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CUSTOMER PROFILE
our conversion,” she says. “That included
scheduling, meetings, everything. Blish-Mize
did it all. They brought in their team and
got everything re-stickered, all inventory
put back in order. We were very pleased.
We knew it would be a busy few weeks,
and it was, but all went well.”
More Changes
With the big changes behind them,
Mertens says the team is ready to take on
the day-to-day changes still taking place.
Mertens says she and other staffers are
constantly shifting around displays and
trying new merchandising techniques.
The constant changes aren’t surprising
when you get to know the family, she says.
“We are a one-speed family, for the most
part. My dad; my sister, Kristen Friess;
and me [who all work at the store] are
always on the move. My mom, who also
works here, occasionally tells us to slow
down, but we can’t.”
This constant motion led to another
recent change, when Mertens arranged
for Blish-Mize to deliver two truckloads
of inventory each week, instead of just
one, as they’d previously done.
“One truck was getting kind of
limited,” she says. “Our business is
growing, and we needed to do more.
Adding that second truck has really
helped with supply and demand.”
She says she appreciates that Blish-Mize
offers strong customer service and keeps
Kingman Lumber competitive in its pricing.
“Thanks to Blish-Mize, we are able
to offer our customers quality products
at fair prices,” she says. “They help
us, a small business in a small town, to
be more competitive. They offer great
customer service as well. Our sales rep
is great. I enjoy visiting with him, and
any time I call and tell him what I need,
he helps me out right away. We are a
priority, not a number.”
She also appreciates help from
Blish-Mize’s IT department, who she called
on several times during the conversion.
Mertens says she’s looking forward
to the future of the partnership between
Kingman Lumber and Blish-Mize.
“We really value our relationship with
Blish-Mize and all they do for us.”
Kingman Lumber began stocking feed after the
other feed store in townwent out of business.
Feed is nowone of the store’s strongest departments.
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Fall 2016 •
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