BY CARRIE WESOLOWSKI
It was a gray, blustery day, but you wouldn’t know it when you stepped into the new Hilo showroom. The showroom was a sea of yellow Hyster service vehicles, American flags, and smiling faces. Everyone was excited about Hilo’s grand opening celebration of their full-service Hyster factory authorized branch in Long Island City.
In addition to the 26 service vehicles, three delivery trucks and large inventory of rental and pre-owned equipment, there were a variety of vendors on hand with a wide selection of overhead doors and industrial electric batteries and chargers. The industrial electric batteries are definitely not what you think of when you think of the batteries you insert into your flashlight. These industrial electric batteries are industrial-size as well with some batteries on display weighing as much as 5,000 pounds. The gregarious Hyster Area Manager Jody Stahl gave visitors a tour of the showroom where they were able to peruse the various tables and learn more about the individual companies and how they can be beneficial to their business.
The grand opening culminated with the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Hilo President Steve LoPiccolo did the honors, cutting the ribbon with a deluxe pair of scissors courtesy of the Queens Chamber of Commerce as Eric D. Abrams from the Queens Chamber looked on.
Before LoPiccolo cut the red ribbon, he expressed his excitement at being a part of the Long Island City community and stressed the importance of the customer. “Our business is all about the customer. We wouldn’t be here without them. “
That comment says it all. Dedication to customer service is one of the core values of Hilo. That dedication to customer service and integrity are what make Hilo so successful.
As general manager Joe Veltri reiterated, “We do what we say we will do and we live up to our word. Our business is our word—one and the same.”
Integrity and great customer service with a warm, friendly touch are evident from the receptionist to the Hyster Area Manager Jody Stahl to Hilo President Steve Lo Picolo to CEO Les Gelber. In fact, Hilo has an award-winning Commercial Lighting Division, Hi-Light Energy systems that has won awards in the most recent six consecutive years in LIPA’s Commercial Energy Efficiency Program and was recognized at the recent Trade Ally Recognition Breakfast in early 2012.
Established in 1977 as a forklift company by Les Gobler, Hilo handles manufacturers such as Yale, Hyster, Kelly, Serco and Rytec- just to name a few. Gobler has been involved with materials handling for over 45 years.
With two convenient locations in Suffolk County and Queens, Hilo is dedicated to providing both Long Island and Metro New York with top-quality new and pre-owned equipment such as forklifts, mezzanines, pallet racks, commercial lighting solutions, lift trucks, and dock and door products. Hilo also provides equipment rental services in Nassau, Suffolk, Queens, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Westchester, and Manhattan.
While Hilo has been successfully serving the Long Island community for the past 35 years, the new Long Island City branch is also an authorized Hyster dealer with fully-staffed sales, rentals, parts and service departments.
While most materials handling groups work with just one or two specific types of manufacturer brands, Hilo distributes a variety of different equipment brands.
“I like meeting with different people and companies every day, as well as solving their problems and facing their challenges,” said Stahl. “I enjoy creating partnerships.”
Hilo currently offers clients a wider range of forklift, loading dock, floor cleaning and overhead door products to meet each and every person’s specific application preferences.
As a full-service facility for sales support and recognized more than once as a Dealer of Excellence for 2011 by NACCO Materials Handling Group, Hilo continues to work hard to meet the expectations of customers.
“At the present time our company is showing signs of improvement and growth,” said Stahl. “Our plans for the future include maintaining a leadership position within the materials handling industry.”
So if you are looking for top-quality forklifts, mezzanines, industrial racking , commercial lighting solutions, loading dock equipment, or dock doors for your business, visit the Hilo showroom for top-notch industrial equipment with a very human touch.
Hilo Materials Group is located at 45-54 37th Street in LIC. To learn more, call 347-531-0007 or visit www. hilousa.com.
