As renovation plans emerge from winter hibernation and contractors rush to lock in equipment before the summer crunch, Economy Rentals & Repairs is greeting customers with a new team at the counter and an almost entirely rebuilt rental fleet.
Owner Derek Jantz, who also operates the neighbouring powersports service centre Two Wheel Tech, says the upgrades are meant to eliminate two big frustrations he hears from customers: unreliable equipment and rushed, impersonal service.
“We’ve spent the last two‑and‑a‑half years tearing the place apart and putting it back together,” adds Jantz. “I’ve invested in brand‑new tools because people deserve gear that starts on the first pull, or in a lot of cases, with the first press of a trigger.”
Jantz is referring to the wave of cordless, battery‑powered lawn and garden tools now lining the front of the shop at 4500 Manson Avenue in Powell River. Customers will find Milwaukee‑branded electric units that are quieter, lighter and, according to Jantz, almost foolproof.
“A renter shouldn’t have to be a small‑engine mechanic,” he says. “Electric eliminates the choke, the carb, the fuel mix, the fumes—pretty much every variable that used to cause headaches when someone threw a tool in the back of a pickup and drove across town.”
The electric shift is only one facet of a refresh that includes new dethatchers, aerators, rototillers and what Jantz calls “a weed eater on steroids,” which is a walk‑behind string trimmer mounted on three wheels so users can tackle high grass without wrestling a traditional trimmer.
For heavier work, the business has added the community’s only rental wood chipper and expanded its selection of excavators, plate compactors, scaffolding, concrete saws and cement mixers to support contractors and do‑it‑yourselfers.
While equipment quality often drives first‑time rentals, customer service is what keeps people coming back. Over the winter, Jantz appointed longtime parts specialist Matthew Nicol as rentals and parts manager, and hired Christy McGirr to share the phones and walk‑in traffic.
“Friendly staff make all the difference. Matt and Christy treat the business like it’s theirs. They know the tools, they answer questions without judgment, and they’ll bend over backward to get you back on schedule.”
Nicol had years of parts experience at Lordco and held management positions in the industrial field. McGirr managed Ecossentials before coming to Two Wheel Tech.
Jantz, who spent a decade managing inventory for industrial suppliers before moving back to the qathet region, says the goal is to remove friction at every step.
“We check every piece of equipment before it leaves the yard, demo it if the renter is unfamiliar, and give each customer a full 24 hours to use it. Whether you pick up at eight in the morning or four in the afternoon, it’s due back the same time the next day. That flexibility matters when you’re trying to juggle work, weather and family.”
For longer projects, weekly rates are capped at four days, effectively giving renters three days free. Seniors receive a standing 10 per cent discount.
Jantz wants homeowners in the qathet region to consider the value of renting, especially when a task only arises once or twice a year.
“Take an electric pole saw. Buying one might run $500 or $600. You can rent ours for $75. Even if you prune every spring, it’ll be a decade before you break even, and by then I’ll have cycled through several newer, better models.”
As May gives way to June, activity spikes around dethatching, aerating and the first major lawn cuts of the year. Jantz advises booking those items a few days in advance, but notes that multiple units are available to avoid bottlenecks. He also urges customers to think ahead to midsummer projects such as fence‑line clearing or concrete patio repairs, when brush cutters, concrete saws and plate tampers will be at a premium.
Customers can browse equipment in person, scroll through Economy’s Facebook updates, or call the shop at 604.485.2707. Jantz insists no question is too small.
