns in their core business. With these tailwinds, we are excited about the future and see a healthy five to 10 years ahead,” he says.
