Woodworkers unite, relationships grow at Keim Lumber appreciation evening
Sure, any supplier is going to appreciate the loyalty of their customers, but how much?
On Thursday, Jan. 26, the family at Keim Lumber in Charm showed their woodshop clients exactly how much they care about them in offering the biannual Keim Lumber Woodworker’s Appreciation Night, an evening designed to be a relaxed, enjoyable time filled with fellowship and a whole lot more.
“I had someone say to me, ‘I appreciated being recognized even though I am a small player’,” said John Swaffer, advertising manager at Keim Lumber. “That’s an owner at a small shop getting treated the same as if he were a huge place. This evening is about appreciating every one of our customers, big or small, because they all matter to us.”
With more than 1,600 customers expected, and what appeared to be many more than that crammed into the giant lumber store, it was a busy night for the employees of Keim Lumber, who worked tirelessly at their posts, making sure anyone with a question had an answer.
Whether the patrons were treating themselves to the tasty buffet meal of chicken, mashed potatoes, noodles and more, watching the cooking show featuring a local chef, demonstrations and games, checking out all of the new and innovative equipment and products available from distributors, taking a tour of the facility or gathering wisdom from the words of seminar presenters Julian Coblentz and Bruce Hamsher, who spoke respectively about strategic planning and servant leadership in the workplace. Without a doubt, there were plenty of options to keep people busy.
Not only did business owners from Holmes County and surrounding counties enjoy the events of the evening, but woodshop owners from much farther outside of the area made the trip to explore the store and meet with their Keim Lumber reps, most of whom they have only had the opportunity to speak to on the phone. A total of 1,200 shop owners from within the store’s 150-mile free delivery radius were invited.
“We’re very excited, and this is a great way for us to show our appreciation to not only the woodworkers and managers, but to their employees too,” said Eric Slabach, marketing manager at Keim Lumber,
“We’re nowhere without the relationships we build over the years,” said Slabach. “This night is more about interacting on a personal level. We aren’t in sales mode, and they aren’t calling us about a product that needs to be delivered. We tell them to come, sit back, relax and let’s be friends. When we strengthen those friendships, then the quality of the level of our business rises.”
As for the relational aspect of Keim Lumber and its woodshop clientele, the appreciation evening has been going on for so long that nobody at Keim can actually pinpoint the exact time it began. They only know it has been taking place for quite a long time.
“Just the fact that it’s been going on for so long speaks volumes,” said Slabach. “It’s just part of who we are.”
The feedback Keim has received from its woodworker’s night and contractor’s night has been wonderful, according to Slabach. The woodworker’s show is put forth every other year, alternating with a contractor’s show.
In order to continue to enhance the event every year, Keim has listened to its clients, and integrated new ways of entertaining, such as bringing in Rebecca Miller from Rebecca’s Bistro in Walnut Creek. Miller entertained both men and women who are interested in cooking, creating some awesome dishes in Keim’s working kitchen that are easy enough that they can be prepared at home.
“I was delighted that they asked me to participate in this event, because food is my passion,” said Miller. “We had a great turnout. This takes me a little out of my comfort zone, but it is fun because I love the interaction with the people. It’s always nice to get feedback, and it is exciting to me to see people beginning to realize that chicken and mashed potatoes don’t necessarily have to be like your grandmother made them. It’s fun to see people realize that they can create some of these meals themselves with minimal effort.”
So it was that as the event wound down, clients were leaving with full stomachs, lots of free items, new ideas and most importantly, smiles on their faces, having had the opportunity to meet with the people they deal with on a daily basis but never get to see. They also left knowing that their supplier obviously cares a great deal about them, no matter the size of their business.
On Thursday, Jan. 26, the family at Keim Lumber in Charm showed their woodshop clients exactly how much they care about them in offering the biannual Keim Lumber Woodworker’s Appreciation Night, an evening designed to be a relaxed, enjoyable time filled with fellowship and a whole lot more.
“I had someone say to me, ‘I appreciated being recognized even though I am a small player’,” said John Swaffer, advertising manager at Keim Lumber. “That’s an owner at a small shop getting treated the same as if he were a huge place. This evening is about appreciating every one of our customers, big or small, because they all matter to us.”
With more than 1,600 customers expected, and what appeared to be many more than that crammed into the giant lumber store, it was a busy night for the employees of Keim Lumber, who worked tirelessly at their posts, making sure anyone with a question had an answer.
Whether the patrons were treating themselves to the tasty buffet meal of chicken, mashed potatoes, noodles and more, watching the cooking show featuring a local chef, demonstrations and games, checking out all of the new and innovative equipment and products available from distributors, taking a tour of the facility or gathering wisdom from the words of seminar presenters Julian Coblentz and Bruce Hamsher, who spoke respectively about strategic planning and servant leadership in the workplace. Without a doubt, there were plenty of options to keep people busy.
Not only did business owners from Holmes County and surrounding counties enjoy the events of the evening, but woodshop owners from much farther outside of the area made the trip to explore the store and meet with their Keim Lumber reps, most of whom they have only had the opportunity to speak to on the phone. A total of 1,200 shop owners from within the store’s 150-mile free delivery radius were invited.
“We’re very excited, and this is a great way for us to show our appreciation to not only the woodworkers and managers, but to their employees too,” said Eric Slabach, marketing manager at Keim Lumber,
“We’re nowhere without the relationships we build over the years,” said Slabach. “This night is more about interacting on a personal level. We aren’t in sales mode, and they aren’t calling us about a product that needs to be delivered. We tell them to come, sit back, relax and let’s be friends. When we strengthen those friendships, then the quality of the level of our business rises.”
As for the relational aspect of Keim Lumber and its woodshop clientele, the appreciation evening has been going on for so long that nobody at Keim can actually pinpoint the exact time it began. They only know it has been taking place for quite a long time.
“Just the fact that it’s been going on for so long speaks volumes,” said Slabach. “It’s just part of who we are.”
The feedback Keim has received from its woodworker’s night and contractor’s night has been wonderful, according to Slabach. The woodworker’s show is put forth every other year, alternating with a contractor’s show.
In order to continue to enhance the event every year, Keim has listened to its clients, and integrated new ways of entertaining, such as bringing in Rebecca Miller from Rebecca’s Bistro in Walnut Creek. Miller entertained both men and women who are interested in cooking, creating some awesome dishes in Keim’s working kitchen that are easy enough that they can be prepared at home.
“I was delighted that they asked me to participate in this event, because food is my passion,” said Miller. “We had a great turnout. This takes me a little out of my comfort zone, but it is fun because I love the interaction with the people. It’s always nice to get feedback, and it is exciting to me to see people beginning to realize that chicken and mashed potatoes don’t necessarily have to be like your grandmother made them. It’s fun to see people realize that they can create some of these meals themselves with minimal effort.”
So it was that as the event wound down, clients were leaving with full stomachs, lots of free items, new ideas and most importantly, smiles on their faces, having had the opportunity to meet with the people they deal with on a daily basis but never get to see. They also left knowing that their supplier obviously cares a great deal about them, no matter the size of their business.
Published: February 1, 2012
