BBM.July.v
6/28/10
3:54 PM
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BROOM, BRUSH & MOP
By Rick Mullen Broom, Brush & Mop Associate Editor
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nnovation, flexibility, product expansion and keeping a sharp eye on the bottom line are all ways many companies have employed to successfully navigate today’s marketplace. Broom, Brush & Mop spoke recently with executives from four U.S. squeegee manufacturers who outlined how their respective companies have used these business principles to remain viable despite one of the toughest economic stretches in the country’s history.
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s it says on Haviland Corporation’s website, www.havilandcorp.com, squeegees are the company’s primary business, and not just a sideline. “Warren and Van Haviland founded Haviland Corporation in 1946. The following 60-plus years have resulted in a lot of solid growth, industry alliances and friends,” said Haviland Vice President of Operations Dale Heidbrink. “We started out to offer quality floor squeegee and continue that today.” Specializing in high quality industrial grade hand tools for the sanitary supply industry, Haviland, based in Linn, MO, offers floor and window squeegees; woodblock squeegees; waterbrooms; stainless steel squeegees and scrapers; extension handles; splashguards; gaskets; replacement cartridges and replacement blades for floor machines; and wet-dry vacuums. “Slow and steady” is how Heidbrink described business at Haviland during the past year. “We have experienced no major swings in any segment.” In keeping the company on an even keel during these down eco-
July 2010
nomic times, customer service and product innovation have been key elements. “Customer service is something everybody thinks they provide,” Heidbrink said. “However, after you deal with a lot of companies in various industries, it is easy to identify the companies that are dedicated to their customers and are superior. “We believe in providing direct communication with a knowledgeable, breathing person when a customer calls, and having the largest variety of solutions for our customers’ squeegee needs. We keep it as easy as possible for our customers to do business with us.” One of Haviland’s hallmark principles is to help a customer, new or old, with an innovation or product to make his or her job easier. As Heidbrink pointed out, Dale Heidbrink of Haviland Corporation protecting the environment is one of the main topics of the day in many industries. With its color-coded and antimicrobial products, Haviland has asserted itself in a major way in offering environmentally friendly items and solutions. “One new innovation we are excited about is our new antimicrobial product line, the Microbe Spiker™,” said company President Jan Haviland. “We have floor and hand-held models and have come out with a wiping model we call the ‘Swipe.’”