03 - 08 Newsletter.qxd - Vincennes
Transcription
03 - 08 Newsletter.qxd - Vincennes
Niehaus News January/February 2008 Volume 47, Issue 1 75th Anniversary Niehaus Companies, Inc. 1933 - 2008 Circa 1951 Looking forward to serving our customers and community for generations to come! Circa 1964 T his year marks the 75th anniversary for Niehaus Lumber Company. The company was founded in 1933 by Benjamin and Francis Niehaus, a father and son team. They were employees with Knox County Lumber Co., located at 1st and Hart Streets, when they decided to start a business of their own. It was during the Depression and times were hard, but they were able to acquire a building between Main and Vigo Streets. Ben Niehaus was an inventive sort and very skilled with mill machinery. In late December of 1932, they hired Clayton Miller to Circa 1995 help put their plan in motion. Soon after, they opened their planing mill business. In those days, they made a lot of seasonal items like the binder rollers for wheat farmers, hot bed sashes for the melon farmers, as well as planing rough lumber. As time went on, they expanded their business to include more mill work. They made custom cabinets, door frames and windows, which all started with rough cut lumber. Much to Ben’s dislike, Francis would order truck loads of roofing, cement, and building materials for resale. This later proved to be the most successful part of the business, as the need for custom mill work began to fade away. (cont’d page 6) Page 2 Niehaus News New Employees Anniversaries We want to welcome the following new employees to our company. January and February will mark the anniversary dates of employment with our company for the following employees. January Dan McElroy 4 Years Shannon Fischer 3 Years Patricia DiMercurio 3 Years Renee Thorne 3 Years February Jerry Burch 30 Years Larry McCoy 30 Years Debra Moyes 29 Years Paul Kopp 24 Years Wayne Sullivan 10 Years George Unsworth 10 Years Dale Nash 12 Years Mary Smith 8 Years Andy Westerman 5 Years Christina Shafer 5 Years Jon Byrnes 4 Years Brook Fuller 4 Years Leah Bilskie 3 Years DeeDee Wampler 2 Years Michael Vash 1 Year Justin Robison 1 Year Gene Oakley - WBM, Vincennes James Wright - WBM, Vincennes David Cole - Niehaus, Vincennes Tony Miller - Niehaus, Vincennes Karoke means "empty orchestra" in Japanese. If you have 3 quarters, 4 dimes, and 4 pennies, you have $1.19. You also have the largest amount of money in coins without being able to make change for a dollar. Niehaus News This newsletter is the official publication of events and activities of Niehaus Companies, Inc. which include Niehaus Home Centers (Vincennes, IN, Terre Haute, IN and Robinson, IL,) Wholesale Building Materials (Vincennes, IN, St. Louis, MO and Nashville, TN), and is published 12 times per year. Editor/Photographer/Writer: Sherry Cummins FABRICATING RETAIL • Vincennes • Robinson • Terre Haute • Vincennes WHOLESALE • Vincennes • Nashville • St. Louis IMPORT Bernie Niehaus, CEO 812-886-4412 Butch Niehaus, President David Niehaus, Eric Niehaus, Vice President Retail Vice President, WBM WEB SITE: www.niehausinc.com Links to all 9 companies In January and February the following employees will be celebrating their birthday! January George Unsworth Jan. 6 Richard Woodward Jan. 7 Roger Abel Jan. 7 John Mills Jan. 10 Sue Fox Jan. 10 Shannon Grantham Jan. 12 Mick Gormley Jan. 14 Deb Dunn Jan. 15 Tom Cozad Jan. 16 Ginger Welton Jan. 21 Bill Egbert Jan. 23 Mary Beth Robinson Jan. 28 February Patricia DiMercurio Feb. 1 Paul Anderson Feb. 1 Gary Chillingworth Feb. 1 Mark Ashcraft Feb. 4 Jane Deal Feb. 4 Eric Feagley Feb 6 William Davis Feb. 9 Darren Mains Feb. 9 Scott McCrary Feb. 12 David Niehaus Feb. 13 Michael Jones Feb. 14 Paul Kopp Feb. 18 Ken Pettry Feb. 17 Jack McCullough Feb. 20 Mike Glenn Feb. 21 Andrew Suttle Feb. 22 Albert Lepsi Feb. 22 John Wallace Feb. 23 John Harrison Feb. 23 Kim Smith Feb. 25 Janie Stephens Feb. 26 Don Pea Feb. 28 Happy Birthday! • Vincennes CORPORATE OFFICES 1422 E. Elkhorn Rd., Vincennes, IN Birthdays NOT ON OUR MAILING LIST? If you (or anyone you know) are not currently on our mailing list to receive the Niehaus News - but would like to be just call 812-882-2710 or e-mail scummins@wbm-online. com Page 3 Niehaus News Winter Car Tips Niehaus Companies 75 Years Young I say 75 years young because last year marked the beginning of the 5th generation of Niehaus’ to start working in our company. Mallory Niehaus is the first of our 19 grandchildren to go to work, and I am sure will be followed by many of the others. It seems like just yesterday when we were unloading box cars of lumber by hand and sweeping up mounds of sawdust from the big planer in our old mill. It seems almost unbelievable from that small lumber yard on Main Street with eleven employees to now with over 180 employees today. Our Niehaus Companies is now comprised of nine companies; three retail Home Centers in Vincennes, Terre Haute and Robinson Illinois. Three wholesale companies; WBM, Vincennes, St. Louis, Missouri and Nashville, Tennessee. We also have two fabricating plants; one for Therma Tru exterior doors and the other is the Top Shop that builds counter tops. Our newest company is our import division located in the old Big Blue building on Willow Street. The import division distributes Karran solid surface sinks and Lansen stainless steel sinks. These sinks are distributed in all 50 states and Canada. The rapid growth of our company has come from this new import division and the distribution of three core products in five states - Aristokraft Cabinets, Engineered Lumber and Therma Tru Entrance Doors. The five states are: Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri and Tennessee. Being in Vincennes, we are strategically located just three to four hours from four major metro markets: Indianapolis, St. Louis, Louisville and Nashville Tennessee. These major markets will provide us unlimited growth and I anticipate a very bright future for our family business. In 1959 I graduated from Michigan State University and came back home to run our family business with the eleven employees. While in Michigan, I saw the Cash & Carry lumber growth and opened Niehaus Cash-Away Lumber on Vigo St.. This special niche really worked and we soon became the dominant force in building material distribution in this area. Next year - 2009 will mark my 50th year with the company. It has been very rewarding to work with my three sons and see the enthusiasm and energy I had 50 years ago. Now I am re-energized with our 5th generation coming in and I am having fun watching Niehaus Companies grow. If your car needs regular service, get it done now. Nothing's a big deal in the summer. You break down? So what? It's a nice night out. Look at all those stars! But break down when it's minus jaw-freezing outside, and that's a different story. Since bad hoses, belts, water pumps, spark plug wires, and distributor caps can leave you stranded in the winter, it's better to bite the bullet and fix them. It's better than spending the same amount of money after you've been sitting in your stalled car for three hours waiting for AAA. (Just kidding, Triple A! No one has ever had to wait three hours for one of your tow trucks, have they?) • Make sure your battery and charging system are up to snuff. Your mechanic should check the battery, charging system, and belts. Your battery can leave you stranded simply because it's old and lousy. Or it could leave you stranded because your charging system isn't working well, and the battery isn't getting charged properly. So have your mechanic check the battery and charging system. If you find that you need a new battery, get the biggest, meanest, ugliest battery that will fit in your car. Two things to remember about batteries: First, the battery that started your car easily in the summer may not have enough oomph to do it in winter. In winter, the engine is harder to start, because the oil isn't as "fluid" as it was last July. And secondly, batteries lose power as the temperature drops (you remember your high school chemistry, right?). So not only do you need MORE power to start the engine in winter, you also get LESS power from the same battery. • Make sure your windshield wipers are in good shape. • Keep your gas tank close to full, for a couple of reasons. In the summer, you can take a chance and run down to fumes. But in the winter, if you do get stuck or stranded, the engine will be your only source of heat. And you don't want to have to worry about conserving fuel and saving the planet right at that moment......you want to stay warm. P.S. If you have a rear-wheel-drive vehicle that needs help in the snow, you can put a few bags of sand over the rear axle. Draw an imaginary line between the two rear wheels. That's the location of the rear axle, which is usually towards the front of the trunk. Page 4 Airline Safety Occasionally, airline attendants make an effort to make the "in-flight safety lecture" and their other announcements a bit more entertaining. Here are some real examples that have been heard or reported: • “ There may be 50 ways to leave your lover, but there are only 4 ways out of this airplane..." • After landing: "Thank you for flying Delta Business Express. We hope you enjoyed giving us the business as much as we enjoyed taking you for a ride." • As the plane landed and was coming to a stop at Washington National, a lone voice came over the loudspeaker: "Whoa, big fella. WHOA!" • After a particularly rough landing during thunderstorms in Memphis, a flight attendant on a Northwest flight announced: "Please take care when opening the overhead compartments because, after a landing like that, sure as hell everything has shifted." • “ If you have a small child traveling with you, secure your mask before assisting with theirs. If you are traveling with two or more small children, decide now which one you love more.” • “Weather at our destination is 50 degrees with some broken clouds, we'll try to have them fixed before we arrive. Thank you, and remember, nobody loves you, or your money, more than Southwest Airlines." • "Your seat cushions can be used for flotation, and in the event of an emergency water landing, please take them with our compliments." • "Should the cabin lose pressure, oxygen masks will drop from the overhead area. Please place the bag over your own mouth and nose before assisting children or adults acting like children." • "As you exit the plane, make sure to gather all of your belongings. Anything left behind will be distributed evenly among the flight attendants. Please do not leave children or spouses." • And from the pilot during his welcome message: "We are pleased to have some of the best flight attendants in the industry... Unfortunately, none of them are on this flight...!" • Heard on Southwest Airlines just after a very hard landing in Salt Lake City: The flight attendant came on the intercom and said, "That was quite a bump and I know what ya'll are thinking. I'm here to tell you it wasn't the airline's fault, it wasn't the pilot's fault, it wasn't the flight attendants' fault...it was the asphalt!" • Overheard on an American Airlines flight into Amarillo, Texas, on a particularly windy and bumpy day. During the final approach the Captain was really having to fight it. After an extremely hard landing, the Flight Attendant came on the PA and announced, "Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to Amarillo. Please remain in your seats with your seat belts fastened while the Captain taxis what's left of our airplane to the gate!" • Another flight attendant's comment on a less than perfect landing: "We ask you to please remain seated as Captain Kangaroo bounces us to the terminal." • After a real crusher of a landing in Phoenix, the Flight Attendant came on with, "Ladies and Gentlemen, please remain in your seats until Capt. Crash and the Crew have brought the aircraft to a screeching halt against the gate. And, once the tire smoke has cleared and the warning bells are silenced, we'll open the door and you can pick your way through the wreckage to the terminal." Niehaus News Niehaus Companies Participates in Knox County Foundation Business of the Month David Niehaus is presenting a check for $536.00 to Mark Ewing, Chairman of the Knox County Community Foundation. This check represented a percentage of our Benjamin Moore Paint sales for October. How True Is This? A woman in a hot air balloon realizes she is lost. She lowers her altitude and spots a man fishing from a boat below. She shouts to him, “Excuse me, can you help me? I promised a friend I would meet him an hour ago, but I don’t know where I am.” The man consults his portable GPS and replies, “You’re in a hot air balloon, approximately 30 feet above a ground elevation of 2346 feet above sea level. You are at 31 degrees, 14.97 minutes north latitude and 100 degrees, 49.09 minutes west longitude.” She rolls her eyes and says, “You must be a Republican.” “I am,” he replies. 'How did you know?” “Well,” answers the balloonist, “everything you tell me is technically correct, but I have no idea what to do with your information, and I’m still lost. Frankly, you’re not much help to me.” The man responds, “You must be a Democrat.” “I am,” replies the balloonist, “How did you know?” “Well,” says the man, “You don’t know where you are or where you’re going. You’ve risen to where you are due to a large quantity of hot air. You made a promise that you have no idea how to keep, and now you expect me to solve your problem. You’re in exactly the same position you were before we met, but, somehow, now it’s my fault.” Niehaus News Page 5 Guardian Fiberglass Insulation Cost Effective and Energy Efficient UltraFit . . . the ultimate in home insulation The UltraFit wall system is unique in that it combines UltraFit, specially designed fiberglass insulation, with an inorganic water-activated powder adhesive. This is sprayed into the wall cavity forming a seamless blanket of insulation sidewalls. Because the system creates a monolithic seal in all the sidewalls, it significantly reduces costly voids and air gaps. Call Today! Niehaus Home Center Vincennes, IN Robinson, IL Terre Haute, IN 812-882-2710 618-544-2138 812-466-1050 Page 6 Niehaus News 2008 Marks 75th Anniversary Naomi & Francis: Sondra & Bernie Naomi Niehaus Benjamin Niehaus Francis Niehaus 1933 - 2008 (cont’d from page 1) In November of 1944, at the age of 36, Francis died of tuberculosis. The untimely death left a void in the retail lumber business. To fill the void, Naomi Niehaus, the young widow and mother of two small children, came to work in the office to carry on Francis’ position. Bernie was 7 and his sister Sondra was 6 years old. Being a woman in the lumber business was not an easy task. But with a firm purpose and unfaltering determination, the business grew. Many changes were made over the years to the Main Street location. In 1959 Bernie graduated from Michigan State and came back to run the business. He converted the business to the first Cash-And-Carry type lumber yard in the area. In 1970 he bought 40 acres on Elkhorn Road and built a Component Plant. In the next ten years, new buildings were constructed, more products added, computer systems installed, and eventually grew to service a five state area. All three of Bernie’s sons (Butch, David and Eric) joined the company when they finished college. 1987 - 1989 and 1992. (cont’d page 8) Photo taken in April 2000 - Naomi Niehaus, her son Bernie and his son s David Niehaus, Butch Niehaus, and Eric Niehaus - the fourth generation. Page 7 Niehaus News For Niehaus Companies, Inc. Left: Niehaus Home Center, Vincennes, IN Left: WBM, St. Louis, MO Right: Niehaus Home Center, Terre Haute, IN Left: Niehaus Home Center, Robinson, IL Right: Karran USA, Vincennes, IN Left: WBM, Nashville, TN Right: Top Shop Vincennes, IN Left: WBM, Vincennes, IN Sits on 40 acres and houses corporate offices, Door Mill, Top Shop, Cabinet Warehouse, Engineered Lumber Div. and all building material Page 8 Niehaus News (cont’d from page 6) Misfortune hit in 1992, a short time after purchasing and remodeling Center Hardware. Fire broke out and all was lost. Instead of rebuilding,, time, money and effort was poured into the Main Street location and another total renovation was done. The huge warehouse was converted to a showroom, every department was expanded, and eventually new warehouse buildings were constructed. Since that time, the company opened two new divisions of Wholesale Building Materials - one in Nashville, Tennessee and one in St. Louis, Missouri. The next additions were the building of the Top Shop and the purchase of the two Big Buck Retail stores - one in Robinson, Illinois and the other in Terre Haute. The next addition to the company was Karran USA - an import business on Willow Street that is the distribution center for solid surface sinks in the USA. In 2006 the Dick Leonard Ford Dealership building was purchased - located adjacent to the Niehaus Home Center Building on Main Street in Vincennes. After several months of renovation, the two buildings were joined to make way for a new Mohawk Signature Floor Store. This allowed several thousand square feet of new showroom area for carpet, ceramic tile and other flooring products, making it one of the largest flooring departments in the area. It has been an incredible 75 years. Ben and Francis would certainly be proud if they could see how far the business has come since its humble beginnings in 1933. At this point we want to send a big “thank you” to all of our loyal customers and good friends through the years! We have so much to be thankful for - and only hope with 19 grandchildren approaching the job entry level in the next 10 years, that we will be here for many more. Over 1,162 Years Of A special salute to our valuable employees Don Mendenhall Roy Roach Ken Doades Sherry Cummins Kim Smith Jerry Burch Larry McCoy Phil Wehrman Debra Moyes Clete Yochum Mark Ashcraft Mike Worland Paul Kopp Keith Fox Kathy McCreary Ginger Welton Danny Harrington Judy Detty Jean Fox Betty Tuttle Bill Stevens Rebecca Taylor Doug Mikiska Mike Cavender Eric Feagley Kevin Grostefon Helen Smith Steve McNew Brad Snider Michael Jones Dale Nash Don Pea Steve Taylor Deborah Dunn Sue Fox Todd Donovan John Harrison Lisa Ridgway Wayne Sullivan Dennis Bilskie Shawn Brothers Ron Gaines Connie Lockhart Susan Sanders Randy Stephens 39 Years 34 Years 33 Years 30 Years 32 Years 30 Years 30 Years 29 Years 29 Years 28 Years 26 Years 25 Years 24 Years 22 Years 22 Years 21 Years 21 Years 20 Years 20 Years 20 Years 19 Years 17 Years 16 Years 16 Years 14 Years 13 Years 13 Years 12 Years 12 Years 12 Years 12 Years 12 Years 12 Years 12 Years 11 Years 11 Years 11 Years 11 Years 10 Years 10 Years 10 Years 10 Years 10 Years 10 Years 10 Years NHC, Robinson WBM, Vincennes NHC, Vincennes NHC, Vincennes WBM, Vincennes WBM, Vincennes NHC, Robinson NHC, Vincennes WBM, Vincennes WBM, Vincennes NHC, Vincennes WBM, Vincennes WBM, Vincennes NHC, Vincennes NHC, Vincennes NHC, Vincennes NHC, Robinson WBM, Vincennes WBM, Vincennes NHC, Robinson NHC, Vincennes NHC, Robinson NHC, Vincennes NHC, Vincennes WBM, Vincennes WBM, Vincennes WBM, Vincennes NHC, Vincennes NHC, Vincennes WBM, Vincennes WBM, Vincennes WBM, Vincennes WBM, Vincennes WBM, St. Louis NHC, Vincennes Karran, Vincennes WBM, Vincennes WBM, Vincennes NHC, Vincennes WBM, Vincennes WBM, Vincennes WBM, Vincennes WBM, Vincennes WBM, Vincennes WBM, Vincennes Page 9 Niehaus News Experience In Our Company! - both past and present! George Unsworth Don Kirby Steve Rooker Kim Terry Lisa Litherland Rick Henry Stephen Lanning Bill Egbert Joy Whiteside Gary Chillingworth Albert Lepsi William Wait Shannon Grantham Mary Smith Mick Gormley Chris Hamilton Brian Childs Darryl Frame Tim Murray John Wallace Mike Adams Craig Sims Stephanie Zachary Barbara Jones Trina Wulfert Mary B. Robinson Chad Clem Mary Edgin Mike Leydet Mike Glenn Tony Jamero Mike Montgomery Donna Stevenson James Roe Jack McCullough Dan McElroy James Noble Christina Schafer William Davis Jane Deal Andy Westerman Mike McIntyre Ali Salhani 10 Years 10 Years 10 Years 10 Years 9 Years 9 Years 9 Years 9 Years 9 Years 9 Years 9 Years 9 Years 9 Years 8 Years 8 Years 8 Years 8 Years 8 Years 8 Years 7 Years 7 Years 7 Years 7 Years 7 Years 7 Years 7 Years 6 Years 6 Years 6 Years 6 Years 6 Years 6 Years 6 Years 6 Years 6 Years 5 Years 5 Years 5 Years 5 Years 5 Years 5 Years 5 Years 5 Years WBM, Vincennes WBM, Nashville WBM, Nashville WBM, Nashville NHC, Vincennes WBM, Vincennes WBM, Vincennes WBM, St. Louis WBM, St. Louis NHC, Robinson NHC, Robinson NHC, Robinson WBM, Nashville NHC, Vincennes WBM, Vincennes WBM, Vincennes WBM, St. Louis WBM, St. Louis WBM, St. Louis NHC, Vincennes WBM, Vincennes WBM, Vincennes WBM, Vincennes WBM, St. Louis WBM, St. Louis NHC, Robinson NHC, Vincennes NHC, Vincennes NHC, Vincennes WBM, Vincennes WBM, Vincennes WBM, Vincennes WBM, Nashville WBM, St. Louis NHC, Terre Haute WBM, Vincennes WBM, Vincennes WBM, Nashville WBM, St. Louis WBM, St. Louis WBM, St. Louis NHC, Terre Haute NHC, Robinson Photo taken at the 2007 Annual Employee/Family Picnic at which time employees are awarded recognition for years of service. Our Retirees: Don Burdsall Carl Hensley Tom Chesser Bob Frisz Bob Costello Red Anderson Bernice Jordan Sharon English Plus, 167 years of experience for employees who have under 5 years with our company! Page 10 Niehaus News If I Had My Child To Raise Over Again “If I had my child to raise all over again, I’d finger paint more, and point the finger less. I’d do less correcting, and more connecting. I’d take my eyes off my watch, and watch with my eyes. I would care to know less, and know to care more. I’d take more hikes and fly more kites. I’d stop playing serious, and seriously play. I’d run through more fields and gaze at more stars. “I’d do more hugging, and less tugging. I would be firm less often, and affirm much more. I’d build self-esteem first, and the house later. I’d teach less about the love of power, And more about the power of love.” • There are more than 7 million millionaires in the world. 80% of millionaires drive second-hand cars. • If you stack one million US $1 bills, it would be 110m (361 ft) high and weigh exactly 1 ton. A million dollars' worth of $100 bills weighs only 10 kg (22 lb.). One million dollars' worth of one-cent coins (100 million coins) weigh 246 tons. • The first credit card was issued by American Express in 1951. • The $ sign was designed in 1788 by Oliver Pollock. • Tourism is the world's biggest industry, affecting 240 million jobs. • Of the more than $50 billion worth of diet products sold every year, almost $20 billion are spent on imitation fats and sugar substitutes. • The average age of Forbes's 400 wealthiest individuals is 63. FLOORING Ceramic Carpet Did you Know? • A fresh egg sinks in water, a stale one won't. • Can't remember if an egg is fresh or hard boiled? Just spin the egg. If it wobbles, it's raw. If it spins easily, it's hard boiled. • Eggs contain all the essential protein, minerals and vitamins, except Vitamin C. But egg yolks are one of few foods that naturally contain Vitamin D. • The colour of the egg shell is not related to quality, nutrients, flavor, or cooking characteristics. White shelled eggs are produced by hens with white feathers and white ear lobes. Brown shelled eggs are produced by hens with red feathers and red ear lobes. Brown egg layers usually are slightly larger and require more food, thus brown eggs usually cost more than white eggs. • China produces most eggs, at about 160 billion per year. In the US, about 260 million hens produce more than 65 billion eggs per year. A hen can lay about 250 eggs per year. It’s all about money We ve Got It Covered Laminate Vinyl Hardwood Visit our showrooms! See this area’s largest floor covering department. • Professional Installation Available • Financing Available • We will come and measure for you NIEHAUS HOME CENTER 1023 Main St. Vincennes, IN 812-882-2710 Page 11 Niehaus News New PreFinished THERMA TRU DOORS Let Our Paint and Stain Pro’s Apply the Perfect Finish to Your New Entryway Our door mill now pre-finishes Therma-Tru doors inhouse. Our new pre-finish facility will allow us to control the application environment and ensure that we provide the highest quality pre-finished product in the industry. Ordering is easy: • Choose your door finish. For Classic-Craft & Fiber-Classic doors, choose any Therma-Tru stain color or standard paint color. For Smooth Star doors, choose any standard paint color. Decide if you want the doors exterior or interior finished, or both. You can also choose to paint the interior and stain the exterior or use one paint color for the interior and another for the exterior. Quality Door System Components • • • • • • Security Strike Plate • Multi-Point Locking System High Quality Hinges Kerfed Door Bottom HP Adjustable Sills FrameSaver Rot-Proof Jambs Astragals For Double Door Systems The beauty of wood. The durability of fiberglass Niehaus Home Center 501 S. Howard St. Robinson, IL 1023 Main St. Vincennes, IN 1110 Ft. Harrison Rd. Terre Haute, IN Page 12 Niehaus News Presorted Standard US Postage Paid Vincennes, IN 47591 Permit No. 32 Niehaus News Niehaus Home Center 1023 Main Street Vincennes, IN 47591 Visit Our Web Site http:/www.niehausinc.com Cabinetry Timely styles, lasting value. If you’re ready to remodel or start building, Aristokraft brand cabinets offer you suburb value, great style and the right solutions to fit your kitchen and bath budget. • In-house designers • Computer design • Financing available • Many styles in stock Let us help you create a space that reflects your taste and lifestyle. So take a few measurements, gather a few thoughts and let’s get started...together. NIEHAUS HOME CENTER Vincennes, IN 1023 Main St. Robinson, IL 501 S. Howard St. Terre Haute, IN 1110 Ft. Harrison Rd.