By Alan Wolf, YSN
Schomacker’s Home Galleries, a BrandSource member in Luverne, Minn., is no stranger to in-store events.
Last year, for example, the 11-year-old appliance, flooring, mattress and full-service cleaning business was once again the last stop on its town’s annual Wine Walk. The traffic-driving event benefitted a downtown improvement project and drew a bevy of would-be customers who partook in a Schomacker’s sales promotion as well as its chardonnay.
See: Schomacker’s Walks the Walk
Last week the company held a special event of its own that dovetailed with AVB Marketing’s Customer Appreciation promotion. Leveraging the buying group’s three-day appliance and bedding sale, Shomacker’s sought a synergistic effect by simultaneously staging an in-store Chili Cook-Off Fundraiser in support of four local organizations. For a suggested donation of $5 (and anything extra for the tip jars), guests could sample three different chili recipes by principals Randy, Tony and Joe Schomacker, or select from a variety of baked goods provided by matriarch Sharon Schomacker, including cookies, cupcakes, muffins and cinnamon rolls.
According to the dealer’s live Facebook feed and a Facebook post by the Luverne Area Chamber of Commerce, all donations went directly to the four local groups, with the baked goods benefitting Rock County Red Arrow, a clearinghouse for charity funds; and the chili sales supporting The Palace Theatre’s sign-brightening effort; the Luverne Area Chamber’s operating fund; and the purchase of janitorial equipment for the Good Samaritan Society.
Schomacker’s was founded by Randy and Sharon in 2009 as an office cleaning business. Its carpet cleaning services served as an entrée into the flooring business, which was followed by expansions into appliances and bedding under their son, CFO and Minnesota state representative Joe.
BrandSource and AVB Marketing are divisions of YSN parent AVB Inc.