Welcome to our Small Biz Spotlight series – an interview series focusing on local retailers and what makes them special. At Promoboxx we are declaring November as Retailer Appreciation Month! As part of this month, we are publishing blog posts to highlight some of the great retailers we work with and support every day. For this installment, we spoke with Tina Peschl from Gilman Co-Op Creamery. Tina shared how Gilman Co-Op Creamery has come so far in its 95 years of business.
We started out 95 years ago as a skimming station for milk. We would go to farms and pick up milk, bring it back to the Gilman Creamery and make butter. Years later we started making and delivering feed for cattle, now we are a feed store and SO much more. We carry groceries, clothing, farm supplies, clothing, hardware, propane, hydraulic hoses and more.
I believe it was 1953 when our feed shed burnt down, but we rose from the ashes. In the 1980s milk was at an all-time low, things were tough all over, farmers were not getting paid what they deserved, and it affected all of us. Much like the dairy farmer – we still go on. It’s like they say – without farmers there would be no food, clothing or alcohol! 
We are very much involved in our surrounding communities. We believe in giving back to those who so graciously patronize us. We give to many local benefits – The MN, White Tail Deer Association, The National Turkey Federation, our local schools, etc. We are very much involved in our local fairs and with our 4-H families. We are at farm shows, golf outings, school sports games, and so much more.
I personally feel digital marketing is a great thing, but retailers still need to maintain that one on one connection with people. If we lose that, we lose out on the very reason we were created. People are social, we need each other and personal interaction.
Here at the Gilman Co-Op Creamery, you are not a number. We care about everyone that walks through our doors!
