Mid MN Business Profile

Mid Minnesota Business Profile • October 9 & 10, 2013 • 1
October 9 & 10, 2013
Albany Enterprise
Melrose Beacon
Sauk Centre Herald
Published by:
Alba
Mel
Sauk
Published by:
MID-MINNESOTA BUSINESS
D O I N G B U S I N E S S . . . M A K I N G P R O G R E S S . . .
3
U
R
¿
O
H
V
Commercial Industrial Retail
You will enjoy
reading about local
business people
you already know,
and some you may not.
Find out about all the
products and services
that they offer to
continue to make
your community thrive.
Highlighting Area Businesses in:
Albany • Avon • Freeport • Melrose • Sauk Centre
B U S I N E S S & I N D U S T R Y
H E A L T H & M E D I C I N E
C O M M U N I C A T I O N S
C O N S T R U C T I O N
A G R I C U L T U R E
2 • Mid-Minnesota Business Profile • October 9 & 10, 2013
One thing small towns throughout
Central Minnesota have to offer that
perhaps bigger cities do not is a unique
and picturesque Main Street.
For some, Main Street is what makes
the town, it’s what draws people from
those big cities off those big highways to
stop for a visit and spend a little of their
money.
But it isn’t easy, and as most business
owners will attest, keeping a Main Street
business afloat nowadays is a lot tougher
than it was before big box retailers
started setting foundations near those
highways on the edge of small towns.
“Main Street business owners have
to be more creative in how they offer
their services and market themselves,”
said Andrea Kerfeld, Sauk Centre Area
Chamber of Commerce Director. “They
need to offer personal customer service
and friendly, familiar faces.”
It’s not only a challenge to draw
customers in from out of town, it’s tough
to get customers not to leave town to do
their shopping. With bigger cities nearby
like Alexandria and St. Cloud with more
shopping options, local Main Streets are
always working to retain the local dollar.
And retaining that local customer is
as important as anything for Main Street
retailers.
Kerfeld said business owners in the
retail industry can’t survive on just being
open nine to five, but have to be open
nights and on weekends when most
people do their shopping.
Kerfeld said not only is it important
for business owners to market to the local
customer, it is important for residents to
shop within their community because
that money often makes its way back
around to everyone.
“Just think of all the causes and
fundraisers the business community
supports,” she said. “If we don’t support
the business community, they won’t
be able to support the community in
general. When you buy local, you support
the entire town and everything that
comes with it.”
Kathie Dziengel, who is the director
of the Melrose Chamber of Commerce,
said retaining the local consumer as a
customer is key to business growth.
“By shopping locally we keep
these stores and businesses open and
that in turn keeps the owners living in
our town, shopping in our town, their
children going to our school, and using
our hospitals and clinics” she said. “It all
makes for a healthy community.”
Dziengel said Melrose’s Main Street
is in good standing with the majority of
businesses filled.
“We have many businesses to offer
our residents,” she said. “We also have
our industrial park and other businesses
off Main Street which have been here
for some time, and also some new ones
which are an asset to the community.”
Sauk Centre Main Street business
owners reported a strong summer, saying
customer traffic from out of town, an
improving economy, new products lines,
and working together to promote Main
Street have all been keys to the success.
“The businesses are working together
better than I have ever experienced
before,” said Pam Borgmann, who owns
Main Street Coffee Company. “Businesses
are coming up with good promotions
and are also willing to help to make them
a success.”
Borgmann said one area of
improvement would be for the city
government to be more helpful in
promoting Sauk Centre and what will
bring people to Sauk Centre and keep
them here.
“We have great potential,” she said.
“But it is underutilized.”
Down the road in Avon, reports are
also good on the state of their Main
Street. They report positive growth in
business the past five years.
Chamber Director Matt Kreuzer said
there are still many challenges for Main
Street business owners, including enticing
people to shop locally, maintaining a
positive populating growth trend, and
fostering collaboration between civic
groups, businesses and families because
of busy schedules.
“Avon’s Main Street enjoys a high
traffic count (from HWY-9), enabling
businesses significant exposure to not
only residents of Avon, but many daily
commuters that drive Avon’s Main Street
every day,” said Kreuzer. “We have a great
chamber of commerce and city officials
that are very approachable and easy to
work with.”
Kreuzer also stressed the importance
of shopping locally, saying it is “critical to
the local business community.”
“There are many studies that
demonstrate the importance of spending
dollars locally,” he said. “The reality is that
when we choose not to spend local, we
jeopardize the future of local businesses.
When businesses close or leave town, I
feel we all lose.”
Albany’s Main Street was under
construction this summer, but new
buildings are popping up, including
a new dental office and a new office
building. The reconstruction of Railroad
Avenue may have slowed down business
some, but it also gave businesses the
chance to improve their storefronts and
curb appeal.
Over in Holdingford, Main Street is
maintaining business. Because it is more
of an agricultural community, there
are not a lot of Main Street businesses.
Holdingford’s Main Street is also not a
main artery for travelers to get through
town.
The Holdingford Commercial Club
serves as the chamber of commerce by
trying to help support area businesses by
promoting events.
All in all, Main Streets throughout
western Stearns County seem to be
doing just fine.
But Kerfeld says the key to
maintaining and growing business is
being creative in marketing services and
products and earning the business of the
local customer.
“I see Main Streets holding their own,”
said Kerfeld. “The shop local message is a
lot stronger these days. It’s a challenge
and they have to stay on their game,
though. Having your lights on and your
door open isn’t going to be enough.”
Main Streets in Western Stearns County are holding their own, but retaining the local customers is key to continued growth.
MID-MINNESOTA BUSINESS
P
r
o
fi

l
e
s
Commercial Industrial Retail
Doing Business
. . . .
Making Progress
Enjoy reading
about local
business people
you already know,
and some you
may not.
by BRYAN ZOLLMAN
STAFF WRITER
The State of Main Streets
Melrose has many businesses on and off of Main Street.
Sauk Centre’s Main Street was made famous by Sinclair Lewis. Albany’s Main Street has undergone many major renovations this summer, including
updates to businesses.
Mid Minnesota Business Profile • October 9 & 10, 2013 • 3
How Much Speed is Enough?
Do you enjoy streaming TV shows and movies or video chatting
with friends and family? Do you work from home? Do more than
four people in your home use the Internet all at the same time?
If your family’s day-to-day routine relies heavily on Internet use, a faster speed may
be right for you. With all the options from Arvig, we have the speed to ft your needs:
Up to 5Mb “Moderate” Internet Users
· C.o.t |c. on.||, .ob su.|:g .:J |:st.:t noss.g|:g
· So..c| t|o |:to.:ot |c. .|.tovo. |:to.osts ycu
Up to 7Mb “Do It Now”
· |c.:|c.J/up|c.J p|ctcs .:J nus|c |/S¯
· \|o. c:||:o v|Jocs c: +cu¯ubo, |.cobcck, otc
· |n.|| |..go ||os .|t|cut t|o ..|t
Up to 10Mb ´|.cobcck, +cu¯ubo, ¯.|tto., b|cg´
· |c.:|c.J ncv|os |: . |o. n|:utos
· C.n|:g
· |pJ.to ycu. scc|.| noJ|. st.tus
Up to 20Mb ´|:to.:ot /|| t|o ¯|no´
· C.o.t |c. nu|t|ccnputo. |cnos
· Vu|t|||.yo. C.nos
· |c.:|c.J ncv|os |/S¯, ovo: |: ||
Up to 50Mb “Multiple Users”
· C.o.t |c. nu|t|Jov|co |cnos
· Vu|t|¯.sk s|nu|t.:ocus|y .|t| ct|o.
uso.s .:J Jov|cos .|t|cut s.c.||c|:g spooJ
Up to 1Gb ´/:yt||:g +cu \.:t´
|c. |s t|o t|no tc oxpo.|o:co .|.t |t |oo|s ||ko tc su.| |.sto.
Do you need more speed? Call now!
Based on service area, some restrictions apply. Speeds not available in all areas, availability of speed tiers varies by location; and speeds
will fuctuate due to many factors. Speeds indicate potential maximum download, service is asymmetrical. 1Gb available in Melrose only. 888.99.ARVIG | arvig.com
High
-
Speed Internet
¯oc|:c|cgy |s . J.|v|:g |c.co |: tcJ.ys .c.|J
/.v|g® p.cv|Jos so.v|cos t|.t |o|p ycu st.y
cc::octoJ .:J o:¦cy .|| t|o |:to.:ot |.s tc c|o.
Go to arvig.com
to learn more.
Discover the benefits of
Movies and books
and games... oh my!
Call today!!
320-356-9226
We at Sensational Styles & Spa take pride in the Professionalism & Care we give
to you, our client and friend. Our goal is to provide you with the highest-quality
products and services humanly possible. We are here for you and because of
you. Thank you for your patronage. We look forward to greeting you on your
next visit. We accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover.
Sensational Styles & Spa opened March 17,1993 (St. Patrick's Day) and is owned
by Theresa Eichers. The business has progressed from two stations, a massage
therapist and nail technician in 1994 to seven stylists stations, two relaxing
massage rooms, a facial room, waxing room, tanning bed, pedicure room, two
nail stations, a fully remodeled basement and fireplace in our lounge and a
patio out back for clients who wish to relax outside during chemical services
in the warmer months of the year.
We are a full service day spa providing all hair, nail and body services,
including massages, skin care, essential oils by Young Living and waxing.
We provide all natural and organic cleaning products and products for our
clients’ and staffs’ health. We feel truly blessed for the business we have
received from our loyal clients in and around the