Jim Goodall Rental & Sales in Fort Myers, Fla., this month moved into a new 5,000-square-foot facility where the company will expand its rental business, owner Jim Goodall told RER.

Goodall, a lifelong veteran of the equipment business, began his company in late 2006 buying and selling used equipment primarily on the Internet, selling 188 machines in 2007, 288 in 2008 and, Goodall said, the company is on a pace to sell about 350 this year.

“We coordinate all the shipping,” Goodall told RER. “We sell on the Internet and 90 percent of our sales are outside Florida. We sell some internationally, although most of our business is domestic.”

The company expanded into rental this year, primarily renting mini-excavators and skid-steer loaders, and mini-excavators with hammer attachments. JGR&S is also an authorized dealer for Niftylift aerial work platforms and Maverick hydraulic hammers and sells Lull grapple attachments. Goodall said the company plans to break into aerial work platform rentals very soon.

Goodall grew up in the equipment business in Massachusetts, where his father owned a Case dealership called Goodall & Son Tractor Co. In 1980 he opened a lawn and garden business down the street from Logan Equipment, owned by Bryan Rich. In the late 80s, Rick hired Goodall and when Rich sold Logan to NationsRent, Goodall was the first district manager hired by Rich. Goodall remained with NationsRent until the company went into bankruptcy and then worked for Husqvarna covering national rental accounts for four years.

Goodall later rejoined the newly re-constituted NationsRent managing its dealership division for LinkBelt excavators and Lull telehandlers until that division was dissolved after Sunbelt Rentals acquired NationsRent. Goodall then established his company, which has done well, despite the Florida economy, which has been hard-hit by the current recession.

JGR&S also employs Goodall’s wife, who is chief financial officer, two drivers and a mechanic.