Herberger`s - NUJournal.com | News, Sports, Jobs

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THE JOURNAL, New Ulm, MN Monday, November 9, 2009
New Ulm Industry/
Business of the Year
1974-2009
1974
August Schell Brewing Co.
1975
International Multifoods
1976
Tachtronic Instruments & Citizens Bank
1977
3M New Ulm Plant
1978
Kraft New Ulm Plant
1979
Union Hospital and Loretto Hospital
1980
B.E Goodrich
1981
State Bond Companies
1982
Associated Milk Producers, Inc.
1983
Dannheim’s Kuhstall
1984
Dr. Martin Luther College
1985
Minnesota Valley Testing Labs
1986
New Ulm Medical Clinic
1987
New Ulm Trucking Firms
1988-89
Farmers & Merchants Bank*
1990
New Ulm’s Law Firms
1991
Borden’s Inc. New Ulm Plant
1992
New Ulm’s Accounting Firms
1993
Windings, Inc.
1994
New Ulm’s Communications Firms
1995
New Ulm Telecom, Inc.
1996
Heymann Construction
1997
Caterpillar Paving Products
1998
American Artstone, Inc.
1999
Jensen Motors, Inc.
2000 Kemske Paper Co.-Computers/Oswald Publishing
2001
Veigel’s Kaiserhoff Restaurant
2002
Retzlaff Ace Hardware
2003 Lambrecht’s Gifts & Floral Gallery/Christmas Haus
2004
New Ulm Public and Private Schools
2005
Cash Wise Foods and Hy-Vee Food Store
2006
Shelter Products
2007
Holiday Inn New Ulm
2008
New Ulm Steel & Recycling
2009
Herberger’s
*The Chamber moved the industry of the Year banquet from November 1988 to March 1989
Herberger’s in 1970
Herberger’s honored
as Business of the Year
By Kevin Sweeney
Journal Editor
NEW ULM - Since 1946, Herberger’s has
become an anchor of New Ulm’s downtown
retail community.
Herberger’s came to New Ulm on June 1,
1946 when it announced it was buying the
Crone Bros. store, one of New Ulm’s oldest
businesses. Three days later, it also purchased
the stock of Pink’s Clothing. When Herberger’s opened in the Crone building on Minnesota Street, it was competing with a number
of men’s and women’s clothing stores:
Salet’s, Jerdon, J.A. Ochs & Son, Penney’s,
Raleigh’s, Montgomery Ward, Pink’s (which
moved to a new location), Tauscheck &
Green, Hummel Bros., Lindemann’s Fine
Footwear, Eichten Shoes, Harolld’s shoes,
and Dotty Dunn Hats, who were all regular
advertisers in The New Ulm Daily Journal at
the time.
Over the years, Herberger’s has grown. It
expanded into the Pink’s shop almost immediately, when Pink’s moved to new quarters.
In 1970, Herberger’s expanded again when
the Woolworth’s store next door to it became
vacant.
In 1988, when the Marktplatz Mall was
built, Herberger’s built to join the mall, and in
1993, it expanded into the mall, moving its
men’s department into the corner shop next to
its mall entrance. It currently has 47,000
square feet of retail space, making it the
largest retailer in New Ulm’s downtown center.
Recognition Luncheon
at Noon, Nov. 11
The New Ulm Chamber of Commerce presents its annual Industry of
the Year award to a company or group
of companies that have achieved not
only long term success in business, but
significant contributions to the community and the Chamber.
The New Ulm Herberger’s Store has
been selected as the 2008 Industry of
the Year, and will be honored at a noon
luncheon, which will be held on
Wednesday, Nov. 11, at the New Ulm
Country Club.
During the years, most of the small, family-owned men’s and women’s clothing stores
and shoe shops that lined Minnesota Street
changed hands and eventually closed succumbing to the pressure of competing with
large chain stores.
Today, Herberger’s remains New Ulm’s
main source of men’s and women’s clothing,
cosmetics, luggage, women’s shoes and
household goods.
Herberger’s has had several managers, in-
Herberger’s
Continued on page 3
THE JOURNAL, New Ulm, MN Monday, November 9, 2009
Herberger’s
3
Continued from page 2
cluding George Kipp in the 1940s, Bob
Lohman, who managed the store for over a
quarter of a century, Steve Lindgren, Ron
Herges and, since 1990, Rollo Lentz.
“Herberger’s wants offer a full slate of
quality products to the community,” said
Lentz. “We carry an assortment of merchandise from moderate to better, providing quality and value. We have something to offer to
just about everybody. We believe we appeal
to the vast majority of customers in our community.”
Herberger’s carries its own private label
products and well-known national labels like
Calvin Klein, Nautica, Columbia, Estée
Lauder, Carter’s, Kitchenaid, Cuisinart. “We
make every effort to listen to our customers
and offer what they’re looking for in quality,
style and value,” said Lentz.
Company History
G.R. Herberger’s got its start in Osakis,
Minn., when George Herberger, a recent immigrant from Germany, opened a general dry
goods story in 1889.
“Mr. Herberger operated on the belief that
business should focus on friendliness, superior customer service and quality merchandise,” according to the company history.
George’s son, G. R. “Bob” Herberger,
held his father’s philosophy as he studied
merchandising at the University of Minnesota.
Bob Herberger opened his first department store in 1927, a St. Cloud dry-goods
store in distress and turned it into a successful
Photo courtesty of Herberger’s
A view of the Herberger’s store in the early 1950s
venture, according to the company history.
“His philosophy was unique to its time the concept was to offer a broad range of
fashion and quality merchandise, nationally
known brands, and value-packed promotions.
We Salute
Herberger
’s
as
Emphasis was placed on satisfaction and
service. Throughout the stores, Herberger’s
bolstered customer confidence by giving special attention to the homemakers of the area.”
says the company history.
CONGRATULATIONS
2009 Industry of the Year
G.R. Herberger’s, Inc. was incorporated in
1943 for the purpose of company expansion.
Herberger’s
Continued on page 4
Congratulations
and continued success to
2009 Industry/Business of the Year
Herberger’s
Herberger’s
Thank you for your Chamber
Support through the years.
1 North Minnesota PO Box 384 New Ulm, MN 56073
Voice: 507-233-4305 email: nuedc@newulmtel.net
Web Site: www.nuedc.com
NEW ULM AREA
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
1 N. Minnesota • 233-4300 • www.newulm.com
CONGRATULATIONS
Herberger’s
River View Sanitation
Herberger’s
2009 Industry/Business of the Year
New Ulm • 507-354-5528
www.schellsbrewery.com
www.grainbelt.com
RVS
354-5355
Kevin & Kathy Finstad
Congratulations
HERBERGER’S
Rollo & Staff
307 N. Minnesota St.
New Ulm
233-4000 or 1-800-657-0151
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THE JOURNAL, New Ulm, MN Monday, November 9, 2009
Herberger’s
Continued from page 3
The first store outside of St.
Cloud opened in Watertown,
S.D. in 1943. Another store
opened in Rice Lake, Wis. in
1945. From 1943 to 1972,
G.R. Herberger’s grew to 11
stores in four states.
In 1972, Bob Herberger
sold the company to its employees, giving them the distinction of becoming employee-owned by key management employees. The associates’ pride and commitment to being the best in the
business helped create the
customer loyalty Herberger’s
still enjoys today.
In February 1997, Proffitt’s, Inc. purchased Herberger’s.
Profitt’s later acquired
Saks Fifth Avenue, and Herberger’s became part of
Saks’ Northern Department
Store Group. In 2005, the
group, including Carson
Pirie Scott, Bergner’s,
Boston Store, Younker’s and
Herberger’s, was sold to its
current owners, Bon-Ton
Stores.
The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc.
operates 279 department
stores in 23 states.
Lentz has been with the
store through many changes
and experienced the changes
in corporate culture, from a
small, family-owned business to a larger chain.
“The store continues to
have its small town feel,” he
said. “Many of our 55 associates have been with the store
20 years or more and their
customers are also their
friends,” he said.
“Our number one goal is
taking excellent care of our
customers,” said Lentz. “We
want to meet their wants and
the needs. When someone
comes to your home, you
want to make them feel comfortable, and that’s what we
want our customers’ shopping experience to emulate.
Our ultimate goal is to sell
you something, but a lot of
people come in for a few
minutes to look around,
maybe chat with one of their
friends who works here.
Maybe they’re having a bad
day and they come here for a
little lift, and when they
leave they feel a little better.
If we can do that, we feel
good and believe they’ll
come back to shop with us.”
HERBERGER’S
Goal: To have fun
Over the years, Herberger’s has tried to have fun with
its customers through its promotions. During one Father’s
Day promotion, all of the
company associates wore
neckties. People who spent at
least $35 got a chance to snip
a bit from an associate’s tie,
including Lentz’s.
During Moonlight Madness and Crazy Days promotions, associates often
dressed up in crazy outfits.
Lentz likes to lead the
fun. The Easter Bunny or
Christmas Bear will prowl
the store during the holidays;
the fuzzy costumes all seem
to come in Lentz’s size.
Herberger’s is proud of
Bon-Ton’s
community
events. During the annual
Goodwill Sale, customers
who bring in gently used
clothing receive discount
coupons and the donated
clothing goes to charitable
groups. In New Ulm, the
Clothing Depot was the beneficiary this year of 150 30gallon plastic bags of the donated clothing.
During Bon-Ton’s Community Days, local non-prof-
it service groups and organizations sell tickets for the
sales event, good for many
store discounts. The organizations keep the ticket sale
revenues. This spring about
20 groups earned themselves
a total of $6,000 to $7,000
and there will another Community Day event on November 14.
In January 2009, Lentz
made an offer to his associates. “If they could sell 140
tickets, and that was about
three or four times what they
had sold the year before, I’d
shave my head. I picked a
figure that was kind of a long
shot, but about two weeks into it I knew I was a goner.”
On Feb. 2, Lentz made
good in a well-publicized
event out in the middle of the
Markplatz Mall.
In the past he’s also had to
shave his moustache or get
his fingernails painted and
leave them painted for a
week to make good on his
bet with his associates.
“We always have fun with
our associates, and when
Photo courtesy of Herberger’s
they’re having fun, our cusStore manager Rollo Lentz loses a piece of his tie durtomers see it and they being a Father’s Day promotion.
come part of the fun too.
As a leader and anchor in our retail
business community for over 60 years,
Congratulations to
2009 Business of the Year
2009 Business of the year!
We are proud to have you as part of our community.
226 North Minnesota
New Ulm • 507-233-8000
We Salute
on this much deserved award!
Best wishes for your continued success
2015 South Broadway
New Ulm • 354-8255
NEW ULM RETAIL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
2009 INDUSTRY OF THE YEAR
ongratulations
CHerberger's
New Ulm 2700 S. Broadway
507.354.3111
Offices also in Minneapolis,
Mankato and Mapleton
www.gislason.com
Congratulations
2009 Business/Industry of the year
HERBERGER’S
Veigel’s Kaiserhoff
HERBERGER’S
on being honored as the
2009 Business of the Year!
Home of those famous Barbeque Ribs
221 North Minnesota • New Ulm • 359-2071
www.kaiserhoff.org
Laraway Roofing, Inc.
New Ulm, MN • 507-354-8538
THE JOURNAL, New Ulm, MN Monday, November 9, 2009
5
Photo courtesy of Herberger’s
Large crowds gathered for Herberger’s grand opening after expansion and remodeling in 1946.
CONGRATULATIONS!
Congratulations
HERBERGER’S
Herberger’s
2009 Business of the Year
2009 Industry of the year
1 Golf Drive • New Ulm
354-8896
Congratulations to Herberger’s
2009 Industry of the Year.
Noticeably Different.
Paul’s Electric, Inc.
HERBERGER’S
2009 Business of the Year
New Ulm, MN
(507) 233-5735
Congratulations
HERBERGER’S
2009 Business of the Year
Hwy 14 West • New Ulm • 233-8440
©2008 LarsonAllen LLP
We Salute
Congratulations
Herberger’s
for being honored
as the 2009 Industry of the Year
ISO 9001
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THE JOURNAL, New Ulm, MN Monday, November 9, 2009
Longtime Manager
Bob Lohman, above, was named manager of Herberger’s in January, 1961, and held the job for over 25 years.
Courtesty of Herberger’s
Above, the “Herberger’s News featured the New Ulm Women’s Days Hat Contest that got widespread publicity in papers across the country in 1968. Sue Hunstad’s Easter Egg Tree Hat (shown above, left) took first place in the Crazy Hat
Contest. The photo was reprinted in Omaha, St. Paul, Denver, Rapid City, S.D., and the Minneapolis Star.
C O N G R AT U L AT I O N S
Congratulations
HERBERGER’S
2009 Industry of the Year!
Master Graphics
213 North Minnesota • New Ulm, MN 56073
Your Full Service Printer!
2009 Business of the Year
HERBERGER’S
1220 Westridge Road
New Ulm, MN 56073
507-359-2925 • Fax: 354-7132 • 800-535-7393 • E-Mail: print@master-graphics.net
HERBERGER’S
2009 Business of the Year
Ahrens Heating Inc.
507-354-2217
Congratulations
CONGRATULATIONS
CONGRATULATIONS
HERBERGER’S
HERBERGER’S
2009 Industry of the Year
Herberger’s
2009 Business of the Year
507-354-2555 • Josh Luneburg, Owner
Mon-Fri 8-12 & 1-5 • Sat 8-12 • New Ulm
Adjacent to Applebees • Sellers of New & Used Steel
NEW ULM, MN
New Ulm Financial Services
Securities and Advisory Services offered through Geneos Wealth Management, Inc.
Member FINRA/SIPC
Jack Larson
517 3rd North • New Ulm • 354-8000
THE JOURNAL, New Ulm, MN Monday, November 9, 2009
7
46 years with
Herberger’s
In 1992, The Journal wrote about the retirement of
Amelila Luepke, who started working at Herberger’s soon
after it opened and stayed there for 46 years.
Congratulations
HERBERGER’S
on being 2009 Industry of the Year
Richard A. Gusso Agency
An Outstanding Customer Experience
J.D. Power and Associates certified Distinguished Insurance Agency
1106 S. Broadway • New Ulm
(507) 359-2997
Email: rgusso@amfam.com
GREAT NEWS!
Herberger’s
is the 2009 Industry of the Year!
CONGRATULATIONS!
Congratulations
HERBERGER’S
2009 Business of the year!
2137 North Broadway
New Ulm, MN
507-233-8020
Congratulations
CONGRATULATIONS!
Congratulations
Herberger’s
2009 Industry of the Year!
Herberger’s
We salute you as
2009 Business of the Year
Retzlaffs Ace Hardware
21 N. Minnesota St. • New Ulm
354-8851
27 N. Minnesota St. • New Ulm • 354-4111
www.nutelecom.net
Congratulations
CONGRATULATIONS
HERBERGER’S
HERBERGER’S
2009 Industry of the year.
2009 Business of the year!
Herberger’s
Congratulations as we celebrate your
honor of being chosen as the
2009 INDUSTRY OF THE YEAR!
We are proud to have you as part of our community
SHELTER PRODUCTS
507-359-2941 • 2101 S. Broadway, New Ulm
810 North Front • New Ulm • 354-4176
Certified Public Accountants
201 North Minnesota • New Ulm • 507-354-7100
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THE JOURNAL, New Ulm, MN Monday, November 9, 2009
CONGRATULATIONS
HERBERGER’S
ALLIANCE
BANK
Member FDIC
NEW ULM • MADELIA
354-3133
642-3236
HANSKA • HUNTLEY • COURTLAND
439-6227
866-4411
359-2865
www.alliancebanks.com
www.citizensmn.com
26 South Broadway
New Ulm
507.354.8813
BankMidwest.com
MAIN OFFICE
105 NORTH MINNESOTA ST.
NEW ULM, MINNESOTA
507-354-3165 Or 1-800-549-0194
MEMBER FDIC
LA SALLE BRANCH
102 SOUTH BROADWAY
LA SALLE, MINNESOTA
507-375-3537
LAFAYETTE BRANCH
701 MAIN AVENUE
LAFAYETTE, MINNESOTA
507-228-8283
LAKEVILLE BRANCH
18476 KENRICK AVENUE
LAKEVILLE, MINNESOTA
952-469-1919
Member FDIC
THREE CONVENIENT LOCATIONS:
South Branch
1823 South
Broadway
Downtown
North Branch
100 North
Minnesota
2005 North
Garden
507.233.4700
www.
frandsenbank.com
Sleepy Eye
Springfield
920 East Main Street
975 W. Central St.
P.O. Box 406
P.O. Box 80
Sleepy Eye, MN 56085 Springfield, MN 56087
New Ulm
706 North German
New Ulm, MN
56073
200 North Broadway St. • New Ulm, MN 56073
www.southpointfed.com
Member FDIC
MEMBER
FDIC
We’ll help you get there
507.233.5600 • 1.877.794.6712
507-359-2001
www.unitedprairiebank.com • Established in 1919