KEEp on truckin' RLC Truck & Auto Accessories fulfills customers' wish lists - The Republic
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A publication of THE REPUBLIC spring 2020
keep on
truckin’
RLC Truck & Auto Accessories
fulfills customers’ wish lists
ALSO INSIDE
» yoga
around
town
»
PERMIT NO 200
Tacolumbus
COLUMBUS, IN
US POSTAGE PAID
STANDARD
PRESORTED
SPring 2020 | The Business Connection 1
TR-35031786 2 The Business Connection | SPRING 2020
CENTRA BUSINESS SERVICES
LOCAL. STRONG. STABLE.
1.812.376.9771
Federally Insured by NCUA. Equal Housing Opportunity.
TR-35031787
SPring 2020 | The Business Connection 3
A PUBLICATION OF THE REPUBLIC spring 2020
tacolumbus
Comments
Comments should be sent to
Anna Perlich, The Republic,
2980 N. National Road, Suite
A, Columbus, IN 47201 or call
812-379-5693 or
aperlich@aimmediaindiana.
com.
Advertising information
5
7
10
On the Move
Around the Water Cooler
RLC Truck &
14 ON THE COVER
Auto Accessories
Call 812-379-5652.
©2020 by AIM Media Indiana.
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14 TaColumbus
Stock images provided by
Adobe Stock. 18 Yoga studios
22 Aldi plays big in grocery
Brett Cruser is owner of RLC
store game Truck & Auto Accessories.
Photographed by Ali
29 Liz Reyer column
Hendricks
4 The Business Connection | SPRING 2020
ON THE MOVE
n Dr. Austin Starr, Sports Medicine national manager of
doctor of dental Specialists is ex- dealer development.
surgery, has joined panding its service
n Columbus Re-
White River Dental into Columbus.
gional Health has
LLC. He gradu- Dr. Ryan G. Taylor
welcomed two new
ated from Indiana will see patients at
executives — Chief
University School Franciscan Physician
Human Resources
of Dentistry in 2014 Network Columbus
Officer Julie Mc-
with high honors. Specialty Center,
Gregor and Chief
He completed a 4035 Mimosa Drive.
austin starr ryan g. taylor anne ewing Operating Officer
four-year oral and
Terrance Deis — to
maxillofacial surgery residency in 2018
n Toyota Material Handling announced its administrative leadership. Prior to
at Ohio State University with a certifi-
cation in IV sedation. the promotion this month of Anne joining CRH, McGregor served as chief
Ewing to director of dealer develop- human resources officer for Kentucky-
n Franciscan Physician Network ment. She previously served as TMH’s One Health Louisville Region and led
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Bookkeeping • Financial Statements
Quickbooks Support • Payroll
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726 Washington St., Suite 200, Columbus, IN 47201 • 812-376-3061 • www.kempercpa.com
SPring 2020 | The Business Connection 5
ON THE MOVE
human resources for Jewish Hospital ence to the role. He is originally from and companies planning events and
& St. Mary’s Healthcare and CARITAS Columbus and attended Columbus parties.
Health Services. She obtained her North High School and Purdue Uni-
n Alex Huth has been promoted to
bachelor’s degree from the Univer- versity.
manager at Kemper CPA Group LLP.
sity of Kentucky and her master of
n James Acton has He started his accounting career
business administration from Bel- been named the as an intern in Kemper’s Columbus
larmine University. incoming president office in 2014. He received a Bachelor
Deis oversees patient care operations of the Ball State of Science in accounting and finance
within the health system. Prior to University Alumni from Ball State University. He serves
joining CRH, Deis led three CHI Saint Association. He will as the treasurer for the Columbus
Joseph Health hospitals in Kentucky. also serve as the Young Professionals.
He obtained his bachelor’s degree Ball State Univer-
n Amber Porter has joined the staff
from Bowling Green State University sity Foundation’s
of Administrative Resources associ-
and his master of business adminis- vice president of
james acton ation as grant and project manager.
tration from Cleveland State Univer- alumni engage-
She is an engineer with seven years
sity. ment. A lifelong
of experience in the civil engineer-
Hoosier, Acton was born in Seymour
n Columbus Regional Health has ing consulting industry. She is a 2011
and attended high school in Colum-
hired interventional cardiologist graduate of Purdue University with a
bus.
Dr. Erol Nargileci to the hospital Bachelor of Science in environmental
group’s medical staff. He graduated He began working in alumni relations and ecological engineering.
from Marmara University School of after college, with Phi Kappa Psi
n Bartholomew
Medicine in Istanbul, Turkey, in 2004. fraternity in Indianapolis, followed
County Sheriff
He completed internal medicine resi- by 12 years at Valparaiso University,
Matthew A. Myers
dency at John H. Stroger Hospital of where he earned a bachelor’s degree
has been selected
Cook County, Chicago, and cardio- in business administration. Before ac-
as one of eight
vascular medicine and interventional cepting his position at Ball State, he
trustees for the
cardiology fellowships at Bridgeport served eight years at the Illinois Insti-
Indiana Sheriffs’
Hospital, Yale New Haven, Bridge- tute of Technology in Chicago, most
Youth Ranch. Hoo-
port, Connecticut. He speaks fluent recently as associate vice president
sier children who
English, Turkish and German, as well of alumni and giving programs.
have been victims
as basic Spanish and Adighabze. matthew myers of crime and kids
n Carrie Davies
Nargileci has joined Southern Indiana has opened a new who want to be
business, Geri Girl law enforcement officers can come
Heart & Vascular, a member of the
together at the ranch thanks to the
Columbus Regional Health network. Bakery, at 1122
purchase of the 62-acre property in
Union St. She most
n The Columbus western Indiana.
recently was the
Area Chamber of
baker at Tina’s Tra- n Agresta, Storms & O’Leary PC
Commerce has
ditional Tea Room, announced several personnel moves.
announced that
which closed. Cur- Kim Fleischman has joined the
Bob Schafstall will
carrie davies rently, the business company as a tax and accounting
serve as its new
is working from services associate. Steve Hurrle, tax
membership direc-
online orders 24 hours in advance at and accounting services manager,
tor. He will replace
gerigirlbakery.com. Offerings include and Kari Storey, accounting services
Tim Cooney, who
cakes, cookies, scones, pies and tarts, associate, are now primarily working
retired. Schaf-
bob schafstall in the Columbus office. Both joined
stall brings more muffins, cupcakes, quiche and more.
the company in 2018.
than 22 years of Davies bakes for individual custom-
customer service and sales experi- ers, but also does orders for groups — Staff Reports
6 The Business Connection | SPRING 2020
around the
water cooler
Cummins honored for continually in business for a century provided outstanding support for the
history of service or more, encourages the preservation association’s goals and programs,
of historically significant business-re- including exhibitions, conferences and
The Indiana Historical Society hon- lated archival materials and develops industry workshops.
ored Cummins Inc. with its 2019 increased awareness of Indiana’s busi-
Centennial Business Award, which ness and industrial heritage. Anacostia Rail Holdings’ subsidiary,
recognizes the global business for its Louisville & Indiana Railroad, provides
long history of service. The award was Railroad operator receives rail service to Camp Atterbury via
presented during the annual Founders corporate award a new state-of-the-art rail facility in
Day dinner at the Eugene and Marilyn Edinburgh. Louisville & Indiana inau-
Anacostia Rail Holdings, an operator
Glick History Center in Indianapolis. gurated service to Camp Atterbury in
of six freight railroads across the U.S.,
The Centennial Business Award is has been honored with the Corpo- 2017 with a National Guard training
part of the Historic Business Register, rate Distinguished Service Award of mission that simulated combat opera-
founded in 1992 by trustees and mem- the National Defense Transportation tions and involved approximately 309
bers of the society. It provides special Association. The award recognizes You didn’t work th
rail cars, 1,207 pieces of equipment
recognition to Indiana companies NDTA corporate members who have and 6,000 soldiers.
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305 Washington Street • COLUMBUS, IN
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SPring 2020 | The Business Connection 7
»
around the
water cooler
CRH named top 50 code diagnostics and operations of the staff needed to earn basic
cardiovascular hospital data logs. Diagnostics provide a program certification.
quick and easy solution for identify-
Columbus Regional Hospital has Basic IAHSS certification ensures
ing truck service and maintenance
been recognized as one of the needs by sending instant diagnostic that protective services officers
nation’s 50 top cardiovascular information and operational data to understand and can implement the
hospitals by IBM Watson Health, a the user’s mobile device. important security and safety func-
division of IBM that is dedicated to tions within a health care facility on
the development and implemen- The Toyota Core, Mid and Large a daily basis and when the unex-
tation of technologies designed to IC Forklift update also includes pected occurs. The organization
advance health. additional features designed to offers three levels of certification —
increase efficiency and reduce basic, advanced and supervisorial.
Columbus Regional Health is one maintenance and downtime, To receive the Program of Distinc-
of only two Indiana health systems including a coil-on-plug ignition tion designation, Tony Pope, CRH
on the list. The award is based on a system; a newly designed coun- Health Protective Services manager,
broad study of 989 U.S. hospitals’ terweight; fuel efficiency enhance- also achieved a Certified Healthcare
clinical, operational and patient ments; standard LED headlights; Protection Administrator desig-
satisfaction metrics and data and and improved LED combination nation, which is the highest level
means that the CRH Heart and Vas- light options. of certification that a safety and
cular Center has demonstrated bet-
Burt’s employees security leader can achieve through
ter clinical care and has delivered
the IAHSS.
that care more efficiently than most attend conferences
other cardiovascular programs. Torrid opens at Indiana
Kiel Molitor, Brandon Foster and
CRH has more than a 100-year Doug Foster, of Burt’s Termite & Premium Outlets
history as a local, independent Pest Control, recently attended the
Simon, owner of Indiana Premium
health care provider with more than 49th annual University of Kentucky
Outlets in Edinburgh, has an-
2,400 employees, 225 physicians Pest Control Short Course. Training
nounced the opening of a Torrid
on its medical staff and 250 volun- topics included bed bug strategies,
store at the outlet mall. It offers
teers. Columbus Regional Hospital, the latest pest control trends and
women’s clothing in sizes 10 to 30.
the system’s flagship facility, is a research, as well as new product
225-bed, not-for-profit, providing developments. The Fosters also Toyota Material Handling
emergency and surgical services attended the 84th annual Purdue
introduces new platform
and comprehensive care in numer- Pest Management Conference in
ous specialty areas. West Lafayette. Toyota Material Handling has
launched an energy solutions
Toyota upgrades internal Burt’s has served the area for more platform, Toyota Industrial Energy
combustion forklift line than 46 years and provides pest Solutions, designed to help the
control and prevention services to material handling industry meet
Toyota Material Handling recently homes, commercial customers and
announced upgrades to its line of energy management requirements.
the real estate market.
internal combustion forklifts. Im- The platform encompasses a suite
proved technology along with new CRH Protective of energy solutions, including on-
site consultation, environmental
standard features will be included Services honored
in its bestselling line of Core, Mid support, battery and alternative en-
Columbus Regional Hospital Pro- ergy sources, chargers and acces-
and Large IC forklifts. Technology
tective Services Department was sories, and service and repair. It will
features are a central component in
recently designated a Program of allow customers to utilize resources
the Toyota IC line upgrade, includ-
Distinction by the International that are unique to the Toyota dealer
ing a new standard multifunction
Association for Healthcare Security network and help them increase
display with increased functionality,
& Safety. CRH is one of 12 hospital efficiency and optimize operations,
data recording and data storage.
security departments in the country the company said.
The display offers advanced on- to currently hold the designation.
board technology, including QR To earn the designation, 70 percent — Staff Reports
8 The Business Connection | SPRING 2020
»
trade skills
Help wanted: Builders still
struggle to find workers
By Steve Brown | The Dallas Morning News (TNS)
LAS VEGAS — After years by local home building asso- ton, director of the Home people while many school
of tight supply, there are ciations, and some of those Depot Foundation charitable systems focus on college prep
signs that the building indus- have started to pay off.” organization. The foundation training and high-tech jobs.
try’s systemic labor shortage At the home builders’ annual and the builders groups hope Tighter immigration controls
is stabilizing. But that doesn’t meeting in Las Vegas, a new to train 20,000 tradespeople have also kept many potential
mean that there still isn’t effort was announced to bring over 10 years. workers out of the market.
a shortfall of thousands of in thousands of new workers. “We are well on our way “There is a negative percep-
workers in various markets The Home Builders Institute is to executing that,” Ellington tion that too many people still
across the country. teaming with the Home Depot said. “Residential construc- harbor against careers in our
“Any given month, we are Foundation and the National tion has entered a whole new industry and the trades,” Brady
short anywhere between Housing Endowment to era, an era that presents chal- said. “We must portray a skilled
300,000 to 400,000 construc- provide an additional $700,000 lenges and opportunities for trade career path in residential
tion workers,” said Robert for nationwide skilled con- this industry and the skilled construction as attractive to
Dietz, chief economist for struction trades education trades workforce.” more young people throughout
the National Association of programs in high schools. Builders and construction this country. We have a long
Home Builders. “It got worse “The home building indus- companies say they still way to go, but I do think we are
in 2018 and worse in 2019.” try faces a skilled trades gap,” have trouble reaching young starting to move the needle.”
Since the Great Recession, said Home Building Institute
home builders across the U.S. President Ed Brady. “Yet
have struggled to come up the opportunity for reward-
with enough skilled workers ing careers in residential
to meet a growing demand for construction is limitless.
housing. The labor shortage Through this initiative, the
is one of the key factors the home building industry con-
industry says has kept home tinues to come together to INSURANCE, LLC
starts below needed levels. create a skilled workforce for
“I think 2020 will be the a new decade and beyond.” • Personal Auto • Health Care Facilities
year where the construction The money for construc- Program
labor shortage doesn’t nec- tion training programs will • Commercial Auto
essarily get better but stops be distributed through hun- Insurance • Homeowners
getting worse,” Dietz said. dreds of state and local home Insurance
“There are a huge number builders associations across • Commercial Business
of efforts being undertaken the country, said John Elling- Property Insurance • Life Insurance
• Commercial Umbrella • Personal Appearance
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SPring 2020 | The Business Connection 9
REVVING UP
BUSINESS
RLC Truck & Auto
Accessories is one-stop
shop for vehicle owners
story By Barney Quick | photos by ali hendricks
10 The Business Connection | SPRING 2020“We literally do everything
for your vehicle.”
That’s the message Brett
Cruser wants to spread
far and wide about his
company, RLC Truck & Auto
Accessories. Any kind of
aftermarket enhancement a
truck owner is considering
is within RLC’s wheelhouse.
In fact, anyone looking for
a protective coating for a
concrete floor would do well
to inquire with RLC as well. »
SPring 2020 | The Business Connection 11The current iteration of the business has its lining,” notes Cruser.
roots in the Columbus retail outlet for Rhino The company began selling lift kits and cus-
Linings Corp., which is mainly known for tom tires and wheels. He bought a company
spray-on truck bed linings but has expanded called Concrete Solutions, which moved RLC
its technological capabilities to other areas as into the floor-coatings area. “I was always a
well. Rhino Linings of Columbus was located big fan of their product,” he says.
on Second Street in 2003, when Cruser, a Some of the brands and products RLC cur-
Westport native, took a sales job there. rently carries are the Weathertech line of ac-
“It was owned by a guy from Indianapolis cessories, Leer truck caps, the Undercover and
who had four Rhino stores,” he says. “I bought Truxedo brands of bed covers, Fuel wheels,
the Columbus store from him in 2007.” and Nitto and Toyo tires. Other product lines
Cruser set about increasing sales. “When I include strobing cab lights and window tints.
bought the store, sales were about $600,000 There are currently seven staff members at
a year,” he recalls. “We did a little over $2 RLC. Along with Brett and his mother, Roberta,
million last year.” there are three automotive technicians and two
From 2009 to 2017, the business was located flooring technicians. Training for new capabil-
on National Road. Its present 11,000-square- ities is generally done in-house, although when
foot facility is on Progress Drive on the city’s Cruser bought a Rhino spraying machine, a
northwest side. The company rebranded itself Rhino representative came to demonstrate it.
in 2014, changing the name to RLC, which still The current employees have been with Cruser
alludes to the Rhino relationship but allows for several years. He characterizes his manage-
Cruser and his team to convey the full range of ment style as somewhat informal. “These people
Jared Gobel works
products it sells. RLC also happen to be Brett’s have knowledge and a good work ethic,” he
on a truck at RLC mother’s initials. She works in sales at RLC. says. “That’s not easy to find these days. Nobody
Truck & Auto “The rebranding worked, because now peo- who’s ever worked for me hasn’t wanted to come
Accessories. ple come in and want to know if we do Rhino back, so it must not be that bad.”
12 The Business Connection | SPRING 2020He mentions that he owns the lot next to solidated School Corp. students and families.
his facility, adding, “If I could find five more During the holiday season, the pantry put
people who were really qualified to be tech- up an Angel Tree in the RLC showroom.
nicians, I’d probably put up another building. People could pick a tag bearing the name of
We’re up against a great job market, and it’s an individual or family
hard to find people who aren’t inclined to from the tree and shop for
move from one place to another.” those named from a list of
RLC’s market is basically the Columbus area,
with some customers coming from Seymour
specified items. Volunteers
then delivered the gifts. RLC Truck &
and North Vernon. Cruser has observed
an increasing amount of business from the
Brett’s wife, Tonya, who
is an art teacher at North,
Auto Accessories
Franklin area lately. The company’s biggest type organized the effort. address: 4515 Progress Drive
of customer is car dealerships. They can all Regarding advertising
bundle RLC products that they sell with trucks and marketing, “we still phone: 812-378-9040
into their customers’ financing packages. think social media is
Civic involvement is an important part of our best approach,” says website: rlctruck.com
the culture at RLC. The company donates to Cruser. “We also have a
several community organizations and has a lot of success with RLC
truck in the city’s Festival of Lights parade at stickers that dealerships
Christmastime. put in the back windows of their trucks.”
One noteworthy recent project was Rhino’s The main message he wants to convey
Angels. Rhino was the shop dog at RLC for with his marketing effort is that RLC is the
nine years and died in 2019. In his memory, one-stop shop for truck owners. “Our biggest
RLC partnered with Bull Dog Pantry, a Glean- challenge is letting people know we can do
ers pantry located in the Columbus North High anything in the way of aftermarket upgrades
School cafeteria that serves Bartholomew Con- to trucks.”
SPring 2020 | The Business Connection 13where Every day is
TaColumbus offers authentic
tastes of Mexico
story By Barney Quick | photos by ali hendricks
Pictured: Lyndsey Rodriguez, Jonathan
14 The Business Connection | SPRING 2020 Rodriguez and Jiovani De La CruzT
The TaColumbus story is a testament to
vision, grit, the esprit de corps of a tight-
knit family, and a passion for food. It all
came together without a formal plan or
even much startup capital.
The restaurant, located in a strip mall
just a few doors south of the corner of
17th Street and National Road, opened
in February 2019. It has enjoyed steady
growth since then and amassed some
genuine fans.
The partners are Jonathan Rodriguez,
his wife, Lyndsey, and Jonathan’s friend
of many years, Jiovani De La Cruz. The
rest of the staff is family who handle a
variety of duties.
Jonathan and Jiovani are originally
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Stone pathway leads
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Limestone patio
with gas firepit
from Mexico City. They came to the
United States in 2008 and worked in
7183 E. Co. Rd. 400 N.
various Indianapolis restaurants. Lyndsey Greensburg, IN
is a Columbus native. The idea to open 888-596-9221
their own establishment came to them in www.JacksonsNursery.com
info@JacksonsNursery.com
late 2017.
“It started over a Christmas celebra-
tion,” says Lyndsey. “At first, we kind of
TR-35034449
SPring 2020 | The Business Connection 15laughed about it, but then it got serious.”
None of them had any prior business
experience. “We asked some restaurant
owners what they thought we’d need in
terms of money,” she recalls. “They told us
it would require about $20,000. It turned
out to be a lot more.”
Family stepped up to fill the gap. Lynd-
sey mentions her grandfather in particular,
not only as a source of financial help, but
for his pitching in as they readied the
space for opening.
Jonathan and Jiovani were still working
13-hour days in Indianapolis and coming
to Columbus to work on TaColumbus
afterward. A lot of that work involved a
whole other skill set besides cooking.
The remodeling crew the partners had
hired stopped in the middle of the renova-
tion project. They took the materials that
the partners had purchased with them.
“We had to replace the studs they’d put in,
which weren’t up to code, and make the
walls fire-retardant,” says Lyndsey. “We
also had to install the flooring.”
Rodriguez takes an order. They found out that the state required a
Above: De La Cruz tends to the grill. blueprint of the restaurant’s layout, speci-
16 The Business Connection | SPRING 2020fying the number of seats and tables, as well too impressed at first, but I got to thinking
as the various types of sinks and where each about how the play on words occurs to a
would be located. Lyndsey said the search person after thinking about it a little bit.”
for someone to draft the blueprint “without The logo, which features a muscular chef
charging us an arm and a leg” took awhile. thrusting a spindle of pork towards the name,
Regarding the financial side of the op- was a friend’s idea.
eration and tax considerations, Jonathan The shop has some very regular customers.
set about doing research. “He’s the type of Many come over from the Cummins fuel sys-
person who, if he needs to know something, tems plant across National Road. “They’re so
goes after it and doesn’t let it go,” observes frequent that we know their
Lyndsey. voices when they call in their
The challenges continued. The partners orders,” says Lyndsey.
started paying rent in November 2018, but She notes that “one guy TaColumbus
weren’t ready to open until the following from Kentucky comes in
February. Four days after opening, Jiovani’s twice a week.” address: 1637 N. National
wife had a baby. Lyndsey and Jonathan also She says that the customer Road
moved to Columbus that month. Still, they base spans a wide demo-
persevered. graphic range: young, old, phone: 812-343-1423
The menu emphasizes tacos. One doesn’t several nationalities. “I’m glad
find soups or tamales, although the shop about that, because I didn’t website: facebook.com/
does offer tortas. know how many people were ElTacolumbus/
“We wanted to keep it authentic,” explains going to want to try what
Lyndsey. “If you go into a taco shop in Mex- we’re offering.”
ico, you’re going to get tacos.” She says her main focus
They have a network of suppliers that they is engaging customers and
use for the various ingredients. Doug Dale getting to know them. Cleanliness is also a
Meats in Indianapolis provides the beef, top priority. Regarding strategic plans, they
pork and chicken. El Milagro in Chicago is would like to expand. The dining room gets
the source for the tortillas. The vegetables full to capacity fairly often. Jiovani would also
come from El Paisano in Indianapolis and like to see the team open a Chinese restau-
La Guanajuato in Columbus, and Jonathan’s rant someday.
grandmother in Indianapolis makes the flan. “He loves Chinese,” says Lyndsey. “Cooking
The name was a spontaneous idea of it, eating it.”
Jonathan’s. “We’d been thinking about it and For now, there is a steady stream of taco
weren’t coming up with anything,” says Lynd- fans to accommodate. All the ingredients
sey. “One day he texted me that idea. I wasn’t appear to be in place for a robust second year.
SPring 2020 | The Business Connection 17STRIKE
A POSE
Studios expand classes
to meet students
at every level
story By jenn willhite | photos by ali hendricks
18 The Business Connection | SPRING 2020O
On a warm evening in June the
plaza outside Bartholomew County
Public Library was a sea of yogis.
More than 100 yoga practitioners
flocked to the plaza to take part in
the inaugural event. It was led by
several teachers who took center
stage on the steps near the entrance
to lead the first-ever community
class.
The event was a testament to the
growing local interest in the ancient
practice. Yes, yoga is about stretch-
ing and flexibility, and for some,
that includes achieving pretzel-like
poses, but that isn’t all there is to it.
Shannon Clulow, co-owner
of Uptown Yoga, describes the
practice as a way to bring the body,
breath and mind to their natural
states of equilibrium.
“The benefits of yoga are so many
and far-reaching,” she says. “I think
we are seeing more yoga teachers
and practitioners in Columbus
because people are experiencing
tangible differences in their quality
of life as a result of practicing.”
And as word spreads and local
interest in the nearly 5,000-year-
old practice grows, area studios are
expanding their class offerings and
special events.
“It is important to offer a variety
of classes to represent as many
different people as we can,” Clulow
Pictured: Eun Young Roh at Zen Fitness
SPring 2020 | The Business Connection 19Top and at right: Rachelle Antcliff teaches a class at
Uptown Yoga. Left and above: Participants practice
yoga at Zen Fitness.
20 The Business Connection | SPRING 2020says. “One person may want only to relax
and refresh from a busy week; someone
else may desire a physically demanding
and hot practice; and another may be
seeking a more spiritual connection
when they come to yoga; or maybe all of
the above.”
Rachelle Antcliff, co-owner of Uptown
Yoga, agrees with Clulow but takes it a
step further.
Oftentimes, when students are new to
the mat, they may not be aware of every-
thing a complete yoga practice entails,
Antcliff says. Not only are there the ben-
efits of a vigorous practice, as one would
get with a hot or power flow, but there’s
also the balancing aspect of a more quiet,
relaxing flow as one would get with a yin
or restorative class, she says.
Offering a range of classes allows for
unique “entry points” to the practice
that students may not otherwise have,
Antcliff adds. Currently, Uptown offers a forward. “We are very open to work those who are just beginning their yogic
full weekly schedule of nearly two dozen with various groups in the community,” journey, as well as those with an estab-
opportunities for area yogis to practice, Antcliff says. “If you value a person, you lished practice.
including beginner, all levels, power, hot value what they value.” “It diversifies our population so
and gentle flow classes, as well as peri- Recognizing personal values and in- people can learn from one another,”
odic workshops and special events. terests can translate in a variety of ways, Hess says. “You have beginners next
Uptown Yoga also offers and supports she says. Among its programs outside to those who have been practicing for
a variety of area events benefiting the of class offerings, Uptown is looking at years, which gives both perspectives. It
Columbus community that introduce revitalizing its book club and offering becomes intergenerational as well, and
people to the practice while fostering more in-depth learning opportunities, that is always a wonderful community
constructive conversation. including retreats, workshops and experience.”
In the fall Uptown Yoga offered a series teacher training, Antcliff says. Zen Fitness’ yoga classes include be-
of special events, including Yoga with “I do see more community events in ginner, gentle and even chair yoga, she
Cats, as well as a donation-based Thanks- Uptown’s future,” Clulow says. “I also says. Twice a year, the studio also offers
giving Gratitude Flow, which benefited see Uptown offering more specialized a six-week prenatal yoga class, as well
the Columbus Animal Shelter and Love classes, meditation classes and more as a nine-month yoga teacher training
Chapel. In recent years, Uptown has also outreach into the community to bring program.
become a proud supporter of the annual yoga to the recovery community, first When it comes to specialty classes,
all-night Dance Marathon, which is a responders and at-risk youth.” Hess says Zen has offered a wine and
noteworthy fundraiser benefiting Turn- It is building that sense of commu- yoga class that was popular, and the stu-
ing Point Domestic Violence Services nity and fostering its growth that Sarah dio continues to look at offering unique
that is open to Bartholomew County Hess, studio manager and yoga teacher events that appeal to people’s interests.
high school students. with Zen Fitness, says is at the heart “It always comes back to community,”
Clulow and Antcliff, who recently of the local yoga community. She says she says. “It’s about people supporting
purchased Uptown Yoga, say they hope there is tremendous value in offering a one another on their yoga journey. Be
to grow the studio’s community pres- diversity of classes and events that foster patient and, with time, you will evolve
ence with more unique offerings going a sense of community and support for to where you want to be.”
SPring 2020 | The Business Connection 2122 The Business Connection | SPRING 2020 PHOTO FROM THE REPUBLIC FILES
Budget
»
Shangri-La
How discount chain Aldi is giving those
fancy grocery stores a run for their money
By Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz | Chicago Tribune (TNS)
For years, Amber Walker held a dim view of Aldi,
the discount grocer whose U.S. headquarters sits
just a mile from her home in Batavia, Illinois. She
associated it with dented 10-cent cans and no-name
brands. She did not understand why, of all things, it
also sold hammocks.
But Walker’s negative perception swiftly changed
after her first visit to Aldi in decades in 2016, when
the chain started accepting credit cards, and she
found not the dingy floors from her childhood
memories but a budget Shangri-La.
She could buy a week’s worth of groceries for
her family of four for less than $100 and discover
treasures in an aisle dedicated to random rotating
items that “I don’t need but can’t live without.”
Aldi, at least in Walker’s eyes, got even better when
it broadened its limited selection to include more
fresh, organic and high-end products — still at
steep discounts — while undergoing an aggressive
national expansion and chain-wide remodeling blitz.
As a spruced-up Aldi climbs toward its goal of
having 2,500 stores by 2022 — which would make
it the third-largest grocer in the nation by store
count — converts like Walker are putting aside old
perceptions of the brand and embracing the no-frills
ethos that allows Aldi to sell quality products for
cheap. Though behemoths like Walmart and Kroger
dominate the market, analysts say the companies
are watching their backs as the German-born chain
reshapes expectations of the shopping experience.
“I’m always shocked at what I can get for the cost,”
SPring 2020 | The Business Connection 23said Walker, an animal trainer who chestnuts or organic tofu — though here or there from the competition.
previously did her regular shopping Aldi is testing the latter — and can’t But Aldi is setting a standard for
at Walmart, Meijer, Costco and Super get a single lime without buying a low-priced, high-quality goods that is
Target. “Aldi gets my business first, 1-pound bag, Patton said Aldi should keeping its larger rivals on their toes.
and then I will fill in holes elsewhere.” cover 90% to 95% of their grocery list. Walmart benchmarks its prices
Known for cost-saving measures Aldi, which had 1,600 stores in against Aldi’s, setting them a few
such as requiring customers to bag 2017 when it announced its $5.3 percentage points higher because the
their own groceries and pay a quarter billion expansion and renovation mass merchandiser has the advan-
deposit to access a grocery cart, Aldi plan, ended the year with nearly 2,000 tage of more products, Short said.
says its customer base has swelled as stores in 36 states. It has completed Walmart’s then-U.S. CEO Greg Foran
it modernizes its digs and broadens 70% of its $180 million in planned called Aldi a “fierce” competitor that
its selection to include items like fresh local renovations and is gaining is not to be underestimated.
salmon, organic strawberries and ground on Jewel-Osco, the biggest Grocers are increasing investment
artisan cheeses. local player, which has 188 stores in in private-label products, which is
At remodeled stores, which have Illinois, Indiana and Iowa. a key part of Aldi’s playbook and
been expanded to fit a bigger produce Though the privately held company relevant to younger consumers who
and fresh foods section, customer does not release financials, Super- care less about name brands. Sales
traffic has increased by 30% to 40%, market News estimated its revenues of private-label products grew 3.6%
said Scott Patton, vice president of last year at $18.4 billion, up from over the year that ended in October,
corporate buying. “The more variety $16.8 billion in 2017, while Kroger’s while branded products grew 1.7%,
of products we carry, the more sales were more than $120 billion. Its according to Nielsen. At Aldi, 90% of
customers view Aldi as a place they national market share is just 2%. the product selection is private label.
can do their first shop of the week,” Karen Short, an analyst at Barclays, Patton, a 24-year veteran of Aldi,
he said. called Aldi’s stores “ankle biters with said he takes the competition’s
While shoppers still have to go respect to the overarching impact” on interest in its business model as
elsewhere for fresh ginger or water the industry, siphoning off just a trip a compliment and a sign that the
24 The Business Connection | SPRING 2020grocer, which opened its first U.S. store sumers over more than 30 years, first it to get more milk on a single truck
in Iowa in 1976, is doing something building awareness about price, then because it weighs less, which saves on
right. He isn’t concerned anyone will quality and more recently the treasure transport costs.
out-Aldi Aldi. hunt aspect of its The limited selection — think five
“Our whole rotating bargains. By types of olive oil rather than the 35
company is based
“Our whole contrast, Lidl, another to 50 found at a typical supermarket
on efficiency, saving company is based German discount — is also key to Aldi’s cost structure
money and doing on efficiency, chain that’s rolling because it can keep stores small. At
things better and saving money out stores across the 12,000 square feet, the average Aldi
faster than anyone else East Coast, jumped in is a fraction of the size of supermar-
can,” he said. “So as and doing things too quickly without kets that tend to run from 40,000 to
they’re chasing us, we better and faster educating consumers 150,000 square feet, saving it on rent,
continue to innovate, than anyone and has scaled back taxes and energy costs, he said.
and we’re moving the ambitious expansion Stores need fewer employees, and
else can. So as
ball. We’re not stand- plans, he said. they are cross-trained so that they are
ing still.” they’re chasing The danger, as never idle. “They can run the register,
In a report last year, us, we continue Aldi refurbishes and refill produce, run the bakery, restock
Morgan Stanley said to innovate, and peddles fancier fare, is milk — anything that needs to be done
one in five customers that some consumers in the store, anyone can do,” Patton
who recently switched
we’re moving the will assume prices are said. “That’s real efficiency.”
grocery stores took ball. We’re not going up as a result Aldi historically has been just as
their business to Aldi, standing still.” and think twice about focused on good quality as low prices,
a greater share than whether it’s still their though many outsiders don’t have that
Scott Patton, vice
opted for Costco, best option, Johnstone perception. “They think it can’t be as
president of corporate
Kroger, Target buying said. good quality if it’s so cheap,” he said.
and Whole Foods. Patton said the In a recent survey of Aldi shoppers,
Walmart, the market company will never Kantar Retail found speed was central
leader, got 30% of compromise its price to Aldi’s appeal. Survey respondents
switchers, but that was flat from the advantage. As it tests bakeries in a said it was 20% faster to shop at Aldi
prior year while Aldi’s share was up handful of stores, churning out fresh than at other stores. They also said
significantly. baguettes daily, it is assessing whether shopping there was fun. The report
Nearly half of Walmart stores, and the consumer demand is worth the traced the fun to Aldi Finds, an aisle
more than half of Krogers, are within cost. that features 50 to 60 new items each
5 miles of an Aldi as the discounter “It’s absolutely the most efficient week, often pegged to the season.
elbows into their territory, the report bakery you’re going to find, but For all the Aldi nerds out there,
said. Aldi is vying for shoppers online bakeries are inherently inefficient,” he however, there are plenty of people
as well: Last year it rolled out a chain- said. “So we don’t know. What we don’t who prefer a more robust grocery ex-
wide grocery delivery partnership with want to do is raise prices to pay for it.” perience. Aldi does not have prepared
Instacart and added same-day beer From use of shelf space to package hot foods or in-store dining options or
and wine delivery. Twenty percent of design, dozens of cost-saving details butcher counters that shoppers value
its delivery customers had never been allow Aldi to keep prices low, Patton elsewhere. At least, not yet.
to one of its physical stores before, said. For example, each product has “Would we ever have a piano player,
suggesting it’s finding new audiences, a bar code on each side of its package a sushi bar or juice bar?” Patton said.
Patton said. so cashiers can scan items quickly. “I would never say never. But I would
Simon Johnstone, director of retail The company recently took two years say this: If we ever had any of those
insights at Kantar Retail, credits Aldi’s to develop a new milk bottle and things, it would be the most efficient
success to its patience in slowly intro- transporting system that swapped out of our competitors, and we would do it
ducing its brand to American con- metal for polystyrene crates, allowing better and faster than anyone else.”
SPring 2020 | The Business Connection 25couch
surfing
Furniture rental startups see a market
By joseph pisani | the associated Press
26 The Business Connection | SPRING 2020software company, who lives with his partner
and their dog.
Feather, Fernish and other companies aim
to rent furniture to millennials who don’t want
to commit to big purchases or move heavy
furniture and are willing to pay for the conve-
nience. It’s part of a wave of rental culture that
includes Rent the Runway, focused on women’s
designer clothing, and even Netflix and Spotify,
which let you stream from a huge catalog rather
than buy individual TV show episodes, movies
or songs.
»
“They’re moving a lot. They’re changing jobs
a lot,” says Thomas Robertson, a marketing pro-
fessor at the Wharton School of the University of
Pennsylvania, describing the types of people who
would use the services. “Why would you want to
be saddled with furniture?”
The furniture-rental companies target high-in-
come city dwellers who want a $1,100 orange
love seat ($46 a month) or $980 leather bench
($41 a month) — but only temporarily. The
furniture itself is a step up from Ikea.
“I’m 32 years old and have lived in 25 differ-
ent places, five different countries, 12 different
cities,” says Chan Park, who co-founded online
furniture rental company Oliver Space last year.
He constantly bought and discarded cheap
furniture. Then he moved to a furnished rental
NEW YORK — Zachariah Mohammed’s living apartment in Singapore.
room is filled with stuff he doesn’t own. “It was probably the first time my adult life
He pays $200 a month for the sofa, side table, that I felt like I was truly at home,” Park says.
bar cart, dining table and four chairs in his living These startups are in just a handful of coastal
room. It’s worth it, the 27-year-old New Yorker cities, with few users, but seek to grow. They
says. If he needs to move, which he’s done twice offer furniture from Crate & Barrel, West Elm
in the last 12 months, he won’t need to lug a and smaller brands.
sofa across the city or worry if it will fit in a new Others are renting out home goods, too. Rent
place. The furniture-rental startup, Feather, will the Runway recently added West Elm pillows
swap out items for something else. and quilts. Ikea is testing a rental service in
“We don’t want to be stuck with a giant couch,” several countries outside the U.S., including
says Mohammed, a social media manager at a Switzerland and Belgium.
SPring 2020 | The Business Connection 27Renting may make sense for a generation that sees city. But right now, she doesn’t know what the future
“life as transient,” says Hana Ben-Shabat, the founder holds.
of Gen Z Planet, a research and “I don’t think too far ahead,” she
advisory firm that focuses on the gen- says.
“If people think That comes at a price. Critics have
eration born between the late 1990s
and 2016. this is the best called the furniture-rental business
Young people today get married way to buy a exploitative in the past. Stores like
Rent-A-Center target low-income
and buy homes later than they used couch, they are
to, and young people move more than shoppers who can’t afford to buy a
wrong. They fridge or couch outright and charge
older people do. Still, millennials are
moving less than previous genera- should recognize higher prices overall than competi-
tions did at their age, and Americans that they are pay- tors.
Some of the new batch of furniture
overall are moving less. ing for the conve- renters charge for membership, and
Moving her furniture from
nience of renting.” there are fees for late payments or
New York to Los Angeles would for furniture that is badly damaged.
have cost Clarissa Wright $3,000. Margot Saunders, the
Customers can keep furniture if their
Instead, she gave away most of senior counsel at the
monthly payments add up to full
National Consumer Law
what she owned, traveled in Europe Center price. Prices are the same at West Elm
for two months and then rented a and Crate & Barrel, but you could buy
couch, bed, mattress, bar stools and more cheaply directly from the store
other furniture in her new place, if there’s a sale.
for $255 a month. Feather delivered and assembled “If people think this is the best way to buy a couch,
everything in one day. they are wrong,” says Margot Saunders, the senior
Wright, a 28-year-old marketing consulting for counsel at the National Consumer Law Center. “They
fashion and beauty brands, says she can switch out the should recognize that they are paying for the conve-
furniture, add more stuff, move to a new apartment or nience of renting.”
28 The Business Connection | SPRING 2020QUESTION & ANSWER
Changing the By Liz Reyer
dynamics with a Star Tribune (Minneapolis)
Liz Reyer is a credentialed coach
with more than 20 years of business
blindsiding boss
experience. Her company, Reyer
Coaching & Consulting, offers services
for organizations of all sizes. Submit
questions or comments about this column
at www.deliverchange.com/coachscorner
or email her at liz@deliverchange.com.
Q
I work closely with one of our ex- is to create statements that focus on your feelings, the
ecutives, and he often will swoop in event, the impact and what you would prefer instead.
with questions that have no context For example, you might say, “I feel anxious when you
and sound critical of what I’m doing. fire questions at me with no context. As a result, I’m less
It upsets me, and then when I set up a productive, and it takes longer to provide the infor-
meeting to clear the air, he backs down. mation you need. I would like it if you would give me
How can I change this dynamic? advance warning to prepare.”
—Karl, senior director, financial analysis When this goes well, it opens the other person’s eyes
to the effect of their behavior. As an optimist, I believe
A
A set pattern like this gives you plenty that most people don’t intend to be jerks and will try
of opportunity to assess the dynamics to do better. You can then develop a shared strategy for
and weigh your options. interacting constructively.
Choose a time when you are not At the same time, if they are impulsive by nature and
feeling bothered to do some reflection. are being reactive to their senior leaders, they may have
As you think about past incidents, try to trouble forming a new habit. That’s where we come back
identify the triggers that bring out this behavior in him. to your personal buffering.
Visualize the emotions that he is transmitting to try to First you need to understand your own triggers. Are
understand if he is being driven by anger, fear, frustra- your interactions with him more fraught than with other
tion or some other strong emotion. people you engage with? Perhaps he even just reminds
It’s not unusual for someone to then bring these you of someone from your past. Then keep in mind that
feelings to bear in their interactions with others. If this your old reactions may no longer be serving you well.
is the case, though, there may not be much you can do Buffer inwardly. Visualize a shield of some sort that
to stop him. Your solution then will be to learn to buffer keeps his emotions off you, even as you’re interacting.
yourself so that you don’t internalize his dynamics. Use your breath to stay centered.
More on that later. Buffer externally. When he raises issues out of the
Depending on the nature of your relationship, you blue, take charge. Get him focused, be able to take notes
may be able to have a candid conversation about these and remind him of your communication agreement.
interactions and the negative effect they have on you. Be persistent and advocate for your needs, while also
This is a time for “I statements” to avoid triggering de- being a cooperative partner and colleague. In most
fensiveness on his part. If you are not familiar with this cases, this approach will lead to a more positive and
technique, there are lots of resources online. The essence productive working relationship.
SPring 2020 | The Business Connection 29BARTHOLOMEW COUNTY SNAPSHOT
Business indicators for Bartholomew County
Percent Change
dec 2019/
sept 2019 oct 2019 nov 2019 dec 2019 dec 2018
Labor Force 45,587 45,602 45,672 45,418 -.08
Employed 44,676 44,616 44,621 44,450 +.32
Unemployed 911.0 986.0 1,051 968.0 -15.46
Unemployment Rate (pct) 2.0 2.2 2.3 2.1 -0.4
Note: All figures not seasonally adjusted
SOURCE: Ball State Center for Economic and Business Research
»
LinkedIn CEO steps aside after
11 years, says time is right
By Tali Arbel | The Associated Press
NEW YORK — The LinkedIn professional net- “He was there to help ensure that I was going to
working service is getting a new CEO. be successful,” Weiner said in a video posted by
Jeff Weiner will become executive chairman LinkedIn. “So I’d like to replicate this process.”
after 11 years as chief of the Microsoft-owned Weiner said he would still be available to
business. Ryan Roslansky, senior vice president of represent the company and help with product or
product, will become CEO as of June 1. strategy reviews.
Weiner said the timing felt right personally and The service has about 675 million members,
professionally, with a ready successor. compared with 33 million when Weiner joined
Roslansky said LinkedIn’s priority of serving LinkedIn as CEO in 2008.
the world’s professionals isn’t going to change. Microsoft bought the company for $26 billion
LinkedIn is a social network for workers and in 2016, making it the Redmond, Washington,
job seekers. Recruiters use it to find new hires. company’s largest acquisition. LinkedIn’s annual
Users can share their resumes, search for jobs and revenue was $6.8 billion in the fiscal year that
catch up on career advice and the latest news. The ended in June, up 28% from the previous fiscal
basic version is free, though LinkedIn charges to year. That was 5.4% of Microsoft’s total revenue.
get additional features. Roslansky has been at LinkedIn for more than
Weiner said he sees his new role as similar to 10 years. He will report to Microsoft CEO Satya
how LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman helped Nadella and join Microsoft’s senior leadership
him. team.
30 The Business Connection | SPRING 2020Local Leaders.
Local Service.
Local Decisions.
Let’s talk about your financial goals.
Contact our team of financial experts today!
Jeremy Foster Joe Hauersperger Kim Bennett Michael Gerth Andy Jaisle
Scott Ballard Jenny Gilley Jason Schroer Jerrie Posey Ashley McCreary Gary Everroad Jerica Dailey
Columbus • Greensburg • Seymour • North Vernon
(812)372-2265 | germanamerican.com
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