MYRTLE BEACH, SC — When Grand Strand Power Equipment’s Service Manager Mike Hicks first moved to Myrtle Beach, SC nearly two decades ago, there was still a fair amount of open space, vacant lots and room to breathe. Now? The cozy beach town is full—full of homes, hotels, condos and commerce.

And while Hicks might complain a little bit about the traffic, he takes a tremendous amount of pride in the dealership’s business growth in relation to the community’s growth. Grand Strand Power Equipment (GSPE) is owned and operated by Shaw Williams, who’s had the dealership since 2002. Williams is supported by Hicks and six other fulltime employees

“It’s all about teamwork here,” Hicks says. “In the 15 years I’ve been here, we’ve always grown, work order-wise, sales-wise, everything, we just keep getting stronger together. One person can’t do that; that’s all teamwork.”

GSPE serves a wide swath of customers, from snowbirds wanting to maintain their own properties to enormous landscape contractors ordering 30 plus mowers in a given season. Hicks estimates that the mix shakes out to be 80% commercial cutters, a change from a few years ago when the mix was closer to 50/50, but no matter what everyone is treated with the utmost respect and attention.

Hicks believes one of the reasons the dealership is popular with Myrtle Beach locals and those as far as 50 miles out, is the atmosphere. There’s always a friendly face at the counter and someone ready to help whoever walks through the door. “It’s not just a receipt to us,” he emphasizes.

Having a positive atmosphere is crucial for GSPE, considering the “season” continues to get longer and longer. What used to begin in late March/early April and last through Thanksgiving, now starts in mid-January and lasts through Thanksgiving thanks to the warmer weather coming earlier and staying longer. Hicks admits it caught everyone off guard, especially ordering-wise: “A lot of our customers wanted their spring orders in February, when we usually order in February for them to pick up in April. So, they just absolutely stripped us of what we had in the showroom, and oh man, it was a little crazy for a bit.”

Located a mere three miles from the coastline, GSPE is cognizant of severe weather, watching forecasts closely during the Atlantic Hurricane season. When a storm is predicted to come close, the store will stock up on chain, generators and saws to best support the post-storm rush.