WDSE WDSE WDSE WDSE WDSE WDSE KEN: MOVING, THE U-HAUL.

WE’VE ALL DONE IT.

IT IS STRESSFUL.

♪ KEN: AH, MOVING.

THE U-HAUL.

WE’VE ALL DONE IT.

HAD TO RELOCATE.

IT IS STRESSFUL.

IT IS NOT EASY.

YOU’VE GOT TO GET SOME FRIENDS TOGETHER, TAKE TIME OFF WORK, RENT ONE OF THESE LIKE FROM DEREK’S RENTAL HERE IN WEST DULUTH, AND YOU ARE OWN OF THE MOVE.

IT IS SO STRESSFUL THAT IN 2020 A ONE POLL SURVEY INTERVIEWED 1000 PEOPLE AND THE NUMBER ONE QUESTION ONE OF THE MOST STRESSFUL THING, 45%, MOVING.

THAT SAYS SOMETHING BECAUSE AT ONLY 1% LESS, WHEN THOUSAND PEOPLE, SAME GROUP, THE MOST STRESSFUL THING IN LIFE, SURVEY SAYS, 44%, DIVORCE.

IMAGINE GETTING DIVORCED AND HAVING TO MOVE.

BUT IMAGINE YOU ARE A BUSINESS THAT IS MOVING.

IT IS NOT JUST TAKING A COUPLE OF DAYS OFF WORK AND GETTING SOME FRIENDS TOGETHER WITH U-HAUL, YOU HAVE TO KEEP DOING BUSINESS DURING THE MOVE AND THAT IS SUPER STRESSFUL AND THAT IS WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THIS WEEK ON "IN BUSINESS."

I’M KEN BUEHLER, THINK YOU FOR JOINING US.

BUSINESSES ON THE MOVE, LITERALLY RELOCATING, WHAT IS THE STRESS LEVEL?

HOW DO YOU PREPARE, HOW DO YOU DO IT AND HOW DO YOU RECOVER FROM IT?

WE WILL TALK TO A COUPLE OF BUSINESSES THAT DID RELOCATE AND WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HOW THEY DID IT, DECIDED TO DO IT, AND WHAT THE EFFECTS WERE.

WE WILL TALK TO A MOVING PROFESSIONAL WHOSE JOB IT IS TO HELP BUSINESSES RELOCATE BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER SEAMLESSLY.

THAT IS ALL THIS WEEK ON "IN BUSINESS."

MOVING.

A FRIEND WILL HELP YOU MOVE.

A GOOD FRIEND WILL HELP YOU MOVE TO NEW JERSEY?

♪ KEN: WELCOME TO “IN BUSINESS.” I’M KEN BUEHLER.

THIS WEEK, WE’RE LOOKING AT BUSINESSES ON THE MOVE.

MOVING TO A NEW LOCATION CAN BE A BIG DECISION FOR A BUSINESS, FROM FINDING THE RIGHT SPACE TO MAKING SURE THE MOVE WORKS FOR CUSTOMERS AND EMPLOYEES.

WE’RE STARTING WITH A LOCAL MARKETING AGENCY THAT RECENTLY MOVED INTO A LOCATION WE’VE VISITED BEFORE.

LET’S TAKE A LOOK.

♪ YOU MIGHT REMEMBER THIS SPACE FROM AN EARLIER EPISODE, WE WERE JUST AROUND THE CORNER OVER THERE AT COFFIN QUARRY THEY CALLED IT AND A LOT OF WHAT THEY MINE IS ROCK WHICH WENT INTO MAKING COFFINS AND BURIAL CRYPTS AT THIS BUILDING MANY YEARS AGO.

WE WERE HERE WHEN IT WAS CEDAR AND STONE’S HEADQUARTERS WHEN WE DID AN EPISODE CALLED "THEY MAKE WHAT WHERE?"

WE ARE NOW INTERVIEWING A NEW GUEST, DAN IS THE OWNER OF WONDER HORSE, A MARKETING AND CREATIVE COMPANY THAT RELOCATED FROM DOWNTOWN DULUTH TO THIS WONDERFUL SPACE, LET’S TAKE A LOOK.

DAN IS HERE TO SHOW US AROUND HIS NEW OFFICE SPACE FOR WONDER HORSE.

TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT KIND OF WORK YOU DO.

DAN: WE ARE A BRAND WORKSHOP AND MARKETING AGENCY.

WE WORK WITH LOCAL, REGIONAL, EVEN INTERNATIONAL CLIENTS.

WHEN WE REALLY SPECIALIZE IN BRANDING, IN MARKETING CAMPAIGNS.

AND JUST REALLY INTRICATE DESIGN AND REALLY PUTTING TECHNIQUES INTO PROVIDING SOLUTIONS FOR PROBLEMS.

KEN: YOU LIKE THIS OPEN SPACE, YOU HAVE EIGHT PEOPLE ON YOUR TEAM.

DO YOU LIKE THE FLOOR PLAN?

DAN: LOVE THE FLOOR PLAN.

WHAT CREATES A BETTER SENSE OF COLLABORATION THAT AN OPEN FLOOR PLAN?

YOU WERE ABLE TO PING IDEAS OR HELP SOLVE PROBLEMS TOGETHER.

KEN: ONE THING I ALSO NAHA -- NOTICE IS YOU HAVE IN MINT MEETING PLACES.

YOU CAN SIT HERE, YOU CAN HAVE CLIENTS IN.

DAN: REALLY THESE BREAKOUT AREAS ARE FROM DEEP THINKING, FROM LOOKING AT YOUR COMPUTER SCREEN EIGHT HOURS A DAY.

AND REALLY JUST KIND OF A LITTLE GET MORE INTO MEND THE SPACE.

KEN: AND WORKING INSIDE ON A RAINY DAY IS ONE THING.

COLLABORATING OUTSIDE HAS TO BE GREAT AS WELL.

DAN: HOW DO YOU BEAT A VIEW OF THE ST.

LOUIS RIVER?

START YOUR MORNING WITH A CUP OF COFFEE AND A GOOD CONVERSATION WITH YOUR TEAM?

IT IS DULUTH, RIGHT?

DULUTH AT ITS FINEST.

KEN: HOW DID YOU FIND THIS PLACE?

DAN: WE HAVE BEEN COMING HERE FOR THE LAST 10 OR SO YEARS, VISITING AS WE DESIGN A LOT OF APPAREL AND EVERY TIME WE COME HERE WE ARE JUST IN ALL OF THE SPACE AND THE LOCATION.

FOR US IT WAS ALWAYS A PLACE WHERE WE HAD THAT MILESTONE MARKER TO POTENTIALLY MOVE HERE IF THE OPPORTUNITY CAME AROUND.

KEN: TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE HISTORY OF WONDERHORSE.

WHAT DO YOU DO AND HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN DOING IT?

DAN: WE STARTED BACK IN 1997, I CAME AROUND IN 202012 -- IN 2012.

I GREW UP AS A YOUNG DESIGNER, INTERNED, MOVE MY WAY UP TO ASSOCIATE CREATIVE DIRECTOR INTO CREATIVE DIRECTOR AND OWNER SEVEN YEARS AGO.

TWO YEARS AGO, WE BRANDED INTO WONDERHORSE.

IT WAS A MONUMENTAL SHIFT IN OUR TEAM AND CULTURE AND THE WORK WE PROVIDE AND WE WANTED A NAME THAT BUILD INTRIGUE AND CURIOSITY AROUND THAT.

KEN: YOU WERE ORIGINALLY DOWNTOWN ON 2ND STREET IN A NICE BUILDING.

WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO MOVE OTHER THAN THE FACT THAT YOU WANTED TO BE HERE?

DAN: A COUPLE OF THOSE KEY DECISION-MAKERS FOR OUR TEAM AND MYSELF WERE A HEALTH AND WELLNESS BALANCE.

I WANTED A LOCATION LIKE WHERE WE ARE AT TODAY THAT HAS TRAILS RIGHT OUTSIDE THE FRONT DOOR.

WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL VIEW OF THE ST.

LOUIS RIVER BEHIND US.

AND TO BUILD A CREATIVE TEAM AND HAVE A GREAT CREATIVE MINDSET FOR OUR TEAM, WHAT IS BETTER THAN GOING OUTDOORS AND GOING OUTSIDE WITH A CLEAR MIND TO START THINKING ABOUT BIG SOLUTIONS AND CREATIVE WAYS TO SOLVE THOSE?

KEN: SO THE LOCATION WAS BETTER FOR YOU.

DAN: DEFINITELY.

KEN: TELL ME ABOUT THE POINTS ALONG THE WAY, YOU DECIDED TO MOVE, WHAT WERE THE NEXT POINTS TO TAKE A LOOK AT TO RELOCATE AND STILL KEEP DOING BUSINESS?

DAN: YES, TO MOVE A TEAM AND ALTHOUGH WE ARE A TEAM OF EIGHT AND THERE ARE A LOT OF BUSINESSES WITH MUCH LARGER TEAMS, WE REALLY HAD TO CREATE A SYSTEM OF MILESTONES FOR OURSELVES.

THE SIMPLE MILESTONES WERE WHAT DAILY USE ITEMS CAN WE PACK UP THAT CAN SIT IN THE CORNER FOR NOW WHILE WE STILL DO OUR DAILY TASKS?

WE STARTED GRADING SPREADSHEETS.

SPREADSHEETS THAT WENT FROM HERE ARE THE ITEMS WITHIN OUR OFFICE SPACE THAT CAN BE DONATED, THAT WE CAN SELL, OR THAT WE ARE TAKING WITH US.

FROM THERE, START MARKING OUT THOSE MILESTONES, WHAT THINGS CAN BE PACKED UP WITHIN A COUPLE WEEKS?

WHAT THINGS CAN BE PACKED OF DAY OF.

FOR US, THERE IS NO DOWNTIME.

OUR CLIENTS RELY ON WEST EACH DAY THROUGH THE WEEK AND WE ARE ALWAYS CHECKING EMAILS AND MAKING SURE COMMUNICATION IS TOP-NOTCH AND THERE IS NO LAG IN OUR SERVICE.

KEN: NOW YOU ARE THROUGH THE MOVE AND YOU RELOCATE HERE, WHAT WAS THE RESPONSE?

DAN: CLIENTS LOVE IT.

WE STILL HAVE TO PUT UP SIGNAGE AND WE ARE STILL FRESHLY MOVED IN HERE, BUT WE JUST LOVE THE LOOK ON OUR CLIENT FACES WHEN THEY WALK IN AND REALLY THEY FEEL WHAT WE FELT THE FIRST TIME THEY WALK INTO THE SPACE.

ARCHITECTURALLY IT IS A BUILDING DESIGNED SO IN THAT SENSE YOU FEEL THE DESIGN, YOU FEEL THE AESTHETICS OF THE SPACE AND IT IS NATURAL FOR A CREATIVE TEAM TO BE HERE.

KEN: WHAT ARE SOME ADVICE YOU MIGHT GIVE TO OTHER COMPANIES SIMILAR SIZE OR LARGER OR SMALLER CONTEMPLATING A MOVE AND WHAT SURPRISES DID YOU EXPERIENCE THAT MIGHT MAKE SOMEONE’S MOVE A LITTLE EASIER?

DAN: SOME OF THE THINGS YOU WANT TO THINK OF HIS MAKING SURE WAYS TO ENERGIZE YOUR TEAM ABOUT IT, MAKING SURE THEY HAVE BUY-IN ON THE MOVE.

FOR ME, IT WAS A FEW MEETINGS WITH THE TEAM TO GO HERE IS WHAT THE POSSIBILITIES ARE AND WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.

PROS AND CONS AND WHAT OUTWEIGHS EACH OTHER AND ALSO BELIEVE IN YOUR TEAM.

WE ARE A TEAM OF EIGHT AND WITH ONE GIANT U-HAUL MOVING TRUCK WE WERE ABLE TO MOVE OUR ENTIRE OFFICE IN ONE DAY AND SET UP THIS BEAUTIFUL SPACE IN ONE DAY AS WELL WHICH AMAZED ME.

JUST SO GRATEFUL FOR SUCH AN AWESOME TEAM.

KEN: BESIDES MOVING WONDERHORSE, THERE IS ALSO ANOTHER DECISION WAS ALSO STRESSFUL BECAUSE MOVING IS STRESSFUL, YOU MOVED YOUR HOUSE AND FAMILY.

DAN: YEAH, DON’T EVER DO THOSE AT THE SAME TIME.

[LAUGHTER] AS A BUSINESS OWNER AND A HUSBAND AND A FATHER YOU FEEL LIKE IT WILL BE WAY EASIER TO KNOCK OFF BOTH IN YOUR LIFE ALL AT ONCE WITHIN THE SAME TWO MONTHS.

IT IS STRESSFUL.

[LAUGHTER] I WILL SAY IS A BUSINESS OWNER HAVING A TEAM THAT BACKS YOU UP AND COMES TO EACH DAY ENERGIZED AND WILLING TO ROLL UP THEIR SLEEVES AND HELP, I FELT LIKE THE BUSINESS MOVE WAS MUCH EASIER THAN YOUR OWN FAMILY MOVE AND MANY OF US OUT THERE HAVE ALREADY MOVED INTO A NEW HOUSE BEFORE, SO YOU HAVE HAD THAT EXPERIENCE IN YOUR LIFE.

THIS WHEN I FEEL LIKE IS A BIT EASIER OF A TRANSITION.

KEN: DAN LITMAN IS THE OWNER OF WONDERHORSE, A MARKETING FIRM IN THE CITY OF DULUTH.

RELOCATED TO THE WESTERN SECTION OF THE CITY.

THIS IS "IN BUSINESS," DAN, THANKS FOR BEING OUR GUEST.

DAN: THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

KEN: THIS IS “IN BUSINESS” AND WE’RE TALKING ABOUT COMPANIES ON THE MOVE LITERALLY -- BY RELOCATING.

IT’S DIFFICULT TO IMAGINE MOVING AN ENTIRE BUSINESS, BUT CIRCUMSTANCES MAKE RELOCATION NECESSARY.

EMINENT DOMAINE FOR THE MASSIVE BLATNIK BRIDGE REPLACEMENT PROJECT FORCED THE RELOCATION OF SEVERAL SUPERIOR COMPANIES, INCLUDING LIDGERWOOD MUNDY, A 150-YEAR-OLD EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURING FIRM THAT HAS BEEN ON THE SUPERIOR WATERFRONT SINCE 1947.

TWIN PORTS TESTING TOOK THE LEAP ACROSS THE BRIDGE AND IS NOW IN THE DULUTH AIRPARK AND GREAT LAKES ELECTRIC HAS ALSO RELOCATED.

OTHER REASONS TO MOVE ARE EXPANSION OR DOWNSIZING, NEW MARKET AND PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT, AND WORKFORCE AVAILABILITY.

WHATEVER THE REASON, MOVING IS STRESSFUL.

WE TALKED AT THE OPENING OF THE SHOW ABOUT HOW STRESSFUL A MOVE IS FOR INDIVIDUALS, 45% OF RESPONDENTS TO THE 2020 ONE POLL SURVEY SAID IT WAS THE MOST STRESSFUL EXPERIENCE IN THEIR LIFE.

THAT WAS THE TOP ANSWER EVEN OVER DIVORCE, HAVING CHILDREN, AND CHANGING JOBS.

THE REASONS LISTED WERE THE FINANCIAL STRAIN OF A MOVE, THE LOSS OF CONTROL, AND WHAT PSYCHOLOGISTS CALL "DECISION FATIGUE."

OUR IN-STUDIO GUEST IS A PERSON FAMILIAR WITH ALL OF THAT AND HAS BEEN IN THE MOVING INDUSTRY SINCE 1968.

BOB FEIRO WAS A JUNIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL WHEN HE BEGAN SWEEPING FLOORS AT A MOVING COMPANY IN DULUTH.

THAT WORK PAID OFF AND BOB MOVED UP THE RANKS TO BECOME THE COMPANY'S MANAGING PARTNER AND DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS.

HE WAS RECRUITED OUT OF TOWN AND THEN RETURNED TO DULUTH TO WORK FOR WHERLEY MOVING SYSTEMS, A UNITED VAN LINES AFFILIATE WITH ROOTS THAT DATE BACK TO 1898.

BOB IS NOW A MOVING CONSULTANT HELPING INDIVIDUALS AND COMPANIES ASSESS THEIR RELOCATION NEEDS AND COSTS.

BOB FEIRO, THANKS FOR BEING ON “IN BUSINESS.” BOB: THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME.

KEN: YOU STARTED SWEEPING FLOORS IN 1968.

TELL US ABOUT THE PROGRESSION THAT GOT YOU TO BIG MOVING CONSULTANT TODAY.

BOB: I WAS NEEDING A JOB WHEN I WAS FINISHING UP A PRIVATE HIGH SCHOOL, I NEEDED MONEY FOR COLLEGE AND THEN I WAS A TEACHER SO I NEEDED MONEY TO BE A TEACHER AND RAISE A FAMILY.

SO THOSE FIRST 18 YEARS WERE BASICALLY MY ADDITIONAL INCOME.

SO THAT IS HOW ALL THAT STARTED.

KEN: WHEN YOU ARE MEETING WITH THE BUSINESS THAT IS THINKING ABOUT RELOCATING, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE FIRST THINGS THEY ASK YOU ABOUT THAT AND AS THEY ARE LOOKING TO DO THAT MOVE?

BOB: MOST BUSINESSES ARE MOSTLY CONCERNED WITH THE PROCESS, THE TIMELINE, AND PUTTING TOGETHER WHO IS GOING TO DO WHAT AND THAT IS WHAT I HELP THEM TO ESTABLISH THOSE PARAMETERS.

ONCE WE HAVE THE PROCESS IN PLACE, WHO IS DOING WHAT, THEN WE GET THE TIMELINE, AND THEN IT TURNS OUT THAT WE ARE PROBABLY THE LEAST COMPLICATED PART OF THE WHOLE MOVING PROCESS.

SO THAT IS WHAT THEY WANT TO KNOW, WHERE DO WE FIT IN AND WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP THEM?

KEN: HOW DO YOU HELP THEM SET THE PRIORITIES?

WE HEARD ABOUT DOING SPREADSHEETS AND SO FORTH WITH DAN LITMAN.

HOW DO YOU SET THE PRIORITIES AND THEIR PARTICIPATION IN THE MOVE?

THE COMPANY THEY HIRE WILL TAKE CARE OF THE TRANSPORTATION, BUT WHAT DOES THE BUSINESS HAVE TO DO?

BOB: THE BUSINESS NEEDS TO DECIDE WHAT IT IS THEY WANT TO TAKE.

AS DAN MENTIONED, THEY STARTED THE MOST IMPORTANT THING PROBABLY, START BOXING THINGS UP.

IT IS NEVER TOO EARLY.

BUT THAT TAKES TIME BECAUSE YOU ARE GOING TO BE SORTING THROUGH STUFF.

WHEN YOU WERE DONE SORTING, WE ARE GOING TO MOVE IT AND WE DO THAT EVERY DAY SO FOR US IT IS SIMPLE.

FOR THE OWNER OF THE BUSINESS AND THE EMPLOYEES, YOU NEED TO KNOW WHAT IT IS YOU WANT TO TAKE AND LEAVE BEHIND.

KEN: I SUPPOSE WITH FAMILIES AND BUSINESSES, IS THERE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MOVING ACROSS TOWN OR ACROSS COUNTRY?

IS IT HARDER, LESS DIFFICULT?

BOB: THE PROCESS IS SIMILAR, THE TIMELINES GET STRETCHED OUT.

IF WE ARE MOVING ACROSS TOWN OR WITHIN MINNESOTA WE ARE REGULATED BY THE STATE AS TO WHAT WE DO AND HOW WE DO IT.

IF YOU WANT TO MOVE TO CALIFORNIA, AND ANY TIME IT IS OUT-OF-STATE, IT IS AN INTERSTATE REGULATION AND GREATER DISTANCES SO COMMUNICATION BECOMES A KEY FACTOR IN A LONG-DISTANCE MOVE.

WHEN IS EVERYBODY GOING TO BE READY?

WHEN YOU NEED TO GET SET UP?

SO WE CAN DECIDE HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED TO START.

KEN: BOB FEIRO IS OUR SPECIAL GUEST, AND MOVING CONSULTANT WITH A UNITED VAN LINES AFFILIATE HERE IN DULUTH.

WHAT IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST BUSINESSES YOU’VE HELPED RELOCATE?

BOB: OUR COMPANY, PROBABLY ONE OF THE BIGGEST BUSINESSES WE MOST RECENTLY HELPED RELOCATE IS IN THE MEDICAL FIELD, THEY NEEDED ABOUT 60 MILES OF RECORDS MOVED.

WE NEEDED TO GET THAT DONE IN A TIMELY FASHION IN ADDITION TO ALL THE REST OF OUR BUSINESS AND IT WAS QUITE A LOGISTICAL CHALLENGE, BUT IT WENT VERY SMOOTHLY.

AND A LOT OF THAT IS DUE TO THEIR PLANNING AS WELL.

KEN: WHAT IS ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING MOVES YOU HAVE EVER HELPED COORDINATE?

BOB: PERSONALLY THAT WHEN I WAS MOST INTERESTED IN AND THAT GOT ME INTERESTED IN THE BUSINESS WAS WAY BACK IN THE LATE 1960’S, EARLY 1970’S WE CONSOLIDATED ALL OF U.S.

STEEL’S OPERATIONS ACROSS NORTHERN MINNESOTA, WISCONSIN TO THE IRON RANGE.

IT WAS MOVING FAMILIES AND ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY IT WAS MOVING THEIR OFFICES.

IT WAS AMAZING.

KEN: ALMOST 60 YEARS IN THE BUSINESS FOR BOB FEIRO ON THE CONSULTING A MOVING FAMILIES AND BUSINESSES, WHICH IS WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT ON "IN BUSINESS," WHAT IS THE FUN PART OF YOUR DROUGHT THAT KEPT YOU IN THIS INDUSTRY?

BOB: THE FUN PART IS THE AMAZING PEOPLE I MEET.

I’M HERE TO HELP THEM SOLVE A PROBLEM, A PROBLEM WHICH I HAVE SEEN THE THINGS THAT GO WELL AND THE THINGS THAT GO BAD.

IT IS THERE MOVE, BUT THEY ARE ASKING MY ADVICE AND JUST THE PEOPLE I MEET.

AND HOW THEY RUN THEIR BUSINESS AND WHAT THEY NEED.

IT BRINGS ME BACK.

ALL THESE YEARS LATER, I JUST LOVE IT.

RETIRE TWICE, BUT I KEEP COMING BACK.

KEN: IT IS STILL FUN FOR YOU?

BOB: IT IS STILL FUN.

KEN: BOB FEIRO IS OUR SPECIAL GUEST.

BOB, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US AND SHARING YOUR INSIGHT.

BOB: THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

KEN: BEFORE OUR LAST STORY HERE'S A QUICK LOOK AT SOME , BUSINESS NEWS FROM ACROSS THE REGION.

THE NINTH DISTRICT FEDERAL RESERVE BANK IN MINNEAPOLIS RELEASED SURVEY RESULTS THIS WEEK ON THE CURRENT STATE OF THE ECONOMY AS REPORTED BY NEARLY 1000 BUSINESSES OWNERS WHO RESPONDED.

BASED ON COMPARISONS FROM THE SECOND QUARTER OF LAST YEAR TO THE SAME PERIOD THIS YEAR, 63% OF THOSE RESPONDING SAID PROFITS FELL FROM LAST YEAR.

BUSNESSES REPORTED BEING SQUEEZED BY HIGHER PRICES AND A MARKED DECLING IN CONSUMER SPENDING.

-- DECLINE IN CONSUMER SPENDING.

ENERGY PRICE HIKES WERE ONE OF THE LEADING UPTICKS IN THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS.

TARRIFFS WERE BLAMED FOR SOME OF THE INCREASED COSTS AND THE UNCERTAINTY OVER A TRADE WAR WITH MINNESOTA'S LARGEST TRADING PARTNER, CANADA, ALSO LEAD TO BUSINESSES HOLDING BACK ON PURCHASES.

THE OWNER OF A NATURAL RESOURCE BUSINESS IN NORTHEAST MINNESOTA EXPLAINED THAT QUOTE, “CANADIANS COMING DOWN TO SHOP IS A HUGE FINANCIAL DRIVER.

THEIR BUSINESS HAS DECREASED, AND THE WILDFIRES AND SMOKE HAS KEPT METRO TOURISTS AWAY.” THE SURVEY WAS TAKEN IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS OF JULY.

THE DULUTH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK THAT JIM ROCHE HAS BEEN SELECTED AS THE CHAMBER'S NEW INTERIM DIRECTOR.

ROCHE RECENTLY RETIRED AS PRESIDENT OF THE MAINE BANKERS ASSOCIATION.

HE WAS BORN IN MINNEAPOLIS AND ATTENDED UMD.

IN A PRESS RELEASE, ROCHE SAID HE WAS EXCITED TO BE COMING BACK TO MINNESOTA.

THE SAME STATEMENT INDICATED THAT THE CHAMBER IS CONTINUING ITS SEARCH FOR A FULLTIME DIRECTOR.

LAST WEEK, “IN BUSINESS” FOCUSED ON THE NEED FOR MORE HOUSING IN THE CITY OF DULUTH.

ONE OF THE ISSUES WE DISCUSSED WITH CITY COUNCILORS WAS THE CONVERSION OF THE FORMER LESTER PARK GOLF COURSE INTO A MIXED-USE HOUSING AND RECREATIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

THIS WEEK, THE COUNCIL VOTED TO ACCEPT THE FINDINGS OF A ONE-YEAR STUDY THAT SUGGESTED HOUSING ON THE LOWER PORTION OF THE PROPERTY AND RECREATIONAL USES FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE LAND.

WHAT REMAINS NOW IS TO FIND A DEVELOPER AND TO DETERMINE WHAT RECREATIONAL USES WOULD BE DEVELOPED ON THE REMAINDER OF THE SPACE.

OUR FINAL STORY IS ABOUT A BUSINESS THAT FOUND ITSELF MOVING AT AN IMPORTANT TIME.

WITH THE UPCOMING BLATNIK BRIDGE CLOSURE, A LOCAL CAR DEALERSHIP’S NEW LOCATION COULDN’T HAVE COME AT A MORE IMPORTANT TIME.

CHRIS: MY NAME IS CHRIS KARI, THE OWNER AND GENERAL MANAGER OF KARI TOYOTA.

AUGUST IS THE MONTH WE CELEBRATED OUR ANNIVERSARY.

THIS IS OUR 93RD YEAR IN BUSINESS.

A LONG TIME AGO, MY GREAT-GRANDFATHER AND HIS TWO SONS, MY GRANDFATHER AND HIS BROTHER STARTED A SERVICE STATION AND REPAIR SHOPS OR STARTED A BUSINESS THAT WAY AND THEY GOT INTO SELLING THE FIRST NEW CAR LINE WHICH WAS STUDEBAKER BACK IN THE DAY AND THEY HAD SEVERAL OTHER LINES AND NOW I’M FOURTH-GENERATION IN WE ARE SOLELY A TOYOTA NEW CAR AND ANYTHING PRE-USED CAR, SO WE HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR 93 YEARS IN SUPERIOR AND WE LOVE THE COMMUNITY AND IT WAS TIME TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP AND GROW OUR BUSINESS.

THIS IS OUR THIRD LOCATION.

THE ORIGINAL BUILDING IN THE MURAL SHOWS THAT BUILDING ON SIXTH AND CUMMINGS, THE FIRST SERVICE STATION THEY HAVE, REPAIR SHOP WHERE THEY STARTED SELLING STUDEBAKER.

THEY BUILT THEIR FIRST BUILDING AFTER WORLD WAR II FOR THE NEW BUILDING ON 10TH AND OGDEN.

THAT BUILDING IS STILL THERE, IT WAS OUR SERVICE CENTER UNTIL A FEW DAYS AGO.

WE WILL KEEP THAT BUILDING AND THE FAMILY IS THE PLAN AND HANDLE SOME INTERNAL WORK AND THINGS THERE BUT CUSTOMER FACING STUFF WILL BE AT OUR THIRD AND NEW LOCATION WHICH IS THAT 3223 BELMONT STREET.

I KIND OF JOKE THE LAST LOCATION WE OPERATED OUT OF TWO BUILDINGS, ONE OWNER TOWER AND ONE ON OGDEN.

SALES WERE IN ONE, SERVICE WAS IN ANOTHER.

WE WEREN’T UNIFIED IN THAT EFFORT.

OUR CUSTOMERS, OUR NEWEST BUILDING WAS BUILT JUST AFTER WORLD WAR II.

SO A LONG TIME AGO BEFORE I WAS BORN OBVIOUSLY.

WE THOUGHT ABOUT HOW TO COMBINE THINGS.

HOW TO GET A NEW BUILDING.

OUR CUSTOMERS SHOULD HAVE A NEW BUILDING, OUR EMPLOYEES SHOULD HAVE A NEW BUILDING.

IF THE COMMUNITY COULD DO SOMETHING FRESH.

SO WE STARTED MANY YEARS AGO, IT TOOK US PROBABLY, THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN GOING 7, 8 YEARS AND A LOT OF THINGS HAPPENED, KOBE HAPPENED, INFLATION HAPPENED, THINGS LIKE THAT THAT WE HAD TO CHANGE AND ADAPT A LOT OF THE PLANNING, WE HAD TO FIND LAND TO DO IT ON.

SO ALL OF THAT WORK HAPPEN EVENTUALLY.

IT WAS ONE OF THOSE THINGS YOU HAD TO KEEP FIGHTING AND MOVING FORWARD.

IT TOOK US QUITE A FEW YEARS AND IT TURNED OUT REALLY GREAT.

THIS IS WHERE WE LIVE.

WE HAVE BEEN HERE FOR GENERATIONS NOW.

AND WE LIKE IT HERE, WE LIKE THE PEOPLE HERE, SUPERIOR IS GREAT TO DO BUSINESS INCOME OF THE CITY WORKS WELL WITH BUSINESSES HERE.

WE LIKE THE COMMUNITY, BUT EVEN THOUGH WE ARE IN SUPERIOR, HALF OR MORE OF OUR BUSINESS COMES FROM DULUTH OR MINNESOTA, SO WE ALSO KNEW WE NEEDED TO BE NEAR ONE OF THE MAIN BRIDGES THAT COME FROM MINNESOTA TO WISCONSIN , SO WE ARE RIGHT OFF THE BRIDGE, BEFORE WE WERE REALLY CLOSE TO THE BLACK MIKE BRIDGE, BUT IT WILL BE SHUT DOWN FOR A FEW YEARS, BUT THIS STARTED WELL BEFORE THAT CLOSING AND WE BOUGHT THIS PROPERTY BEFORE THE ANNOUNCED THE CLOSURE SO IT WAS A PERFECT LOCATION AND TIMING FOR US.

OUR EMPLOYEES ARE FANTASTIC AND WE NOW GET TO WORK IN THE SAME BUILDING.

THERE ARE A LOT OF EFFICIENCIES.

OUR CUSTOMERS ARE LOYAL AND GREAT.

WE HAVE A SAY LIVE IN NORTHERN WISCONSIN AND MINNESOTA SO WINTERS CAN BE COLD, SNOW, RAIN.

BEFORE THAT HARD TO WALK IN IN WHETHER A NOW WE HAVE A SERVICE RECEPTION AREA, THE GARAGE AUTOMATICALLY REOPENS AND YOU CAN BE UNDERCOVER.

THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT IS A LOT LARGER.

IT IS A LOT NICER SPOT FOR OUR TECHNICIANS TO WORK.

A LOT OF NATURAL LIGHT WHICH ISN’T ALWAYS THE CASE FOR TECHNICIANS SO THEY HAVE A GREAT PLACE TO WORK.

AND OBVIOUSLY IN THE BUILDING HERE WE HAVE A LOT OF NICE OPEN WINDOWS FOR CUSTOMERS.

IT LOOKS HOMEY AND IT FEELS HOMELY AND WE WANTED IT THAT WAY.

THAT IS WHY A LOT OF THE CHAIRS, WE DIDN’T WANTED TO LOOK LIKE OFFICE SPACE, WE WANTED IT TO LOOK LIKE A MORE RELAXED ENVIRONMENT AND I THING WE DID THAT VERY WELL WITH A LOT OF HARD WORK AND ARTWORK FROM MY WIFE AND OUR INTERIOR DESIGN GREW IT CAME TOGETHER REALLY NICELY.

OUR TYPE OF BUSINESS, WE TAKE UP A LOT OF REAL ESTATE.

THE INVENTORY IS LARGE SO WE HAVE TO HAVE A LOT OF SPACE.

IT IS DIFFICULT TO FIND ENOUGH SPACE TO ALWAYS BUILD IN THE AREA WE FOUND HERE USED TO BE WHAT WAS CALLED THE MANNING MOTEL IN THE PROPERTY HAD BEEN FOR SALE FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

IT WAS WAITING FOR US.

EVEN THOUGH WE MOVED LOCATIONS IT IS THE SAME STAFF THAT HAS TREATED OUR CUSTOMERS SO WELL FOR MANY DECADES SO WE ARE EXCITED FOR OUR CUSTOMERS TO SEE OUR NEW SPOT AND HAVE NEW CUSTOMERS FIND US ALSO.

KEN: A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR GUESTS, THE KARI FAMILY AND DAN LITMAN AND OF COURSE OUR GOOD FRIEND BOB FEIR FOR BEING WITH US.

OTALKING ABOUT RELOCATING COMPANIES.

YOU MIGHT SAY THE SHOW WAS A MOVING EXPERIENCE?

I’M 10 BUEHLER.

THANKS FOR WATCHING “IN BUSINESS.” IF YOU MISSED ANY PARTS OF TONIGHT'S SHOW, YOU CAN ALWAYS WATCH IT AT PBSNORTH.ORG OR LISTEN ON MONDAYS AT 5:30 P.M.

ON THE NORTH 1033.

AND IF YOU HAVE AN IDEA FOR A FUTURE STORY ON “IN BUSINESS,” WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU.

EMAIL US AT ASK@PBSNORTH.ORG.

THANKS AGAIN FOR WATCHING AND, UNTIL NEXT TIME, LET'S TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER.

♪