Bergquist open houses draw 300

Bergquist hosted its ninth annual open houses Aug. 20 and 22 in Toledo, Ohio, and Bowling Green, Ky., respectively. Don Montroy, the company’s director of marketing, says Bergquist drew about 300 people between the two open houses. About 200 of those visited with Bergquist and its vendors in Toledo.

Part of the draw in Toledo was the Propane Education & Research Council’s (PERC) Marketer Technology and Sales Training seminar on propane autogas. Nineteen marketers attended the seminar.

“We like to provide education to our customers and to the industry,” Montroy says. “PERC offers so many great programs to customers. I’m not sure how many retailers are aware of them, so we like to be able to provide that exposure to retailers.”

Bergquist, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary, sees its open houses as opportunities to connect service technicians who don’t typically travel to meet with vendors.

“The people using our products get to pick them up, see them and talk to vendors,” Montroy says. “I don’t think service techs really get to attend many trade shows anymore. So open houses offer that opportunity. Everybody in the decision-making process can come.”

According to Montroy, three additional vendors participated this year in both Toledo and Bowling Green.