50+ Year Legacy 3rd Generation Family Business

 

…and still growing strong!

LEPCO (formerly known as Lawn Equipment Parts Company) is a wholesale, multi-line distributor of outdoor power equipment, parts, and accessories. We serve nearly 1,000 dealers in the Northeast US and represent seven quality brands with lawn care products for both consumer and professional landscaper use.

From the Trunk of His Car…

In 1970, Merrell Clark and Jay Hertzog founded Lawn Equipment Parts Co., which continues to serve as a family-owned and operated wholesale distributor of quality outdoor power equipment, parts, and accessories. Originally, LEPCO operated as an aftermarket parts distributor to independent lawn equipment dealers, with our first customers being Brandt’s Mower Service and Arcade Equipment. 

The original warehouse was an 800-square-foot rented facility. Local customers had the key to the building, so they could pick their own parts and leave Merrell a note to bill them later. At that time, all packing slips and invoices were written by hand until a Wang computer system was installed later in the 1970s. The culture of trust, hard work, and personal service still rings true today. 

As the company grew, operations moved into various new and larger locations until arriving in the current space in 2007.  Our story includes: 

  • Merrell first sold aftermarket parts out of the trunk of his station wagon
  • The company’s first delivery truck was a rented vehicle with an elephant painted on the side
  • The first equipment line was MacKissic
  • LEPCO began distributing ECHO in 1975 when the total US volume was just $5MM
  • LEPCO is an original founder and investor of Exmark since 1983
  • We have been distributing each of the current lines for multiple decades each, demonstrating longevity in the market and a deep understanding of product knowledge 

What started humbly is still growing strong. Today, we’re a third-generation family with over 85 employees. 

Fertilizing Our Future

Over the years, LEPCO has continued to grow, becoming one of the preferred distributors in the industry. LEPCO completed a 131,000-square-foot warehouse expansion in 2021, a solid investment for the future. By investing in our people, our capital assets, and technology advancements, our commitment is unwavering.  

Maintaining our reputation for outstanding customer service to our dealers, our brand partners, and our community continues to be our everyday focus. When we provide quality products and services to our group of independent dealers, they in turn provide a higher level of service and support to the end-users for all of the brands we represent. We see the value of each channel partner amplified through our core programming. 

We sell exclusively to retail dealers in our region, consisting of: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Kirsten Sourbeer, HR Generalist/Accounting Manager

HR Generalist/Accounting Manager since 2009

I enjoy working at LEPCO because of the family atmosphere. You hear companies stating they are family-oriented or are like a family and you later find out that is not correct. With LEPCO, it’s actually true.

Michael Shafer, Territory Manager

Territory Manager since 2013

Both the relationships I’ve made within the walls of LEPCO and the ones outside with our dealers are like no other. I love to grow and help my dealers grow. LEPCO is my home – the people have helped me grow. I’ve learned that my smile is my logo, my personality is my business card, and how I leave others feeling after they have an experience with me is my trademark.

Jenn Ridgeway, ERP Systems Administrator

ERP Systems Administrator since 2020

LEPCO has so many respectable company values, but I think teamwork is at the heart of it all. Every employee is a team player and I think that naturally leads to accountability, quality and motivation. Having assembled a reliable team of employees, LEPCO is able to withstand and overcome any obstacle.

Robert Rhone, Warehouse Associate

Warehouse Associate since 2017

Great people, fun place to work at.

Missy Chaffee, AP Specialist

AP Specialist since 2016

The people I work with are all like family.

Brandon Thomas, Service Technician

Service Technician since 2019

I love coming to work every day and seeing people smiling.

Tony Eberly, Warehouse Associate

Warehouse Associate since 2021

One my favorite things about working at LEPCO is the teamwork the shipping crew shows. I’m fairly new but any questions I have, they never hesitate to answer.

Mark Merrifield, Assistant Warehouse Manager

Assistant Warehouse Manager since 2018

The people, atmosphere, work ethic, and environment. Everything is great. Starting from a small garage and a station wagon, to seeing how far we have gone in 50 years in astonishing. Around my time of hire, there were 2 employee retirement parties totaling close to 80 years of LEPCO experience. You do not see that anywhere today. At LEPCO you are not just an employee number. They care more about you then any other job I have ever worked.

Wisleine Rene, Receiving Associate

Receiving Associate since 2020

I enjoy working at LEPCO because every day I look forward to coming to work. The environment is very positive and everyone is very friendly.

Robert Kintner, CFO, Director of IT & Human Resources

CFO, Director of IT & HR since 2020

LEPCO is a first-class company that has built a culture based on solid values and leadership. It’s very apparent that the long-term growth and the successes of the company have taken a complete team effort by its employees. The leadership is exceptional which begins with a gracious and exceptionally thoughtful ownership that flows down through a talented management team and hard-working conscientious employees.