{"id":15681,"date":"2018-01-16T10:49:35","date_gmt":"2018-01-16T16:49:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.farmandfleet.com\/blog\/?p=15681"},"modified":"2023-12-26T11:13:10","modified_gmt":"2023-12-26T17:13:10","slug":"blains-farm-fleet-continues-strong-investment-expansion-plan-new-stores-michigan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.farmandfleet.com\/blog\/blains-farm-fleet-continues-strong-investment-expansion-plan-new-stores-michigan\/","title":{"rendered":"Blain\u2019s Farm and Fleet Continues Strong Investment and Expansion Plan with New Stores in Michigan"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0Janesville, WI January 16, 2018<\/strong>– Blain\u2019s Farm & Fleet is pleased to announce that it will be entering Michigan in 2018. Blain\u2019s has identified prime locations throughout Michigan for new Blain\u2019s Farm & Fleet stores and they are in various stages of development. The first two locations are planned to open in Jackson and Portage this fall.\u00a0 These new locations will bring the total number of Blain\u2019s Farm & Fleet stores<\/a> to 40.<\/p>\n

\u201cSeveral years ago we announced an aggressive expansion and reinvestment plan,\u201d said Jane Blain Gilbertson, Owner and President of Blain\u2019s Farm & Fleet. \u201cIn the first steps of that plan, we opened our new stores in Romeoville and Elgin, IL, and we are currently making significant investments in remodeling and expanding existing stores in Rice Lake, WI and Kankakee\/Bourbonnais, IL.\u00a0 Expansion into Michigan is the next step.\u201d Blain\u2019s Farm & Fleet is a second generation family-owned company that has been serving customers since 1955, and Jane, the daughter of Founder Bert Blain, has personally championed the effort to bring Blain\u2019s Farm & Fleet to Michigan. \u201cWe welcome the opportunity to serve the hard-working people of Michigan.\u201d<\/p>\n

Blain\u2019s Farm & Fleet\u2019s expansion comes after significant exploration into various markets throughout the Midwest.\u00a0 Michigan and the Jackson and Portage locations were specifically chosen after careful consideration of hundreds of potential areas.\u00a0 \u201cIt all starts with the customers \u2013 or, as we like to think of them, our new neighbors,\u201d says Kristin Stewart, Chief Marketing Officer. \u201cWe have had so many requests by Michigan residents to build a store in their hometown.\u00a0 They really got our attention.\u00a0 Combine that with the recommendations that we have received from the companies that make the quality brands we carry in our store, and we knew this was an area where we would be welcomed.\u201d\u00a0 Blain\u2019s also considered the population base, including homeowners, families, hobby farmers and rural shoppers, that all tend to be strong supporters of Blain\u2019s Farm & Fleet Stores.<\/p>\n

Michigan has also played an important role in the rapid growth of Blain\u2019s FarmandFleet.com business<\/a>.\u00a0 \u201cOur online e-commerce business is booming with strong sales throughout the U.S.,\u201d says Stewart. \u201cMichigan is one of our best e-commerce states.\u00a0 Opening local stores will allow us to better serve these customers with 2 hour pick-up of online orders and our innovative Drive-Thru Service.\u201d\u00a0 All Blain\u2019s Farm & Fleet locations currently offer pick-up of online orders in 2 hours or less and Drive Thru Service<\/a>, where customers on-the-go can pull up and purchase items like pet food, softener salt and mulch without an advance order, similar to a fast food drive-thru.<\/p>\n

Both online and brick and mortar expansion has been part of Blain\u2019s deliberate strategic growth initiative. \u201cWe have been bucking the retail trend, showing successful growth as other retailers are shrinking,\u201d says Alejandro Montoya, Chief Financial Officer.\u00a0 \u201cBut, unlike other retailers, we do not expand quickly and then close stores later, leaving the communities and families that counted on them.\u00a0 In fact, in our 63 year history, we have never left a community where we have built a store.\u00a0 So, we are very careful about the locations that we choose.\u00a0 We are very excited about Michigan.\u00a0 It is a perfect fit.\u201d<\/p>\n

In Jackson, MI, the project has nearly cleared township approvals.\u00a0 The new 120,000 square foot store will be located at 3555 O\u2019Neill Drive.\u00a0 This is the site of a former Kmart.\u00a0 Blain\u2019s will be remodeling both the interior and exterior of the building including renovating the automotive service center with new state-of-the-art technology to meet Farm & Fleet\u2019s high standards.<\/p>\n

\"Jackson,<\/p>\n

The Portage, MI, location is awaiting typical final approvals which are expected in the coming weeks.\u00a0 The store will be located at 879 Mall Drive behind the Crossroads Mall and next to the Celebration Theaters.\u00a0 Blain\u2019s will be adding approximately 30,000 square feet to the existing building to create a 109,000 square foot store.\u00a0 The existing building will be renovated to include a new automotive service center.<\/p>\n

\"Portage,<\/p>\n

With over 4,100 current associates, Blain\u2019s Farm & Fleet employs over 100 people per store, including store associates, automotive service professionals, warehouse and stocking crews and management teams.\u00a0 \u201cWhen we open up a new store, we are really putting down roots in a community.\u00a0 Blain\u2019s has a unique culture that strives to treat our associates like family, and we are in it for the long haul,\u201d says Dennis Armstrong, Chief Human Resources Officer.\u00a0 \u201cWe have a great track record of keeping store associates for long careers which is unusual in the retail world.\u00a0 We are very proud of the strong customer-focused culture we have built and look forward to bringing it to our new neighbors in Michigan.\u201d<\/p>\n

Blain\u2019s Farm & Fleet is a Janesville, WI-based, family-owned retailer with strong family values, born and raised in America\u2019s heartland.\u00a0 They have earned the trust of Midwest families because they understand that their customers deserve to be treated honestly and fairly \u2013 the way they would treat a member of their own family.\u00a0 Since 1955, Blain\u2019s has earned the reputation of choosing only the highest quality products and brands and offering them at Farm & Fleet prices.\u00a0 Blain\u2019s Farm & Fleet has 38 locations throughout Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin with a wide variety of products that appeal to everyone, causing many shoppers to say, \u201cIf Farm & Fleet doesn\u2019t have it, you don\u2019t need it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Here is an example of some of the products and brands you will find at a Blain\u2019s Farm & Fleet:<\/p>\n

Clothing<\/a>:<\/strong> \u00a0Carhartt, Dickies, Under Armour, Columbia, Levi’s, Lee
\nFootwear<\/a>:<\/strong> \u00a0Skechers, Keds, Reebok, Puma, Sorel, Keen, Asics, New Balance
\nTools & Hardware<\/a>:<\/strong> \u00a0DEWALT, Milwaukee, Stanley, Craftsman
\nPaint & Supplies<\/a>:<\/strong> \u00a0Benjamin Moore, Valspar, MinWax, Rustoleum, Graco, Purdy
\nAutomotive<\/a>:<\/strong> Pennzoil, Valvoline, Mobile 1, Mystik, Fram, Prestone, Sea Foam, Meguiar\u2019s
\nTire & Auto Repair Service<\/a>:<\/strong>\u00a0 Michelin, Goodyear, Cooper
\nSporting Goods<\/a>:<\/strong> \u00a0Realtree, Scent-Lok, Yeti, Coleman, Rapala, Plano, Sun Dolphin
\nHome & Housewares<\/a>:<\/strong> \u00a0KitchenAid, Cuisinart, Keurig, T-Fal, Lodge, Dyson, Tide, Bounty
\nPet Department<\/a>:<\/strong> \u00a0Purina, Blue Buffalo, Hills Science Diet, Iams, Canidae, Taste of the Wild, Kong, Greenies
\nAgriculture<\/a>:<\/strong>\u00a0 King Kutter, Nutrena, Behrens, Guardian, Manna Pro, Ware, Weaver Leather
\nLawn & Garden<\/strong><\/a>:\u00a0 Scotts, Miracle-Gro, RoundUp, Fiskars, Weber, Char-Broil
\nOutdoor Power Equipment<\/a>:<\/strong> Troy-Bilt, Husqvarna, Cub Cadet, Briggs & Stratton<\/p>\n

Visit www.farmandfleet.com<\/a> for more information.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Blain\u2019s Farm & Fleet is pleased to announce that it will be entering Michigan in 2018. Blain\u2019s has identified prime locations throughout Michigan for the new stores and are in various stages of development. 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