Episode Overview
Australia’s rental market may be smaller than the U.S., but it’s growing fast and offers powerful lessons for independents everywhere. In this episode, Rental Journal host Michael Larsen joins The Rental Roundtable to share how his family built a thriving specialty rental business in power and temperature control, why authenticity and relationships drive success, and what 200+ interviews with global rental leaders have taught him about leadership, service, and the future of the industry.
Timestamps:
- 00:00 – Kyle introduces Michael Larsen and his background in Australia’s rental industry.
- 04:35 – Michael shares how he grew up in the family business and his path from aviation to rental.
- 09:55 – Overview of Australia’s rental market and how it compares to the U.S.
- 13:48 – Discussion on rental penetration, logistics challenges, and high fuel costs.
- 20:10 – How specialty rental companies create value through engineered solutions.
- 27:42 – Why independents win by focusing on service, expertise, and customer experience.
- 32:49 – The role of curiosity, relationships, and genuine communication in business success.
- 39:18 – How The Rental Journal podcast started and what it’s taught Michael.
- 45:03 – Five key themes from 200+ interviews with global rental leaders.
- 55:12 – Closing thoughts on authenticity, leadership, and putting people before machines.
