Wabash Valley Business Monthly

Business Monthly
Wabash Valley
FREE Starr Publishing
The voice of the Wabash Valley
Grocers: A Competitive
Marketplace - Pages 7-8
Indianapolis, IN
PERMIT NO. 267
The faith-based
community
committed to
recovery
- Page 10
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
September, 2015 *Vol. 1, Issue 4
Life skills are important for successful
recovery.
Other features in this issue:
Terre Haute Young Leaders: Meet Jonathan Scherle Page 2
Possible Changes to Minimum Salary for Exempt Employees;
A Costly Proposition Page 4
Time for a new marketing approach? Page 4
Katherine Hamilton: A Legacy of Hope Page 5
Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce Page 7
Also see: Local Government Public Meeting Schedule Page 14
Community Calendar Page 15
page 2 • Wabash Valley Business Monthly • September 2015
Business History
Meet Jonathan Scherle
First Financial Bank, NA
Vice President Commercial Lending
My job responsibility is to serve as the
primary contact for existing and new commercial relationships of the Bank, by assisting them in obtaining loan(s) for any
number of purposes, which may include
the purchase of equipment, inventory, or
real estate; construction of a new facility or remodel of existing; acquisition of
a current business or start-up costs for a
new company; or working capital lines
of credit. It is my responsibility to make
sure each request is properly structured
for the customer, to ensure the repayment
coincides with the customers existing or
proposed cash flow. I also make recommendations to customers on other products
offered by the Bank (ie. personal mortgages, auto loans, home equities, various
deposit products, etc.), when I feel there
could be a significant benefit to them or
their business.
I am an active member of the Terre
Haute Young Leaders, where I serve on the
Advisory Board and as Treasurer of the organization. I am involved with the United
Way of the Wabash Valley, where I have
served on a review team for the allocation
process for 6 years, and currently am on
the Community Impact Committee. I have
been a Board Member of Downtown Terre
Haute, Inc., and assisted with coaching my
daughter’s Vigo County Youth Soccer and
Riley Recreational tee ball teams.
2) One area that Terre Haute Young
Leaders has helped me grow professionally is by improving upon my networking
skills in a public, unfamiliar environment.
Instead of sitting back and allowing others
to approach me and initiate a conversation,
I have learned the importance and art of
working a room. This is not only a valu-
Since 1960
General Construction Design/Build
Construction Management
Wasmuth & Roedel
able tool to me personally, but from a professional standpoint it is one that benefits
my employer.
3) The benefits of THYL to young professionals in our community are numerous, however the one that sticks out in my
eyes is the connections you can make with
others in the area. In my five+ years with
the Young Leaders I have developed several connections with individuals that has
either led to me assisting a fellow young
leader or their company with a loan request, or resulted in me receiving some
type of service (ie. life insurance for children, investment advice, etc). Not only
has the Young Leaders helped me establish
these professional relationships, but many
of them are now close friends as well.
From the Historical Industrial Edition of the Terre Haute Express, October
1900… The oldest established grocery stand in the city is at the corner of
First and Ohio streets. In January, 1865, John F. Roedel came to Terre Haute
from Memphis, Tenn., and engaged in the grocery business at this location.
Charles Wasmuth was born in Louisiana in 1851, and came to Terre Haute
when but 12 years of age. He entered the grocery store when he first came to
Terre Haute, and has been in his present place of business ever since. Having
grown up in the grocery store, it is unnecessary to say that he knows the business thoroughly.
In September, 1893, Charles Wasmuth and J. F. and William Roedel (John
Roedel’s two sons) bought out Mr. Roedel’s business. Not only do they run a
grocery business, but they manage successfully a feed store at the corner of
Second and Ohio Streets. They handle all kinds of feed, making a specialty of
rye, clover, timothy and millet seeds.
- Courtesy of the Vigo County Historical Society & Museum
A word from the publisher
Feedback Wanted
of features or previews on the
main page once everything is
complete. This publication is
mailed out to 4,000 businesses
in Vigo, Clay, and Vermillion
counties in Indiana. The goal
is to distribute this publication
by mail to every business in
the Wabash Valley sometime
in 2016. This would include
the additions of Sullivan and
Wabash Valley Business
Monthly is looking for feedback or suggestions about
businesses or events you
would like to see featured in
the publication. Right now,
the best way to send a message
to us is using our email address
Jason Starr
[email protected]. We have a
new website, wvbm.biz that is currently Parke counties in Indiana and Clark and
under construction. The website should Edgar counties in Illinois. There is also
include past issues along with a couple some consideration about distributing to a
portion of Greene County in Indiana and
Crawford County in Illinois. There are
many advertising and content sponsorship
opportunities available. For more information about these please email jason@
wvbm.biz or call (812) 201-3919.
Wabash Valley Business Monthly
Copyright 2015© All rights reserved.
P.O. Box 11202
Terre Haute, IN 47801-1202
Phone: 812-201-3919
Email: [email protected]
Reader letters welcome. All letters are
subject to editing for brevity, clarity and
grammar.
Business Monthly Spread the word and grow your business!
Wabash Valley
Wabash Valley Business Monthly • September 2015 • page 3
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page 4 • Wabash Valley Business Monthly • September 2015
Possible Changes to Minimum
Salary for Exempt Employees:
A Costly Proposition
News of a proposed
wage (currently $7.25 per
change to the minimum salahour). The FLSA sets out rery for exempt employees has
quirements for overtime pay,
made headlines recently. The
and it also specifies a few
possible change and its imcategories of jobs that are expact can be confusing withempt from overtime, hence
out some context and some
the term “exempt” is used to
of the back story on why the
describe these jobs.
change is needed.
In order to qualify for this
The proposed change
exemption from overtime pay,
would amend a very old,
a position must meet several
but still very relevant, piece
criteria, known as tests. There
Kim La Grange
of legislation known as the
are two general types of tests
Fair Labor Standards Act
for exemption. First is the
(FLSA), which was enacted in 1938 and salary basis test. If this test is passed, the
has been amended several times over the duties of the job are then assessed via the
past 77 years. The FLSA covers many duties test, which is a series of questions
employment-related requirements at the about the position. There is a different sefederal level. One of the most notable re- ries of questions for each exemption catquirements addressed by the FLSA is the egory, which is the topic for another colestablishment of the federal minimum umn!
For
several
years, the salary
basis test, or salary threshold for
exemption,
has
been set at $455 per
week, or $23,660
per year. In other
words, in order
for a position to
be considered for exemption from overtime requirements, persons performing
the job must be paid at least $23,660 per
year. Clearly, in recent years this test has
been easily passed for virtually all positions. The Obama administration has been
focused on updating this salary threshold
to bring it in line with current wage rates,
and in July, the Department of Labor announced a proposed increase in the salary
basis test, setting the new salary threshold
at $970 per week, or $50,440 annually for
full time employees, which would more
than double the current threshold. The impact of this change would be huge; over
five million Americans, employed by thousands of companies across the country, are
paid less than the proposed threshold and
are in positions currently classified as exempt. The DOL has also proposed more
frequent changes to the salary threshold,
Time for a new marketing approach?
By Scott Flood
You’re just not pleased
with the way things are going. Sales seem to be down,
despite that new marketing
campaign you launched three
months ago. And frankly,
you’re tired of it. So toss
it aside and come up with
something new.
Bad idea. Company leaders who change their marketing approaches only slightly
than they change their underwear are usually wasting time
and money. If your company
needs a new marketing approach every few months,
something is fundamentally
wrong -- and the problem
isn’t in your marketing.
Marketing and advertising efforts often become the
Scott Flood
proverbial tail that’s expected
to wag the dog. Companies
invest buckets of money in
less often marketing and advertising as though they
5150 E. Margaret Drive
Terre Haute, IN 47803
(812) 877-9115
www.cintas.com
Uniforms & Apparel
Facility Services
Flame Resistant
Clothing
Compliance
Training
Promotional
Products
First Aid & Safety
Fire Protection
Managed Solutions
were some kind of magic potion crafted to
solve a whole flock of issues.
Fact is, the most effective marketing approaches are consistent, long-term
efforts that are built upon a company’s
strategic plan. So, if you’re not changing
your strategy every few months, you probably shouldn’t be changing your marketing
that often.
Should you adjust and adapt your efforts to reflect what’s happening in your
marketplace, or to seize unanticipated
opportunities? Absolutely. But that’s not
the same as throwing everything out and
starting from scratch every time you feel
frustrated and disappointed. In fact, if your
feelings are what’s driving your marketing
efforts, that may be the root of your problems. Business strategies should be based
upon rational and dispassionate analyses,
not upon your emotions at any given moment.
Think of the large companies you admire. What do they stand for? Can you describe them in a short phrase? I could name
a dozen companies, and the images that
tied either to increases in the consumer
price index or increases in general wage
rates. The DOL is accepting comments on
the proposed changes through September
4 and will consider the comments before
making its final determination.
If implemented, the new salary threshold will take effect in 2016. While it is
unlikely that the proposed salary threshold of $50,440 will ultimately be adopted,
it is almost certain that some increase to
the salary threshold will be implemented.
When this occurs, employers will have
two options, both of which are potentially
very costly. The first option is to raise salaries of exempt employees paid less than
the new threshold. The second option is
to reclassify positions paid less than the
new threshold, making them non-exempt.
Of course, under FLSA, people in positions that are non-exempt are eligible for
overtime pay for hours worked over 40 in
a given week, so this option would likely
cause an employer’s future compensation
costs to be significantly higher.
Although the Obama administration’s
intent is to increase wages, it’s likely that
employers would take steps to reduce the
cost of complying with the new salary
threshold. Two of these might be to either
reduce hours of affected employees so that
they are no longer full time, or pay a lower
hourly rate so that, when multiplied by one
and a half (as per overtime calculations),
weekly compensation costs are unchanged.
Whatever action the DOL takes, the
impact of a change to the salary threshold
will be significant for employers and employees alike.
pop up in your mind would be identical to
what pops up in mine. That’s because those
companies know who they are, and they
have the confidence in that knowledge to
stay focused over the long term. They’re
not shifting gears every three months or
jumping every time a competitor provides
some kind of perceived threat.
If you’re not 100 percent sure of who
your company is and what your marketplace wants, you probably shouldn’t spend
so much on trying to create connections
between the two. You may actually succeed from time to time, but it will be more
of a lucky accident than the result of brilliant strategy.
Scott Flood creates effective copy for
companies and other organizations. You’ll
find more articles at sfwriting.com and can
read his blog at sfwriting.com/scotts-blog.
©2015 Scott Flood All rights reserved.
Spread the word and grow your business!
Business Monthly @gmail.com
Wabash Valley
Wabash Valley Business Monthly • September 2015 • page 5
Katherine Hamilton: A Legacy of Hope
Many people in the comhealth field, for this prognosis
munity are not aware of the
was borne out by time? In 1944
history of Katherine Hamilton,
my sister died of tuberculosis
not speaking of the corporation
in Evansville, Indiana, State
itself, but the woman whose
Hospital, emaciated and animal
dreams built it.
like, incommunicative, a huKatherine Hamilton dediman vegetable. At this juncture
cated 33 years of her life to
I would like to make one point
helping and understanding
clear. I have been on boards of
Stacy Totten
mental illness. She assisted in
organizations since my teens. I
have worked on drives since bethe organization and growth of
fore that, selling cookies, lemthe Vigo County Association
onade, etc, as a kid. In all the
for Mental Health. Her drive
work I have ever done, I have
and dedication to mental illness
never had to work so hard to
never ceased. While hospitalget constructive results as in the
ized in St. Louis, too ill to attend a luncheon in her honor for
field of mental health.
The apathy and lack of understanding
the Vigo County Health and Welfare Assoin respect to mental illness is abysmal.
ciation, Hamilton sent these words:
“On my twenty-fifth birthday, I was This must change. Mental illness is an
called upon to sign my twenty-seven year illness like other illnesses. It has physiold sister over to the custodial care of those cal, sociological and to a certain minimal
appointed by the State of Massachusetts extent, but no more so, probably, then tu(where she was living at that time) to care berculosis, hereditary causes. People must
for its mentally ill. I was terrified. What learn to know and accept it. Roosevelt’s
would happen to her, whom I had teased polio spurred on the March of Dimes,
and badgered all my life, whom I had also Eisenhower’s heart attack gave the Heart
deeply loved? Would they, could they, Association a terrific boost. Let’s not wait
those people, help this person to whom I until one of our president’s has a manic
could no longer come close because we no depressive attack before we all get on the
longer spoke the same language, no longer bandwagon and give mental illness the attention its importance warrants.”
lived in the same world?
Today Hamilton Center, Inc. (HCI)
I was soon to learn that they could not.
They could neither help her, nor did they carries on her legacy in attempt to bring
have the least idea why she had become a new light to mental illness. Since her
ill. They came to me for answers to their death in 1961, her vison became a reality.
countless questions. What had she been Hamilton’s efforts have helped to build a
like as a child? When and how had her be- community mental health system coverhavior changed? Did I have any clues as to ing 10 counties in West Central Indiana.
why this happened? In the end the summa- Hamilton Center, Inc. was opened in Terre
tion was simple: ‘Diagnosis, schizophre- Haute, Indiana in 1971.
Following the success of HCI in Vigo
nia. Recommendations, none. Prognosis,
County, leadership realized that the desteady downhill course.’
“Do you wonder that I have had for mand for professionals in the mental
the thirty-three intervening years and avid health field was needed elsewhere. Haminterest in the development of the mental ilton Center, Inc. has grown to become a
part of Clay, Greene, Hendricks, Marion,
Owen, Parke, Putnam, Sullivan, and Vermillion Counties in Indiana. HCI employs
over 500 people and serves over 13,000
consumers annually. “Building Hope and
Changing Lives.”
Stacey is a Public Relations Manager
for Hamilton Center, Inc.
24 Hour Emergency Access
(800) 742-0787
Building Hope, Changing Lives
www.hamiltoncenter.org
page 6 • Wabash Valley Business Monthly • September 2015
Your Words Have the Power to Help Build a Community
By Tracie Yelich
entrepreneur needs to hear to
take their new technology to the
I recently had a young pernext level.
son with a passion to start her
Some classic excuses as to
own business in my office. She
why we find it difficult to be
was putting together a business
an encourager are time conplan so she could visit a bank
straints, we get so bogged down
to seek financing. I asked her
with our daily obligations we
if she had a strong support netmay sometimes miss the goldTracie Yelich
work, she hesitated and indien opportunity to encourage or
cated she had not told her family yet. She guide someone desperate to hear our input
explained that they wouldn’t ‘get it.’ She and words of influence. Professionalism is
said, “I come to you for my encourage- another waning excuse. We ‘preach’ being
professional to all our small business ownment.”
Comments like the one I just described ers, but just because we are professionals
help to paint a big picture. Each of us in is not an excuse that someone cannot simour own individual entity within the re- ply be nice. Social media is not as much
markable Wabash Valley business net- as an excuse but a platform in which we
work, has the ability to build up or tear hide behind to be excessively negative and
down those we come in contact with, on a oftentimes nasty regarding a local busidaily basis. This consequently, has an im- ness. Don’t be a cyber-business bully and
pact on the entire business structure of our be the one quick to fire off a critical email
or Facebook post filled with criticism. Recommunities.
One word of encouragement can some- member, a human being is at the other end
times change the outlook or course for of that ‘send’ and ‘post’ button.
This doesn’t mean that constructive
many entrepreneurs. Your positive feedback may possibly give the owner of a criticism is not sometimes warranted or
small restaurant, the hope that they can go that there won’t be situations in which
on and that they can keep working to make negative decision or response need to be
their business grow and succeed. One conveyed. We all know that commercial
word might be just the spark that a young lenders can’t always say yes and real es-
Savioa’s Pizza has been a family owned business since 1979. There has been a location in Paris, Illinois since 1984. They recently decided to expand into the Terre
Haute market. They have an extensive menu of award winning pizza, delicious
sandwiches, appetizers, pastas, and salads. Savioa’s won Best Pizza in Edgar County (IL) in 2013. The Terre Haute Savioa’s Pizza is open Tuesday - Saturday 11am to
10pm, and Sunday 12pm to 5pm, and is located at 727 Wabash Avenue.
tate transactions will not always work out.
It is a fact that businesses close, prototypes
don’t always make it to the assembly line,
and not every entrepreneur creates a Fortune 500 company.
People are human and make mistakes.
An employee may need to be confronted
for errors or not complying with company
policy. Communicating effectively is the
key. When John D. Rockefeller ran the
Standard Oil Company one of his senior
executives made a mistake that cost over
two million dollars. Before Rockefeller
met with the man, he took a notepad and
wrote across the top, “Points in favor of
this man.” Under which he listed the man’s
strengths, including how he had once
helped the company make the right decisions that helped it to earn millions of dollars. So, the validity in ripping him apart
for a mistake seemed invalid.
Before
speaking, sit down and make a list of the
positive about a person or situation. By doing this, you will approach the issue with
the right attitude and won’t say things you
will later regret.
Hostile business environments, fierce
dog-eat-dog competition still exists even
in our politically correct environment. It
is a tough world out there. We can help
to ease the blow of people we hope to see
succeed by offering our encouragement
and support. The world needs less critics,
fewer naysayers and more cheerleaders.
At the West Central Indiana Small
Business Development Center we have often been classified as the ‘cheerleaders’ for
small businesses. We applaud them, guide
them, listen to their problems, help find solutions and offer words of encouragement.
We try to keep our clients grounded and
help them to be realistic by offering advice
with facts to validate, even if the answer
isn’t what they wanted to hear. We cautiously advise so not to give false hope;
but also, being careful to not deflate the
dreams of those we come in contact with.
So, how about you? Do your words
build up or tear down? Make it a habit to
send emails of encouragement to a business in the community that you appreciate.
Make sure accolades are given. Awards
shouldn’t be a political maneuver, they
should be sincere. Recognition with words
of validation is a priority for a strong, thriving community. Don’t expect businesses to
be formed, grow and thrive if owners are
simply barraged with negativity. One word
makes a huge difference. Be encouraged.
And therefore, be an encourager.
Congratulations to ISU on being Ranked #1 in civic engagement!
Photo courtesy of Indiana State University
Wabash Valley Business Monthly • September 2015 • page 7
SEPTEMBER 2015
terrehautechamber.com
Businesses, Individuals Recognized at
Chamber’s 102nd Annual Meeting
Members of the Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce
filled Hulman Center on August 26 for the 102nd
Annual Meeting featuring the presentation of five
prestigious business awards and keynote presentation
by sports writer and commentator Seth Davis. A
crowd of over 750 community business leaders and
professionals were on hand to celebrate the evening.
The following individuals and companies were
recognized: Barbara “Boo” Lloyd was presented with the
ATHENA Leadership Award, sponsored Saint Mary-ofthe-Woods College and driven by Fuson Automotive;
Vigo County School Corporation was honored with
Vision A Level Above sponsored by Indiana State
University; Courtney Richey received recognition
as the Young Leader of the Year, sponsored by Terre
Haute Young Leaders with scholarship support from
the Wabash Valley Leadership Institute; Saint Mary-ofthe-Woods College received the inaugural Community
Health and Wellness Champion, sponsored by Fifth
Third Bank; and Dorsett Automotive was recognized
as the this year’s Business A Level Above recipient,
sponsored by Vectren. The suite of awards was
sponsored by the Tribune-Star Publishing Company.
“The individuals and businesses honored tonight
are all incredibly deserving of the recognition,” stated
Chamber President David Haynes. “Whether it is
their commitment of time or resources, they all have
contributed to building the community and helping
make Terre Haute a great place to live, work and do
business.”
In addition, the evening also featured a keynote
presentation from Seth Davis, writer for Sports
Illustrated magazine and an in-studio analyst for CBS’
NCAA men’s college basketball coverage. He is also
the author of two books with deep ties to Terre Haute
and Indiana Basketball, When March Went Mad and
Wooden: A Coach’s Life.
“We were honored tonight to have Seth Davis at
this year’s event,” stated Haynes. “His passion for sports
and life, as well as his extensive knowledge of Terre
Haute’s basketball history was conveyed in his speech
tonight.”
Established in 1913, the Terre Haute Chamber of
Commerce has been and always will be, committed to
creating a community that is a great place to live, work
and do business. Its mission is to preserve, protect and
promote a business friendly environment free of obstacles
to growth and development.
Below, a crowd gathers for the VIP Reception, sponsored by Kemper CPA Group and Clabber Girl.
Upcoming Events
Business After Hours
September 10
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College
Lunch with Senator Donnelly
September 14
The Ohio Building
Business After Hours
with the Sycamores
September 30
Indiana Theatre
BIZ Seminar Series
Tax Amnesty 2015
September 14 @ 10am
HIP Link
September 22 @ 9am
Presented by:
Regional Workplace Wellness
Mayoral Debate
October 20
Indiana Theatre
Top 12 Under 40
November 10
Sycamore Banquet Center
New Members
The Chamber welcomed the
folllowing new members in August:
Butler’s Pantry Food Co.
Dentistry Just for Kids
Kevin-Roger Maher Contracting
Repeat Music
For more information about how to
join the Chamber, please contact
Katie Shane, Membership Director at
(812) 232-2391 or via email
[email protected]
An insert of the Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Wabash Valley Business Monthly.
page 8 • Wabash Valley Business Monthly • September 2015
Grocers: A Competitive Marketplace
Competition of where people spend
their food dollar in the Terre Haute area
is growing. The move of Meijer into town
and Fresh Thyme under construction has
put the already existing grocery stores on
their tippy toes.
While it may appear we have more gro-
cery stores now than ever before, one must
take a step back and look at our history.
Standing the test of time in Terre Haute is
Baesler’s Market, founded in 1894. Jump
back 100 years and the landscape was different. “There used to be a grocery store
on every corner. At that time they were not
supermarkets, they were meat markets or
grocery stores,” Baesler’s Market Owner
Bob Baesler said.
Keys to Success: Cleanliness &
Customer Service
In recent years, we have had a couple
of the IGAs shut their doors. “One of the
biggest advantages we have is so many
of these independent retailers that have
closed or sold out, let their facilities get
run down,” Baesler said. Even having
excellent customer service and competitive pricing will not keep you open if your
store’s appearance is sub-par. The reality
is, people may judge a store based on a first
impression. Baesler said that was his argument to the bank at their former location
on South 25th Street. “There were chicken
coops that were in better shape than our
store. It was awful,” Baesler recalled. All
Fresh Thyme Farmers Market
Locally Owned & Operated
Baesler’s Market
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three Kroger stores and Baesler’s Market
have gone under serious renovations in the
past two years. “Meijer is not going to put
us out of business because we have an up
to date facility. If we had a lousy facility it
would be a lot easier,” Baesler said.
If you have a lousy facility but great
employees, you might be able to stay in the
game longer. Baesler said he spent two decades thinking he could teach an unfriendly person to be friendly after hiring them.
He later came to realize it was the work of
good parents who made friendly employees. “Our greatest asset is our employees.
We have been blessed,” Baesler added.
Baesler believes Kroger employees would
like to be just as friendly, but their stores
do not schedule enough help to allow the
employees the time to be as friendly. “Fortunately for us, the larger stores feel they
can increase their profitability by lowering
their costs. Labor is 50% of your cost. That
is the easiest thing to adjust when you are
trying to be more profitable,” Baesler said.
Wabash Valley Business Monthly • September 2015 • page 9
Fresh Natural Foods Takes a
Slice
Meijer offers more than 600 varieties
of farm-fresh produce and a full-service
meat department. “We are pleased to bring
a fresh option to our neighbors in Terre
Haute and its surrounding communities,”
said Co-Chairman Hank Meijer. Meijer
went on to say the new supercenter represents their ongoing commitment to help
provide a healthier, balanced lifestyle
for anyone who steps through their door.
Fresh Thyme that is slated to open next
year also has the aim to help improve the
way communities eat by providing healthy
food at healthy values. “As we’ve expanded the Midwest markets our offerings have
complemented existing grocery shopping
options and helped people transition to a
healthier lifestyle. We’re very excited to
be joining the Terre Haute community and
look forward to meeting our new neighbors,” said Chris Sherrell, CEO of Fresh
Thyme.
Kroger Spokesman John Elliott says
for 11 consecutive years natural foods has
seen double-digit growth, compounding
on previous years. Kroger’s Simple Truth
brand launched two years ago. Simple
Truth products are free from 101 artificial
preservatives and ingredients that customers told them they didn’t want in their
foods. “There was very strong customer
push back prior to the launch of Simple
Truth. People just didn’t trust what they
were finding in various retail stores,” Elliott said. In the past two years, the Simple Truth brand went from zero dollars in
sales to 1.2 billion dollars in sales in the
second year. “Consumers pay a lot more
attention to what is on the packaging. They
hold retailers accountable for the food they
eat, more than ever before,” Elliott added.
Baesler’s Market offers a comparative
brand to Simple Truth called Wild Harvest.
At the time of publication, Wild Harvest
had 121 ingredients they do not allow in
their products.
Grocery Competitors
In the 1950’s consumers spent 75%
of their food dollar in grocery stores. By
2013, Americans spent only 52.6% of their
food dollar in grocery stores. Competition does not just come from new grocery
stores, but restaurants as well. If you are
going out to eat, then you do not need to
buy as many groceries to prepare food at
home.
Additionally, dollar store chains are
gaining a considerable amount of the grocery market share. Dollar stores are filling
the aisles with nationally known brands
that lure in both the low-income shoppers
and the thrifty higher-income households.
“At Dollar General 60% of their items are
consumable items, which are the same
items we sell. They are the biggest thorn in
a supermarkets side because of the amount
of consumables they are selling,” Baesler
said.
Convenience stores like CVS and Walgreens continue to increase their amount of
consumables on the shelves too. They have
been playing up the fact that consumers can
get necessitates and get and out of the store
quickly. “One of our biggest advantages is
our store size. Older people don’t have the
energy to shop a 200,000 square foot store
with a 15-acre parking lot. The younger
people don’t have the time,” Baesler said.
Full lines of groceries are even finding
their way into hardware stores like Menards. Additionally, Menards carries a full
array of Proctor and Gamble products to
keep every room of your house tidy.
Successful Strategies
There is no better time to be a consumer as competition heats up. Earlier this
Meijer
month Kroger launched an online ordering service at their store in Carmel, Indiana. Customers can place an order online
and pick it up at the store. Furthermore, to
get consumers to see them more as a restaurant, Kroger has installed mini eating
spaces. “Our food stores have become destination restaurants where a customer can
eat in, but they also can get home cooked
quality meals to go,” Elliott said. Baesler’s
Market recently added a few picnic tables
outside and a couple tables and a bar inside for folks wanting to enjoy items from
their hot and cold bar immediately. It allows workers on their lunch hour to enjoy
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their lunch away from the office without
consuming a chain fast food meal.
When Meijer decided to carry Certified Angus Beef, a long time product at
Baesler’s Market, they took it up a notch
and now offer their customers Dry Aged
Beef. “If it is true competition makes you
stronger then we should be getting stronger all the time because we are getting
more and more competition all the time,”
Baesler said. People don’t have more
money to spend on food; the pie is divided
into more pieces. Happy shopping and remember to spend your food dollar where
it counts.
Dave McKimmy
Independent Branch Leader
and Financial Consultant
Terre Haute Independent Branch
4830 S. Highway 41
Terre Haute, IN 47802
(812) 234-1400
schwab.com/terrehaute
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SPECIFICATIONS
page 10 • Wabash Valley Business Monthly • September 2015
What is Next Step?
A family of committed staff and volunteers.
Next Step is a faith-based recovery
community that provides housing and
programs to those that are serious about
overcoming their addiction to drugs and
alcohol.
Next Step was founded in 2011 to
provide housing, education and individual support to women seeking to recover
from addiction. The program
started in the former Washington Ave. Presbyterian Church in
Farrington’s Grove and has expanded to include a men’s house,
women’s transitional housing,
a coffee shop (The Meeting
Grounds) and a childcare program (Little Steps).
Next Step provides a rigorous, structured and individualized program of support that
focuses on providing the tools
necessary for long-term recovClasses in personal growth provide tools for
lasting recovery.
Call tom bush for a Free Estimate
(219) 331-0233
Serving Central and Southern Indiana
ery; not just sobriety. Over 10 classes are
offered each week to residents, graduates and family members. Classes offer
hands-on learning for personal growth and
life-skill development. Personal growth
classes such as Boundaries and It Takes
Courage provide the skills necessary to set
limits, communicate effectively and manage relationships. Life-skill classes such as
money management, job coaching, parenting and nutrition teach the skills necessary
to successfully manage life in recovery.
Faith development is a large part of
the Next Step program and residents have
multiple Bible Studies they can participate
in throughout the week and on Sundays
they can join in church services right in the
Meeting Grounds, where Grace Community Church is now holding services.
The key to the success of Next Step is
COMMUNITY; both the community created by the dozens of women and men involved in the program who support each
other and the support provided by the local
community through all the volunteers who
give of their time and talents and those
who stop by to have a cup of coffee.
The organization is a 501c3 non-profit
and funds are provided through church,
business and individual donations, as well
as fundraising events.
Next Step hosts two community fund-
Drink a latte, save a life!
raising events each year; a Passover Dinner Benefit in April and a 1k Recovery
Walk and Pancake Breakfast on September 12th from 8 to 11 AM, where the local
community can come and participate in
fun and fellowship while hearing the testimonies of those whose lives have been
transformed through their recovery journey.
Left: Next Step, on the corner of 6th and Washington.
Wabash Valley Business Monthly • September 2015 • page 11
Blues At The Crossroads
back to local Vigo County aspiring musicians in the Vigo County School Corporation. Last year 15 to 20 guitars, and music
lessons for a year were given to selected
students in hopes they would see their musical aspirations to fruition. This year if
you come out to Blues At The Crossroads
on Saturday Sept. 12th at 3:30pm you will
be able to see if all their hard work and
practice has paid off. This year the same
opportunity will be given to a new round
of young people looking to further their
journey in the music world.
Connie Wrin and her crew have Blues
At The Crossroads running like a “welloiled” machine. They have times between
band sets down to a 15 minute turnaround
between acts. They also help musicians
load in, and load out equipment, have massage therapists on hand, and all the bands
are fed excellent food to make sure they
put on the best possible show for all in attendance. This year on Friday night folks
will be able to see: “Henthorn/Feaster”,
“Blind Mississippi Morris”, “Mike Milligan and Steam Shovel” from 6pm-1am.
Saturday night includes acts like: “Moonshine Junction”, “Eric Steckel”, “Tweed
Funk”, “Samantha Fish”, “The Jeremiah
Johnson Band”, and closing out the night
with “Freekbass” from Cincinnati, Ohio.
Connie says,”she is most looking forward
to seeing “Freekbass” this year.” When
I asked Connie if she had a dream blues
act to play the show she immediately said
“Jonny Lang” on the blues realm, but any
type musical act would be “Mumford &
Sons” or “The Dave Matthews Band.”
Saturday’s entertainment runs from 3pm1am.
A new addition this year is the “Silent
Disco” where music lovers will be able
to listen to a live club DJ playing dance
music under the tent on Friday & Saturday
nights from 9pm-1am on wireless headsets. The catch with a “Silent Disco” is
that you will see people dancing to what
seems like silence, but those with wireless headphones on will know the beats
that are making them move on the dance
floor. There will be a kid friendly “Silent
Disco” for all those under the age of 16 on
Saturday night from 5pm-7pm with “kid
friendly” lyrics. There is also a second
stage inside “The Verve” that runs inside
with different musical acts at the same
time as the outdoor festival each night for
those 21 years of age and over. You never
know what you might see at “Blues At
The Crossroads.” A few years ago a couple specifically scheduled their wedding
date to be on the Saturday of the festival,
and Connie reserved a table for the happy
couple to enjoy their wedding reception in
downtown Terre Haute.
The admission cost is $10 daily for
anybody over 16 years of age, however
kids 16 and under get in free of charge.
There are half price discounts for ISU Students, faculty, and staff with a valid ISU
ID, as well as half price discounts for Military, Fire Fighters, and Police. Downtown
Terre Haute comes alive on September
11th, and 12th this year. It’s a must attend
for anybody that loves music and people
walk out the door on your way
School has started and
to work. It gives you an instant
schedules have changed. Feelvisual that states what is in store
ing frantic to get it all together
for your day. I like to do this at
and scheduled? You are not
work as well. GIANT calendar
alone. Those in the work force
with each event posted so I see
relish and regret all at once this
it each morning and evening. It
time of year. Time manageworks for me. If your schedule
ment is essential at work and
is scattered but the same every
at home. There is much to be
Jaymie Wood
week, maybe designate certain
learned from those around us.
days for certain tasks. PaperEspecially those we work with.
Many have great organizational and time work done on Tuesdays, meetings schedmanagement skills. Finding the time to or- uled all day for Mondays and Wednesdays,
ganize it all can become the tricky part! At etc. Sometimes we do not have the luxury
the start of the school year get everyone’s of time management. Sometimes our jobs
schedules, especially if they are in any require a lot of spur of the moment activitype of extra curricular activities. Find an ties. So being flexible to sudden change
eye catching calendar, and color code each may be imperative. Also especially if you
child’s activity as you add to the calendar. have children! Remember that all your
Yes, I know, phones have these devices as family is going through a brief adjustment.
well. Sometimes it is best to see it as you Everything will calm back down shortly
if it hasn’t already. These biannual shifts
can be stressful for all of us. Some things
to keep in mind as you move forward this
school year; Take time to talk to the children and see how their days are going,
make sure they are adjusting to the new
grade level or new friends. If at all possible
eat dinner or breakfast or both with them. It
really does make a difference. If you have
younger children or even older, read with
them or to them. It really will help them in
school and in their social lives. Reading is
important for all of us. However the most
important part of reading is that you are
doing it together. Do not forget that as you
have stress at the office or worksite, they
have stress at school. Have a great school
year!
Jaymie Wood is Deputy Director of the
FSA Counseling Center located at 1111
Wabash Avenue in Terre Haute.
By Matt Luecking
Chances are if you’ve spent any time in
Terre Haute you have heard of “The Blues
At The Crossroads Festival.” For the past
14 years, with this being the 15th, anywhere from 2,000 to 8,000 patrons have
visited downtown Terre Haute annually in
September. It’s a nice boost to area hotels
as you can’t find a room at the Candlewood Suites or The Hilton in downtown
Terre Haute, as these places typically sell
out a few months before this annual event.
This year the “Blues At The Crossroads
Festival” takes place on Friday Sept. 11th
and Saturday Sept. 12th. It’s an event that
almost didn’t take place 15 years ago due
to the tragedy of 9/11/01. It’s a day that
we will never forget in American history
for the vicious attacks on our soil. The first
“Blues At The Crossroads” was a few days
after 9/11, and many residents of the Wabash Valley were reeling, and not sure if a
celebration was in order. If not for Reverend Mullen coming over from a downtown
church and talking to the recently opened
Verve owner, Connie Wrin, and saying
“The community needs this right now” the
course of history for Blues At The Crossroads could have been much different.
Fast forward the clock 15 years later,
and now The Blues At The Crossroads
Festival is giving back to the community in
a big way. The past couple of years Connie Wrin has been partnering with the ISU
Community School Of The Arts to give
The Crisis Pregnancy Center is now
open at 530 Wabash Avenue in Ellis
Place. They have combined their two
Terre Haute locations into one 7,000
square feet space. This allows them to
better serve their clients by having all
of their meetings, classes, medical exams and screenings in one location. For
more information, you can visit their
website at WabashValleyPregnancy.com
School’s back and Schedules are Changing
watching in the Wabash Valley. For those
that like to sit while listening to all the musicians, lawn chairs are permissible, and
encouraged from those who plan to attend.
Connie Wrin plans to keep the tradition of
“Blues At The Crossroads” going for many
years to come. Mark your calendars for
September 9th, and 10th, 2016 if you like
to plan ahead. For more information about
Blues at the Crossroads check out their
website at www.bluesatthecrossroads.com
for September 11th and September 12th
2015 in downtown Terre Haute.
Matt Luecking is Owner/Operator of
Showtime Music Mobile DJ Service, and
the Afternoon Radio Host on B92.7 Radio Station WFNB from 3pm-8pm weekday afternoons. Matt can be reached at
[email protected] or mluecking@
th.emmis.com.
Spread the word & GROW your business!
For The Great Job You Do
This Buds For You
Email: [email protected] or call 812-201-3919
page 12 • Wabash Valley Business Monthly • September 2015
Agri-Business
Sponsored by First Farmer’s Bank & Trust
A revitalized Downtown Paris Farmers’ Market is currently in its first season in
the Paris, IL community thanks to a partnership between the Paris Area Chamber
of Commerce and the Edgar County Farm
Bureau with support from the Edgar County Health Department. The First Farmer’s
Bank & Trust is the exclusive sponsor of
the event for the 2015 summer season.
Following a public meeting, held earlier this year, to discuss the future of the
failing market a DPFM committee was
formed. The committee includes chairman
Kevin Augustus, Bob Wilson, Dan Becher,
Paula Marrs, Kris Book of the Edgar County Farm Bureau and Kathy Rhoads, executive director with the Paris Area Chamber
of Commerce. The committee oversees
the weekly event and will determine the
end date for this year’s market. During the
public meeting, a large
group of residents from
the Paris community expressed a strong desire to
continue the market and
the committee decided to
rebuild and restructure the
setup of the local farmers’
market. The weekly market began June 6 and will
continue through September.
New, to the market,
this year has been live
entertainment provided
by several appearances of
the Coon Holler Kids. The
popular musical group of
talented area youngsters
will perform again on Saturday, Sept. 19, in downtown Paris. In addition to
fruits, vegetables, farm fresh eggs and meat, the
new market also includes several vendors offering homemade items such as soaps, quilts, baked
goods, jewelry and fresh flowers from a local florist.
There have been numerous bake sales, a mobile pizza oven and fresh made kettle corn available, at the market, on Saturday mornings in
downtown Paris also. The DPFM committee also
made the decision to eliminate vendor fees for the
season to generate interest in the event.
“I think that encourages people who don’t
(sell) on a larger scale to be involved; people who
sell from time to time during the summer, or who
like to bake but don’t want a big commitment,”
said Edgar County Farm Bureau Manager Kristine Book.
“Our motto is, if you make it, bake it, raise it
or sell it, we want it!” Kathy Rhoads of the Chamber said. “We want this to be a Saturday morning event for families to not just
come shopping, but to bring their
lawn chairs and listen to the entertainment, or do some of the
other fun things we’ll have going
on throughout the summer.”
Returning vendors will include the Kohlmeyer family, L &
A Family Farms and Marrs baked
items.
“We have offered tomatoes,
green beans, corn, pumpkins,
squash, cucumbers, sweet corn
and a large variety of summertime favorites,” Erika Kohlmeyer
said about some the selection they
bring during the market’s season,
noting that her family grows the
crops together as a hobby in a 1.8
acre garden. The family has also
utilized a greenhouse that will allow them have a head start on some
of their crop selection.
L & A Family Farms provides
fresh farm eggs, meats, vegetables,
noodles and baked goods, along
with jams.
There will also be a variety of
bake sales and lunches throughout
the season from
all types of notfor-profit organizations, such as
churches and local sports teams.
“We
welcome any type
of non-for-profit
organization to
use our venue as
a place to host
their fundraiser,”
Rhoads added.
The
Chamber
of Commerce is
hopeful many downtown businesses will
be open during the market as well, encouraging sales beyond the limits of the
Square. “We’re just hoping that everything
goes well this summer, and we’re hoping
that it builds on itself so next summer it’s
even bigger and better,” Book said.
For information about submitting a
vendor application for the Paris Downtown Farmer’s Market, or for those interested in performing at the market, contact
Rhoads at (217) 465-4179, or Book at
(217) 465-8511.
Wabash Valley Business Monthly • September 2015 • page 13
There was a ribbon
cutting for the new
downtown
student
housing located on the
500 Block of Wabash
Ave in Terre Haute.
This project is another key to the revitalization of downtown
Terre Haute. The upper 4 floors is leased
by Indiana State University for Student
Housing. Currently,
the first tenant is Crisis Pregnancy Center
on the east end of the
building and is currently operating in
the location. Developer, Thompson Thrift
hopes to be able to announce additional tenants in the near future.
Zeliha’s Barber Shop had a ribbon cutting in early August. Zeliha’s is located at
1218 Wabash Avenue in Terre Haute.
page 14 • Wabash Valley Business Monthly • September 2015
Local Gov’t Public Meeting Schedule
City of Terre Haute
All City of Terre Haute
meetings are held at the Vigo
County Court Hause located
at 17 Harding St., Terre Haute,
IN 47807 unless otherwise
noted.
City Council, City Council
Room Sunshine Meeting (1st
Thursday of every month),
6pm
Regular Council Meeting (2nd Thursday of every
month), 6pm
Board of Public Works and
Safety - Location: Board of
Public Works and Safety Conference Room (2nd and 4th
Monday of every month), 2pm
Redevelopment Commission - Board of Public Works
and Safety Conference Room
(3rd Wednesday of every
month), 4pm
City Board of Zoning Appeals - Vigo County Commissioners Conference Room.
Vigo County Annex. Vigo
County Annex is located at
650 South 1st St. (1st Wednesday of every month). 9am
Vigo County Meetings
All Vigo County meetings
are held at the Vigo County
Annex located 650 South 1st
St., Terre Haute, IN 47807 unless otherwise indicated.
Area Planning Commission
- Vigo County Council Chambers, Vigo County Annex, 650
South 1st St. (1st Wednesday
of every month). 7pm
County Board of Zoning
Appeals - (2nd Wednesday of
every month). 10am
County Commissioners Attorney Meeting - Vigo County
Commissioners Conference
Room. Vigo County Annex
(1st Tuesday of every month),
9am
County
Commissioners
Appeals Board Vigo County
Commissioners Conference
Room. Vigo County Annex
(1st Monday of the month if
any appeals are to be heard)
10am
Vigo County Council Meeting Vigo County Council
Chambers Vigo County Annex (2nd Tuesday of every
month). 5pm
Park Board Meeting - Vigo
County Council Chambers
Vigo County Annex (4th
Monday of every month). 4pm
Vigo County Coordinating
Council Booker T. Washington Center - 1101 South 13th
St. (3rd Wednesday of every
month). 8:30am
Clay County Meetings
Clay County Commissioners Meeting - Commissioners
Room - Clay County Courthouse (1st Monday of Every
Month). 9am
Clay County Council Meeting - Commissioners Room,
Clay County Courthouse (1st
Monday of Every Month).
6pm
Drainage Board Meeting Commissioners Room, Cloy
County Courthouse (1st Monday of Every Month). 11 am
City of Brazil Meetings
Board of Works Meeting
Council Room - Brazil City
Hall (2nd & 4th Wednesday
of Every Month) 10am
City Council Meeting Council Room, Brazil City
Hall (2nd Wednesday of Every Month) 7pm
Pork Board Meeting -
Council Room, Brazil City
Hall (2nd Tuesday of Every
Month). 6:30pm
Sullivan County Meetings
Sullivan County Commissioners Meeting - Commissioners Room, Sullivan
County Courthouse (1st &
3rd Monday of Every Month)
7pm
Sullivan County Council Meeting Commissioners Room, Sullivan Country
Courthouse (4th Tuesday of
Every Month). 3:30pm
City of Sullivan Meetings
Board of Public Works City Hall - (1st Tuesday of
Every Month). 5:30pm
Common Council - City
Hall (2nd Tuesday of Every
Month). 7pm
Zoning Board - City Hall
(4th Thursday of Every
Month). 6:30pm
Plan Commission - City
Hall (4th Thursday of Every
Month). 7pm
Park Board Meeting - City
Hall (3rd Monday of Every
Month). 5:45pm
Redevelopment Commission - City Hall (2nd Tuesday
of Every Month). 6pm
City of Clinton Meetings
Board of Public Works &
Safety - 3rd Tuesday of each
month @ 6:30pm
City Council - 3rd Tuesday
of each month @ 7:30pm
Park Board - 3rd Monday
of each month @ 7pm
Redevelopment - 2nd
Wednesday of each month @
5:30
All City of Clinton meetings are held at City Hall located at 259 Vine Street, Clinton, IN 47842
You can
send your
information to
over 4,000
area
businesses
by advertising
in the
Wabash
Valley
Business
Monthly
Find out more,
contact Jason
at: 812-201-3919
Business Monthly
Wabash Valley
@gmail.com
Wabash Valley Business Monthly • September 2015 • page 15
Business Monthly
Wabash Valley
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
September 5th:
Indiana State Football vs Butler 3pm – Memorial Stadium
Alabama Street Party 6pm – Brazil, IN
September 12th
Next Step Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser 8am to 11am
– The Meeting Grounds 1400 S 6th St
September 13th
CASA KIDS Family Bash on the Wabash 10:30 am
September 18th
Marshall, IL Autumn Fest 5pm
September 19th
Marshall, IL Autumn Fest 7:30 am
Indiana State Football vs SE Missouri St. 3pm
– Memorial Stadium
2nd Annual Hoosier Championship Demolition Derby 5pm
– Vermillion County Fairgrounds
September 20th
Marshall, IL Autumn Fest 9:00 am
September 21st
Artrageous by The Three Painters 7:30 pm - Tilson Auditorium
September 24th
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy 7:30 pm – Hatfield Hall
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page 16 • Wabash Valley Business Monthly • September 2015
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