Clinton Tractor merges with Capital Tractor

CLINTON, N.Y. — A recent merger with an Albany–Glens Falls-area company will give Clinton Tractor & Implement Co. a second storefront and the ability to better compete in the marketplace, according to company officials.

Clinton Tractor, located at 31 Meadow St. in Clinton, and Capital Tractor, Inc., of Greenwich, N.Y. (Washington County), closed on the deal Dec. 14, says Greg Calidonna, VP at Clinton Tractor. The ownership group consists of Calidonna and Joe Martini of Clinton Tractor, as well as Kevin Armitage, president of Capital Tractor. Former Capital Tractor President Jamey Gibson has transitioned to a consultant role for the group.

The expanded resources will help the combined businesses compete, but it is the level of customer service provided that truly sets it apart, Calidonna says. “Our family wasn’t really looking to expand, but they have the same culture as us,” he says of Capital Tractor. “We’ve done a good job in our market because we treat our customers very well.” Capital Tractor has the same reputation for high-level customer service, he adds.

Both businesses will retain their current separate identities but will benefit from the shared ownership through shared resources, Calidonna says. The companies had already forged a good working relationship over the past 15 years, helping each other out by transferring equipment and parts between locations to better serve their customers, he says. That process can happen seamlessly now that the companies are owned by the same group.

On top of that, both locations will benefit from the shared expertise of the employees, which includes about 55 people at Clinton Tractor and 30 at Capital Tractor. Calidonna says there are no plans to add any new employees.

“Now we can really leverage each other,” he says. This will help the combined business compete successfully with “mega store” companies like United Ag & Turf, which has several New York locations including Chatham, Clifton Park, and Fultonville.

“By joining forces, we are leveraging the talents and history of both companies to work together as one, which will continue our ability to provide excellent service to all our customers,” Armitage stated in a news release announcing the deal.

“We’ll have a better inventory selection between stores,” Calidonna says. This is especially important as the pandemic continues to negatively affect new inventory arrivals. 

Both companies generated record sales in 2021, he says, while people continue to do more around their homes. While strong sales growth is expected to continue this year, getting new inventory will be a challenge, Calidonna says. The acquisition and sale of used equipment will continue to be a large business component at both locations.

Service remains a business mainstay, particularly now that it is harder to get new equipment, Calidonna says. People need to make their equipment last longer, which means the service side of the business is crucial. With clients ranging from “backyard warriors’ to large farming operations, service calls are a constant and the key is making sure customers have little to no downtime, he says.

Founded in 1966, Capital Tractor (www.capitaltractorinc.com) primarily serves Washington County as well as Saratoga and Rensselaer County and into Vermont. Clinton Tractor (www.clintontractor.net), which began in 1953, serves Oneida, Herkimer, Lewis, Otsego, Chenango, and Madison counties.

The two companies offer new and used farm and industrial equipment including New Holland, Ferris, Ventrac, Land Pride, and Great Plains, as well as provide service and parts.