Axmen Recycling

Axmen is the ultimate 'everything' store. From HOME HEATING, SPAS and ALTERNATIVE ENERGY to FARM, RANCH and FIRE FIGHTING EQUIPMENT you will find what you need here. If you can't find what you're looking for, we can order it for you! Just give us a call at (406)728-7020.

Axmen caters to all 50 U.S. States, and we are proud to have been locally owned in Missoula, Montana for over 40 years. We have a deep respect for the roots of our business and those roots are the people of Montana. In 2007, we decided to illustrate that respect on the walls of our store and opened the Montana Museum of Work History. The Museum contains the stories of the hardworking people that make up the history of Montana.The coffee is always on, and the stories readily shared, so stop by any time.

History

It was the spring of 1973, just over 40 years ago, when the Hansons, originally from Ronan, MT, moved to Missoula and opened the Axmen store. 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 assets.

The Axmen has a picture of Bud in the entry to help us remember his ideas. You’ll also see a picture of the original crew from the eighties. Three of the five still work at the Axmen.

Mark Kindred has moved from a young guy loading railroad ties to being the overall coordinator of a nationally recognized retailer of heating appliances. Times have changed radically but some things remain the same. We started selling wood stoves during the first Arab oil embargo and we now sell, install and service wood, gas, pellet, and oil stoves within a 100-mile radius of Missoula.

Grant has taken our steady and basic pump department to new levels over the last ten years with the addition of firefighting equipment of every type and description. Axmen slide-in fire pumpers are now a common sight at wild-land fires throughout the Northwest. He still manages to find time to help people plan their dream of off-grid backwoods power systems and irrigate the front five acres.

In 1998, we bought a welding shop from Phil Cromwell and converted it into a retail store on the south side to be able to achieve one of Guy’s long-term ambitions of selling guns and jewelry side by side in the salesman’s dream atmosphere of mutual guilt. Missoula Mercantile (aka Axmen South) is going strong and having fun.

In 2000 we were blessed in forming Axmen Propane. Our growth has been exciting and our customers’ responses thrilling. Axmen Propane gives us the chance to handle all the parts of our customers’ heating in one package within the same 100 mile circle.

In 2010 we were lucky enough to be able to open the gates to Axmen Recycling. The response from our community has been incredible. We are proud to be able to help offer our customers solutions that are good for the environment and the community.

As Missoula has grown and new business 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.

Recycling

Going green is more than just an expression to us. It is more than just a fad, or the next big thing. It is who we are. The Axmen has always had its roots in an environmentally conscious business model. Since the early 1970's we have provided our clients with options that allow them to live their lives in an environmentally friendly way. This way of doing business continues today.

In late 2010 we were fortunate enough to be able to open a brand new section of our business. Axmen Recycling was born from our innate need to find a way to reduce waste. Since its conception our business has seen a dramatic response from the community. It became clear to us that consumers were hungry for a safe, clean, environmentally friendly way to dispose of their waste.

All recycling yards are held to certain standards in regards to the disposal of hazardous waste; however Axmen Recycling has taken this one step further. The average recycling yard requests that cars are drained of all fluids before they will purchase them from a consumer, or will pay less for the car if it is not drained. Axmen Recycling insists that you do not drain any fluids from vehicles that are going to be recycled, and we don’t pay you more for doing so. We want to know that the fluids are being drained and disposed of responsibly, rather than know that there is a chance that these hazardous materials are being introduced into the environment. Our prices remain competitive and consumers are happy to know that they have a safe, efficient, and economical way to dispose of junk vehicles.

In less than a year Axmen Recycling has purchased an unbelievable amount of recycling material from the community. We have hired 10 additional employees to assist with the proper processing of the material and we are continuing to see phenomenal growth. We are proud to be able to offer such a valuable resource to our community. Stop by anytime!