HISTORY OF THE AXMEN

It was in the spring of 1973 when the Hanson’s from Ronan moved to Missoula and opened the Axmen. Bud Hanson had always dreamed of doing business outside of the box.
So, he sold his hardware store, teamed up with his two sons and bought a piece of Missoula. Bud’s approach to business has continued through the third generation and the Axmen is even more unusual today than it was in 1973. Bud had some novel ideas about business. Don’t sell the customer something he doesn’t need. If it isn’t the right thing to meet his needs tell him where to get what he needs. If you can’t sell something good, don’t bother. If you truly care for your customers’ best interests the money will follow. Your customers are your biggest asset. There are pictures of Bud and the boys near the coffee pot to help everyone remember his ideas.
Times have changed radically over the past 50+ years, but some things remain the same. We started selling wood stoves during the first Arab oil embargo. This was 15+ years ago. Now at 50+ years old Axmen has expanded the Hearth department and we now carry a full line of wood, gas and pellet stoves as well as
of hot tubs. Our additional growth has included many other products including Central Boiler outdoor wood furnaces with full hydronic heating design and supplies, Kohler home back-up generators, off-grid appliances, irrigation pumps, home wildfire protection with water storage options and a small line of Vevor products.

As mentioned above, things change often over time and with that, we have to change as well. Where we once carried a significant amount of fencing, gates, panels, livestock equipment, culvert, metal roofing and Purina feed and a few other things, we realized that sometimes less is more. Because of this we made a difficult decision to dial back our product line and focus on the items that we know can really help our customers. We still have access to many of the items mentioned, it will just look a little different in how we get it for the time being. Who knows, we may head back in that direction. Never say never!

Don’t hesitate to call us when you are in need. 406-728-7020

Axmen Feed is now Montana Feed. They no longer have a walk in sales presence in the Missoula area, but they will sell in quantity. Please call Sheryl at 406-610-2520 and she will help you out. The other locations are; Columbus, Dillon, Lewistown, Miles City and Riverton Wyoming.

As Missoula has grown and new businesses have entered, we have learned to be grateful for the opportunity they bring to us all. Montana has been good to the Axmen, and we try every day to be worthy of the trust that our customers place in us and to find new and better ways to meet their needs. Never hesitate to call us for help! If we can’t directly help you, we will help you by pointing you in the right direction. Thank you so much for shopping local and putting your trust in Axmen.