OCR Text |
Show B2 Castle Valley Review, April 2009 Left to right, Jose Lucero, Paul Richens, Gary Lee, Ellis Pierce and Kris Mele of Pierce Oil in Price. A History of Pride and Service to the Customer James L. Davis Pride is a key component of Pierce Oil. They take pride in their company, in their community, in their country and in their service to their customers. It’s all personal to them and it is the personal touch that has kept the Price based oil company moving on through ups and downs since Ellis Pierce bought the company in 1972. The family-owned business provides oil products for its customers throughout Carbon, Emery and San Pete counties from its headquarters in Price and for Ellis Pierce a source of particular pride is the relationship they have long had with the mining industry. “We provide service to every coal mine in Carbon, Emery and San Pete counties,” Ellis Pierce said, sitting behind his desk in his office in Price. One reason Ellis said the coal companies come to Pierce Oil for their fuel and lubricant needs is because of the quality of the products they sell, which are of particular concern in the confined spaces underground. Pierce Oil sells gasoline and diesel from Sinclair and Shell Oil, including Shell V Power high performance gasoline and Sinclair low sulfur diesel fuel. The products the company sells helps the coal mines lower their diesel emissions and helps create a safer work environment and the diesel fuel treatment helps remove moisture in the fuel. “The most important thing underground is that it reduces emissions. It really helps to clean up the environment underground,” Ellis said. Knowing what products will help his customers meet their goals is what has kept his customers coming back year after year and keeps his employees busy on the job. Last summer, as oil prices skyrocketed, the high prices impacted Pierce Oil just as it did everyone else and making it through that time had its share of challenges. “One of the biggest problems was when oil was $147 a barrel and near $5 a gallon for diesel, can you imagine what that does to a major oil or fuel users’ accounts payable? It just went out of sight.” Just like the sticker shock people felt when they filled up their cars, Pierce Oil felt on a larger scale because as their trucks purchased oil or fuel from the suppliers they had to pay for the fuel that was priced out of sight. The company gets a price rate at the end of the day that tells them what the rack price for fuel or oil is going to be the next day. Even with the struggle of last summer, Ellis wonders if it was as bad as the current economic situation could become. “You and I don’t want to pay $5 a gallon for diesel, but when fuel prices were high no one down here was unemployed,” Ellis said. In the reception area outside of his office, one of his daughters, Kris Mele, takes care of the front desk. His two other children, Jason Pierce, and Kim Martino are also involved in the company. Only his wife, Cindi, a real estate appraiser in Price, works outside of the family B.K.’S STOP-N-SHOP business. Ellis and his family are part of a company of 44 people, and like most small businesses, the atmosphere is more one of family than business. “We don’t have people standing around looking for things to do. They all become like family to you and we like to treat our people like we want to be treated,” Ellis said. Fuel • Pizza Daily Lunch Specials Best Fast Food In Huntington! 480 North Main, Huntington 435-687-9393 Castle Country Candles Highly Scented*Hand Poured “Makes Perfect Scents” WHoLEsALE • FUnD RAisERs • CUstoM oRDERs Name Our Fragrance! Candles • Waxed Critters • Aroma Beads Aurora Lamps • Reed Diffusers 11 East Main • Price, Utah Melting Pots • Votive Warmers 435-637-6860 www.castlecountrycandles.com • Melts Candle Crocks • Candle Holders •Full Line Auto Repair •24 Hr. Lockout Service •Roadside Service 90 S. Main, Orangeville Phone: (435)749-7005 Shop: (435) 748-AUTO (2886) Jason & Jennifer Mills/Owners |