NORTH TO ALASKA
Alaska Mining & Diving Supply Doing Things Differently Than The Lower 48 By Eric Anderson
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rom Deadliest Catch to Alaskan Bush People, seems like you can’t turn on the TV without discovering channels about life on the last frontier. But long before the Gold Rush of cable TV programming and Ice Road Truckers making history, there was a pioneering business supplying prospectors, fishermen and homesteaders with all the essentials from ATVs to SCUBA gear. Alaska Mining & Diving Supply was founded in 1976 by two high school buddies, Dudley Benesch and Steve Herschbach, to support the needs of Alaska: The Last Frontier.
AMDS now carriers Can-Am, Evinrude, Honda, Jetcraft, Lowe, Ski-Doo, Sea-Doo and Yamaha. “We offer ATVs, boats, generators, metal detectors, mining equipment, outboards, snowmobiles and watercraft,” says VP & GM Nick Olnezak. “We service what we sell and have done since 1976. We are most known for carrying the highest quality brands, having deep relationships with those brands that allows us to come to market with cutting edge products before our competitors.” Being remote does not mean disconnected. Far from it, says Nick, “We often help design and develop the next ‘hot’ or ‘big’ thing.” That includes an assist with the tracked testing
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for ROXOR where we caught up with them. Cutting edge combines with old fashioned customer service. “We always find ways to say yes. When it comes to outfitting a vehicle or rigging boats, we let the customers choose what accessories they want and where they go, versus competitors who only offer an A or B option.” Alaska is still in slow a recovery from a long recession, so it has required some strategic thinking. “Our short term goal is stability with incremental growth,” explains Olnezak. “Through the recession and the unfortunate closing of some nearby competitors, we have added brands such as Suzuki Outboards which has quickly added sales revenues and strong profits.” AMDS was also an early adapter of the STACYC, jumping on the bandwagon before many dealers in the lower 48 clued in. In addition to becoming a ROXOR dealer has opened up a whole new market for us with a vehicle that truly is perfect for the rugged Alaskan bush. Does the next big opportunity in Alaska apply to other rural markets in the lower 48? “We look for opportunities everywhere,” notes Nick. “Right now there are opportunities to tap into new markets with new variations of products that are evolving very quickly in the off-road business. SXS