Owners: Taylor Grubaugh and Josh Bird
Locations: Ozark and Willow Springs, Mo.
History: Taylor Grubaugh and Josh Bird opened Grubaugh-Bird DewEze, LLC in Ozark, Mo., 10 years ago.
“We had always been familiar with the DewEze beds; we owned them and used them ourselves,” Josh explained. “An opportunity came when an existing dealer was going to retire, so we thought it would be an opportunity to do this. We got in contact with the company, figured out the logistics and got started. It fit us pretty well.”
Grubaugh-Bird DewEze, which is the largest volume DewEze dealer in the U.S. and Canada., expanded to Willow Springs, Mo., in 2014.
Products and Services: Initially, DewEze bale beds were the only product offered by Grubaugh-Bird, but the company added Butler Beds a few years ago. Butler Beds, Josh explained, are made by the same company, Harper Industries, as DewEze.
“We saw a need to add another customer base,” Josh said. “DewEze has more options for guys who want engine hydraulics, then Butler is more like a standard-line bed. Both beds are constructed in Harper, Kan., and we’re now selling both lines. The quality is the same, it just comes down to what options you need and how much you want to spend.”
In addition to beds, Grubaugh-Bird offers DewEze cake feeders and hay unrollers for tractors.
In September 2022, the partners purchased an existing tire and auto shop in Ozark, creating Grubaugh-Bird Tires and Truck Beds
“We’re able to install our beds there, and also sell tires, do oil changes and automotive services,” Josh said, adding the purchase of the shop allowed them to do all services in house, eliminating the need for subcontractors to install the beds. “Being start to finish on the beds is a big deal for us. Having the beds at the new location is just better customer service. Tires and truck beds go hand-in-hand, or customers need us to look at their trucks. Now, we are working on trying to grow the tire side because we aren’t just for farmers. We carry all brands of tires for cars, trucks, bigger truck tires, just any tire for any customer. It’s been different for us, but that’s what we’re working to try and expand.”
Grubaugh-Bird Tires and Truck Beds can also do brakes, alignments and shocks.
Future plans: Josh said they hope to continue growing the business.
“The location we bought has six bays, so I think we have some room to expand some and even do more on the tire and automobile, too. I think we feel like we can keep trending things in the right direction.”
