4 minute read
Kunau Implement
The Kunau Implement Dealership Expansion
Kunau Implement’s DeWitt dealership underwent a major expansion to improve workflow, enhance employee facilities, and better serve customers with upgraded shop space, parts storage, and a modernized showroom. Completed in 2021, the remodel reflects a strategic investment in customer relationships and workforce satisfaction, positioning the business as a top-tier employer and service provider in the region.
Read on as Julie Myers of Kunau Implement, shares how the whole process played out.
The Thought:
Our original building was built in 1994, and we added onto the shop around 2000. With the size of equipment growing, we were running out of shop space as well as parts storage and decided that if we wanted to keep up with the industry, we needed to remodel and add on.
After years of adding on, we needed to address problems with:
• Inefficiency of workflow
• Insufficient employee areas including locker room facilities, lunchroom accommodations, training areas, hard surface parking, and clean/safe/well-lit workspaces
• Lack of proper wash bay and detailing facilities
• Insufficient parts storage, both in layout and capacity
• Insufficient customer-facing spaces, including poor showroom spaces for our retail goals, clear directional signage, room for our sales team, needs for a reception area, lack of a comfortable customer waiting area, hard surfaced parking,
• Lack of shipping and receiving areas to accommodate parts, machinery and service business
The Process:
Our main challenge that we faced was working with our existing structure. We were not starting on a brand-new property, so we had to be cognizant of reusing our building while adding on in a way that made sense. There is not one area of the old building that wasn’t changed in some shape or form.
We began working on the expansion with our architect in 2017 and worked with our general contractor to order the steel building in December of 2019. We put the balance of the work bids out in early 2020 and officially finished in the Summer of 2021.
The Final Product:
Our original building was built in 1994 and had 6 sales offices, 3 admin/service manager offices, as well as separate parts counters for customers and technicians. With the remodel we now have 12 sales/admin offices, separate service and parts manager’s offices, as well as a “service bullpen” where we have an assistant service manager, service writer, and the shop parts counter.
Our showroom is over double in size and directly off the showroom is a meeting room that gets utilized almost weekly. We also have a receptionist immediately inside the front door of our showroom.
The new shop is 100’x180’ with a crane running the entire span. We also have a consumer/lawn and garden shop area that is about 35’x70’. We turned part of our old, detached parts warehouse into an 80’x50’ wash bay and continue to use the remainder for large parts and lawn mower storage. Our parts storage area is about 70’x100’ with about a third of that being a double layer mezzanine with shelving.
Our customers understand that our investment in the remodel was a direct investment in our relationship with them. Our ability to provide more key parts for them and efficiently be able to service their various equipment types/sizes was a key driver in the remodel. The ultimate goal of this project was to establish Kunau Implement as The Employer of Choice in our market by providing a state-of-the-art facility for our employees to spend a good percentage of their lives in a safe and welcoming environment.
Source: Julie Myers – Communications Manager, Kunau Implement
