It’s been fifteen years since John and Kelli Higgs opened the doors at T & E Small Engine. It was an adventure that began when someone suggested pursuing the “American Dream”. John had been a foundry worker for a long time. When he was laid off, however, he was faced with the dilemma of how to support his family. Since John was good at small engine work, and since Floyd County needed a small engine repair shop, a family member suggested he open one of his own.

Thanks to a small family loan, the Higgses built a service shop at their home. John was the repair man while Kelli did the shop’s bookkeeping in addition to her regular job. T & E Small Engine was born.
With an ever-increasing demand for repairs, business was good.  So good, in fact, that it soon became evident that new equipment sales would also become part of T & E. John and Kelli turned to the manufacturing lines of Robin, Snapper, Jonsered, and Dixon for an inventory of trimmers, mowers, chainsaws, and zero turns.
With the addition of new equipment sales, however, came the need to expand.  John and Kelli built a showroom to display the new inventory and the business continued to grow.  In 2008, the Higgses added the full line of Husqvarna Lawn and Garden equipment.

This decision led to a huge surge in growth, and in the winter of 2009, T & E Small Engine found a building to rent on the main road outside of town.  After the move, Kelli and son Anthony joined John as full-time employees of T & E Small Engine.
Over the next few years, the business continued to grow, with several transformations taking place.  Different product lines and services were added or discontinued, such as the 2013 addition of the Yanmar America tractor brand.  In 2015, after realizing the need for a tractor dealership in Floyd, T & E switched from Yanmar America to Mahindra; the number one selling tractor in the world. The Mahindra brand offered a wider selection of horsepower, as well as a broader selection of implements, and so the switch brought even more growth potential for T & E.
With the expansion of the tractor line and the increase in service work, the small building they’d rented was no longer large enough.  It was then that John began the search for T & E Small Engine’s new and permanent home.
John and Kelli Higgs purchased a little over five acres from Floyd County.  The plot is located just off the main road in the Industrial Park, and after a long eighteen months, T & E’s new six-thousand square foot building stood at the heart of it.  The new location at 199 Appalachian Road, NE, features a full display show room, parts room, service shop, restrooms, break room, and offices. The remaining land also provided room for a complete, outdoor display-lot, as well as a place for equipment storage.

The new location was officially opened on May 1, 2016, with a grand opening following a few weeks later. With this latest stage of business growth came the need for more employees.  The Higgses were able to hire full and part time mechanics, a full-time office assistant, and a delivery driver.  The Higgs’ son, Anthony, filled the delivery driver position while his wife, Sasha, took on the role of office assistant. The family works daily, side by side, running the business. The expectation is that one day, Anthony and Sasha will continue running T & E Small Engine when John and Kelli retire. What started as just a suggestion has turned into a bustling, family owned and operated business.
T & E Small Engine now offers the full equipment lines of Mahindra Tractors, Husqvarna, Massimo, and several others. They also offer parts and service for most outdoor power equipment, tractors, sports utility, and more. Pickup and delivery are offered along with many other services. Growth continues as the need arises to serve the community and surrounding areas. T & E Small Engine: stop in and see them today.

T & E Small Engine • 540-745-8383
199 Appalachian Road, Floyd, VA 24091
www.tesmallengine.com
www.facebook.com/tesmallengine