PARTNER WITH BLU PETROLEUM
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Blu Petroleum
21402 W. Hwy 60 Mundelein, IL 60060 (847) 566-5536 www.blupetroleum.com
by Meta Levin
“I can do this,” Steve Poole told himself and in
customers who continued to see the value,” he says. Blu Petroleum www.blupetroleum.com He also makes sure that he regularly visits his customers. October 2011 he dove in, starting Blu Petroleum with just Office:“It’s 847-566-5536 hugely important,” he says. himself and a silent partner. Steve Poole When Poole and his silent partner, Dan Beelow, opened At the time Blu Petroleum boasted one truck, one employ- President/Owner Cell: 224-548-9108 Blu Petroleum, Poole made a commitment to give back to ceree and no customers. Poole got his first customers the oldtain organizations. To that end, he has donated to local food fashioned way, he knocked on doors and made phone calls. Of pantries, as well as his and Beelow’s churches and the Wee course, it helped that he had more than 20 years’ experience One Foundation, which helps golf course management proin the industry, working for the former Palatine Oil Co., so he fessionals and their families who incur catastrophic medical not only had knowledge, but also relationships with suppliers expenses without adequate insurance or financial resources. and potential customers. “I had built these relationships and Poole also is looking for a way to contribute to something that was able to continue to grow.” helps the landscape industry. Today Blu Petroleum has 34 employees, 15 trucks and As a member of ILCA, Poole is looking forward to becoming more than 600 customers. more active. In the last few years, he spent so much time growThe company offers all grades of gasoline, diesel, bioing his business, that he felt he did not have the time, but now he diesel, kerosene, ethanol and E85, as well as engine oil, antidoes. “You only get out of it, what you put in it,” he says. freeze, gear lubricants, greases, hydraulic oil, industrial oil and Poole’s wife, Karen, who has teaching and business expetransmission fluid. They also sell tank monitors, fuel control rience, became active in Blu Petroleum as it grew. “She is systems and card lock systems. In addition, they offer bulk oil the brains of the organization,” he says. “She is the glue that and sell and install above and under-ground tanks. keeps everything together. While building up his business Poole operated on and still Together, they are raising an active blended family. Their oldadheres to the mantra: “This is a relationship business.” He est son plays triple A baseball for the Arizona Diamondbacks. means that relative to his customers, his suppliers and, espeNext comes a 23-year-old, studying for his CPA and a 22-yearcially, his employees. “Without my employees, I wouldn’t be old who works in the commercial film and media field. The in business and we wouldn’t be where we are.” 20-year-old is studying to become an elementary school teacher Poole is proud of the fact that he tries to empower his employand the 19-year-old is at Iowa State University working to ees. He tells them to ask themselves, “what would I do to make become an aerospace engineer. Their youngest, a 17-year-old, is sure my customers are satisfied, if I owned the business?” still in high school, but wants to be an doctor. “We’ve allowed To stand out, Poole believes, he must provide something the kids to find their own paths in life,” says Poole. unique and better than his competition. “Gas is gas; fuel is In following his own path, Poole recently started a new fuel,” he says. “What makes us stand out is that we provide division of Blu Petroleum, called Blu Events. It focuses on the best service.” Most of the clients are landscape contracserving large special events that need generators and the types tors, golf courses and municipalities. of products that Blu Petroleum handles. To that end they He also is flexible, making sure he and his staff can recogalready have worked PGA tournaments and festivals, such as nize and adapt to changes. During the economic downturn, he Riot Fest, Lollapalooza, the Chicago marathon, Naperville’s noted that a lot of businesses made decisions based on cost. This Rib Fest and other events. included his competitors, as well as his customers. He decided “People have known and trusted us for a long time,” he says. that they could not cut customer service. “We had a core group of 56
The Landscape Contractor October 2019
