The Family Business Perspective
What are your family values and how do they contribute to your business success?
Don Helmreich, Downtown Appliance Home Center
We’ve tried to remain true to my parents’ values that they impressed upon me when they started Downtown Appliance Home Center over 50 years ago. These include treating your customer like you would expect to be treated, treating your employees like you would expect to be treated, and, no matter what, working hard and doing the right thing. These values have allowed us to outlast many chain stores that have come and gone in Columbia’s retail history.
What’s been the most rewarding aspect of running a family-owned business?
John Graves, Downtown Appliance Home Center
The most rewarding part is realizing that you have contributed positively to your employee’s lives and your community’s economy while providing a good standard of living for your own family. Whether you work for yourself or for someone else, everyone wants to make a positive difference in the world and be happy doing it.
What are your family values and how do they contribute to your business success?
Michele Spry, Midway Electric, Inc.
Family is extremely important as they are the ones that support you the most and constantly encouraging you to be the best you can be. We are very fortunate to have dedicated employees, but their families mean something to us as well. Our employees work hard and we know they look forward to being home. Giving them the time they need, as well as being there for them when they come back, is something that is a must.
How have you built or maintained your family business?
Adam Kinser, ServiceMaster
By only hiring good people and by performing our services in a professional and timely manner. We also research our local customers and their needs while performing the services. We like to provide our customer with a concierge style service.
How do you measure success for your company?
Toby Rost, Rost, Inc.
We want to have a good workplace for different people in the community and we want to create something beautiful. And while, yes, make a profit as well, it’s more important for us to have a business where it’s somewhere people like to work and where it’s honest – you’re getting what you pay for. We really strive to keep everything just tip-top because we have a reputation to uphold.