Mohawk Names ColorCenter Dealer of the Year
The retailer, which has stores in Milbank and Watertown, South Dakota, was selected from among nearly 2000 Mohawk ColorCenter stores nationwide as the dealership that most completely executed the concepts and ideas behind the Mohawk ColorCenter Concept.
The Mohawk ColorCenter program was begun in 1974, and includes exceptional dealers around the nation who want to give their customers better merchandise selection and improve their business and professional practices.
Hanson Furniture and Carpet was singled out for the Dealer of the Year Award based on a number of criteria set up by Mohawk, including sales growth, consumer experiences, promotion and installation ideas, commitment to training and addressing customer expectations, community involvement, and excellence in promoting the store concept.
“Jim Hanson and his family are great retailers,” said Manny Llerena, vice president of retail marketing for Mohawk. “More importantly, they are great people to have as part of your community. When you look at what the Hansons have done, you see immediately they live up to the motto on their business cards--‘once a customer, always a friend.’”
“It’s something you work for, but you never dream it could happen to you,” said Jim Hanson about his Dealer of the Year award. “I know I didn’t thank everyone I should have when I accepted the award because I was so surprised, but we are extremely grateful for our staff and the many other people who have helped us achieve this success.”
Hanson Furniture and Carpet has built a strong reputation for itself, and is known especially for its Holiday Extravaganza, an annual event during the Christmas season where the store is opened for a community festival. People travel from throughout the region to attend this event, which includes participation from more than 20 other area organizations and merchants. There are even collectors of the commemorative wine glasses for each year’s event.
“Jim Hanson has made his store more than just a retail resource,” Llerena. “He has made it part of Milbank, and we are proud to honor Jim and his family as our Mohawk ColorCenter Dealer of the Year.
Jim began in the furniture and carpet business in 1977. The Milbank store features over 30,000 square feet of flooring and home furnishings including brands such as Mohawk, La-Z-Boy, Restonic, Chromcraft, and Noritage. The store became a Mohawk ColorCenter dealer in 2003.
“We were at the position where we either had to do something better with flooring or get out of the business,” Hanson said. “Ever since we purchased the business, we’ve kept the hammers going with improvements and new ideas to keep things fresh and to keep customers interested. When we saw the Mohawk ColorCenter program, we knew that’s where we needed to go.”
Hanson said that switching from the basic flooring department to Mohawk ColorCenter made an immediate difference. “Customers use to spend fifteen minutes in the department, just long enough to grab a few samples. Now we have people who’ll stay for two or three hours to make the right flooring selection for their homes,” he said.
Sales also benefited. In three years, flooring sales have more than doubled, with steady increases each year.
In addition, Hanson Furniture and Carpet opened a second store in nearby Watertown, SD in 2006, which features a Mohawk ColorCenter Elite system--one of only a few stores in the state to offer this. Chad Hanson, Jim’s son, manages the Watertown store.
The Mohawk ColorCenter Elite program is the next step for Mohawk ColorCenter dealers who want to significantly enhance their store’s presence in the marketplace.
Related Topics:Mohawk Industries