Powersports dealers form joint venture in NWA
by February 20, 2022 10:26 am 2,530 views
Northwest Arkansas outdoor dealer WT Equipment (formerly Williams Tractor) has separated its powersports business, Freedom Powersports, to form a new standalone dealership.
The new dealer group is called Wood Powersports of NWA. It’s a joint venture with Wood Motor Co. of Harrison.
The financial terms of the new partnership were not disclosed.
The company’s ownership group includes five partners:
- Blake Young; managing partner and former sales director with Polaris Industries
- Chip Johnson, president of Wood Motor Co.
- Paul Caldwell, advertising executive and former CEO of Caldwell & Kerr
- Doug Williams, managing partner of WT Equipment
- Gary Tollett, president and managing partner of WT Equipment
“We are very passionate about both the tractor and the powersports industries and knew we needed to shift gears to keep up with the changing industry and continue to serve our customers,” Williams said in a statement. “Finding a partner that shares the same customer-first mindset was important to us. We accomplished that with Wood Powersports.”
Freedom Powersports dealerships in Fayetteville and Rogers are the new group’s first two locations in Northwest Arkansas. The stores will continue to carry KTM, Polaris, Yamaha, Kawasaki and Suzuki.
WT Equipment recently completed a new Springdale superstore east of Interstate 49, approximately 1 mile south of Don Tyson Parkway.
Average sales from the company’s powersports business are about $20 million annually, with unit sales between 1,200 and 1,500, plus parts and accessories.
Wood Powersports of NWA will employ between 30 and 35 workers.