December 2015

EMPLOYEE NEWSLETTER
December 2015
Volume 24
Number 3
New Employees
No multiple-of-five work anniversaries this month, but we do have three
new employees. Please welcome them.
CODY STEPHENS – Cody is a new service tech with BENCO-Bismarck. Originally from Allendale, Michigan, he is engaged to Bob Sicble’s daughter Brooke.
Cody enjoys horseback riding.
JOHN WEYH – John is new at the counter in our Milbank store. From Milbank,
he is married with two daughters. John enjoys ice fishing and spending time
with his family. He also says he is enjoying living in Milbank again after five
years in Sioux Falls.
BRYAN ZIEGLER – Bryan is new on delivery for our Detroit Lakes store. Originally from Pierre, South Dakota, he has two sisters. Bryan enjoys building models
and rally racing, and now he’s in the process of building his own racer.
Holiday
Hours
All stores and divisions of Hedahls
will be closed on Christmas and
New Year’s Day. Both fall on Friday this year. Christmas Eve and
New Year’s Eve are both business days
for us. Each manager will determine the
times his or her store or department will be open
and schedule the staff accordingly. Anyone who wants to have a vacation day on either of those days should arrange it with his or her manager. Closing times for each will be designated by the store manager, since
each community will have its own needs and customs. Saturday after
each holiday are non-holidays for all locations.
Health Fair Winners
Melissa Knudson
and her new
Surface 3
Hedahls Health Fairs were held this fall at most of our store locations.
We had 155 people participate this year, up from last year.
We have conducted these Hedahls Health Fairs for several years. For
those who participate, either in their store or through participating
health care providers, we have offered a drawing each year. This
year the drawing winner received a Microsoft Surface 3.
On Monday, November 23, Peggy Lee generated the list of participants, and Pam Weisenburger set up an electronic random drawing.
And who was the lucky winner—well, of course, everyone who keeps
a close watch on his or her health, right? But who wins the new Microsoft Surface 3? That lucky winner is Melissa Knudson, wife of Glendive store manager Curt Knudson. Congratulations, Melissa, on your
new Surface 3. And congratulations to everyone who participated in
our health fairs.
John Jochim’s
1962 Chevrolet Impala
John Jochim retired after a career in automotive service only to go to work on delivery for our Bismarck store.
His interest in cars is evident in his professional life and his
personal life alike. Among his collection is a 1962 Impala
that he bought about 16 years ago from a local collector
who almost never drove it. As remarkable as it seems, in
53 years this car has only been driven 68,650 miles since
new. That is only 1300 miles a year. Low mileage at anyone’s car lot!
This is an authentically correct ‘62, with numbers
matching 283 engine and Powerglide Transmission. The
interior is all original and nearly perfect. The Impala was a
top of the line car in 1962 and as such received Chevrolet’s best interior. A unique feature of this car is that the
colored strip on the side of the chrome trim was matched
to the interior color. In this case that means a beautiful sky
blue. The pattern and buttons on the door panels attest
to its authenticity and preservation. It is as close to museum quality as you will find on the street anywhere. It even
has 7.50 x 14 US Royal bias ply tires. In later years, they
changed the name to Uniroyal.
It runs like a new car, and John says this is a very fun
car to drive. It is like you are transported back to 1962 in
Mr. Peabody’s “WayBack Machine.” This beauty shares
John’s garage with the ‘40 Ford we featured here in February 2014, a 1975 Chevrolet Caprice Convertible (future
feature car?), and a 2015 Corvette.
Don’t miss this point: this car has not been restored. It
is all original! Likely the most well preserved '62 Chevrolet
Impala in the state.
Another photo on page 3.
Power of Knowledge in Customer Service
By Dick Hedahl
The October 2015 issue of Counterman Magazine has an article by S.
Scott Shriber about customer service. At the Hedahls companies, we strive to
give good service every time we help a customer.
Shriver described a trip to an auto parts store to get PB&E supplies to repair his daughter’s car. The guys at the store were very knowledgeable and
got him on his way fast.
As all of you know, it takes a lot of experience, knowledge, and training to
become a professional in our industry. The guys at Masons Auto Parts had all
of the necessary information for Scott. But they also did something even
more important. They used their professionalism to educate him about what
he needed to get the job done right.
When you are knowledgeable about your job, it can be easy to become
a Know-It-All. That attitude can be offensive to customers. A much better
attitude is to be a teacher. Impart your knowledge and experience to your
customer. They will appreciate it and become a better customer. Make
friends with your customers. People buy from their friends.
You have heard knowledge is power, but Scott closed his column by saying, “Use your knowledge carefully. It is not a weapon but is a great customer
satisfaction tool.”
John Jochim’s 1962 Chevrolet Impala — original, not restored (story on p. 2)
Investment
Adjustment
For those of you with
ESOP/401(k) investments,
December is one of two
times during the year
when you can change
the amount you are investing (June is the other
time).
Simply contact Peggy
Lee at Headquarters before the close of business
on Friday, December 18,
and let her know what
you want changed.
Give yourself time to
fill out the required forms
and get them back to
Headquarters. Fax can
be used.
ESOP Sign-Up Forms
Health Risk Assessment
Our Enhanced Wellness Program offers incentives for you to
perform an annual Health Risk Assessment (HRA). After January
1, 2016, go to the BC/BS website to take your HRA for 2016.
The website is www.healthybluend.com . You will be asked
to sign in. If you have done this before, sign in with your user
name and password. If you have forgotten your username or
password, use the links to have them sent to your email address.
Once you are in, you will be asked to fill out the Health Assessment. But do not go there before January 1, 2016. If you do it in
December, it will be counted as your 2015 HRA.
A drawing will be held again this year among all those taking their HRA for 2016. You will have until Monday, February 22,
to complete your Assessment, which then also qualifies you in
the drawing for a 55-inch LED TV. Your qualification requires
nothing additional on your part to get signed up.
Your name will automatically be included in the
drawing when you have completed your HRA.
Call Dick Hedahl or Peggy Lee at Headquarters if you have questions.
Your manager should now have the
sign-up forms for our Employment Stock
Ownership Plan (ESOP) and 401(k)
plans. All employees (fulltime, part-time,
and temporary) must complete this
form. You should indicate one of three
choices:
1. Enrollment in the plan if you are
eligible,
2. Re-enrollment “as is” if you want
no change, or
3. Re-enrollment with a change in
the amount you are investing.
Even if you do not qualify for the ESOP
or if you are not interested in investing,
you are asked to fill out the form with
your employee number and store or
division, and mark the appropriate
choice. These forms need to be returned to Peggy Lee at Headquarters
by Friday, December 18.
Return This
Recently my wife and I were in
the Black Hills for a weekend getaway. While we were there, we visited Scheels Sporting Goods,
Cabela’s, Maurice’s, and the Harley Davidson and Indian dealerships—just to name a few. All of
these stores have multiple locations. Harley Davidson has locations all around the world, and Indian Motorcycles
all across the US. Cabela’s has over 50 stores in the
US and Canada. Scheels has 26 locations in 12
states and Maurice’s Fashion Outlets have over
900 stores in North America.
While driving to the hills, one of the Hedahls
store managers called and asked what our company policy was on customers buying an item at
one Hedahls store and returning it to another for
warranty or exchange?
The only answer to that questions is Hedahls is
Hedahls is Hedahls, no matter where it is. Just like
any other chain. The customer needs to prove
they bought it at Hedahls.
Here’s an example. That weekend my wife
bought a top at the Harley dealer in Rapid City,
and at the Harley dealer in Sturgis, she saw one
she liked better for less money. She exchanged it in
Sturgis and the difference was credited to her
credit card, all with no problem or hassle.
IDEAS FOR BETTER SELLING:
When I am out working with salesmen, I get
asked at least two or three times a year, usually by
new customers, “If I buy something at one of your
stores and have a problem can I return it to another Hedahls store?” Once again the answer is
Hedahls is Hedahls is Hedahls.
In fact, it even goes beyond Hedahls. If an Auto Plus part fails during the warranty period, it can
be warrantied at another Auto Plus location, anywhere in the US with proof of purchase. Wow, what
a sales tool!
In closing, if a customer ever comes into your
store with a return or warranty from another
Hedahls or Auto Plus location, and you are not sure
how to handle it, talk to your manager or call the
manager from the selling store, and if they are not
available, call me, Larry Lysengen or Dick Hedahl.
But the answer you’re likely to get is Hedahls is
Hedahls is Hedahls. Thanks, Dale