Company History
Tates Rents was family owned for three generations before selling to its employees in late 2020. In 1946, Paul Tate began the Safway Scaffolding Company on the second floor of a building at 16th and Main in Boise. The company’s first delivery truck was made up of Ford, Plymouth and assorted other parts. It cost $650. Pick-ups were hard to come by after World War II, explaining both the cost and composition of the vehicle. Later, a new 1949 one-ton International truck was acquired that served faithfully until the seventies when it was traded away
Over the years, ladders, liquefied gas, Ramset and Porter Cable tools, and other lines were added to the scaffolding inventory. In the early fifties the property at 2923 Idaho Street was purchased and served as the headquarters for many years.
In 1962, Syd came to work with his father in what was then called Tate Scaffolding and Power Tool Company. Syd opened the first branch store between Main and Fairview on 23rd Street. Upon Paul’s partial retirement in 1969, Syd became President and the 23rd street location was closed and consolidated back at 30th and Idaho. In the early eighties, with the help of Jim Hawkes, an advertising consultant, the company refined its marketing efforts and changed its name to Tates Rents.
The family operated the business until 2020, when Tates Rents was sold to its employees. Tates Rents is now proudly employee-owned and continues to grow and serve the Treasure Valley.
Company Culture
Mission
Empower people to solve problems by providing a legendary equipment rental experience.
Core Values
Stay Hungry – We value action, embrace change and we’re eager to learn and grow.
Don’t be a Robot – We’re creative, flexible and willing to work together with our customers to find solutions.
Extend and Earn Trust– We give the benefit of the doubt, empower each other to make decisions and always act in a way that earns trust.
Take Care of People – We take care of our community, families, customers and each other. We’ve got your back.
Work Hard, Play Hard – We make Tates Rents a fun place to work and love what we do. We balance work and play.