The family-owned and operated business has its roots in north-east Victoria and proudly employs a team of locals.
“I think I live the furthest out of town, at Molyullah, but everybody else is from Benalla,” store manager Ian Muller said.
Benalla is the 50-year-old business’ fourth site, with well established stores in Mansfield, Yea and Alexandra.
Its team has varied backgrounds in cabinetry, automotive, plumbing, carpentry, painting and horticulture.
As well as having a vast range of stock, Yenckens aims to provide customers with trade and project advice, and can utilise a vast network of local tradies and national suppliers to assist with solutions to get a job done.
Mr Muller said the store had a focus on the trade and industrial market.
“We’ve got a lot of industrial products and tools out in the front area of the shop,” he said.
“And we’ve got a pretty comprehensive range of timbers, cement sheeting and those sorts of products.
“We've also got a well-stocked steel section.”
Mr Muller said since opening the store’s doors on July 4 he had heard a lot of positive feedback.
“We have had a pretty impressive reception from local tradespeople and trade reps,” he said.
“And quite a few of them have come to have a look and see what we have to offer.
“Everybody has had positive things to say about the shop.
“I think they like the fact that we have such a wide range of products available.”
Mr Muller said for those who couldn’t find exactly what they were looking for, the benefit of having other stores in the region meant they could get other products brought in quickly.
“We have people travelling between stores all the time, so we can always get what people need,” he said.
Mr Muller said the big sellers so far had been tools, trade goods and steel.
“The types of things that, in the past, people have had to travel to Wangaratta or Shepparton for,” he said.
“And being open on Saturday mornings has provided an opportunity for home renovators to pick up what they need.
“Saturday mornings are particularly busy in the steel shed.”
Mr Muller said Yenckens had a truck with a crane and, as such, could facilitate large deliveries over reasonably large distances.
“We’re in the service industry, and we’re here to service the building and construction trade in the area,” he said.
Yenckens Trade Benalla is located at 74 Sydney Rd and is open Monday to Friday from 7am to 5pm and on Saturdays from 8am to 1pm.