Gillman Home Center grows, while maintaining small-business values
June 28, 2022 at 8:28 p.m.
Batesville-based Gillman Home Center continues expanding their footprint while staying true to their roots.
The origins of the hardware store began in Brookville and Charlie Gillman opened the first store in Batesville in the 1990s. Over the past few years, the family-owned company has experienced rapid growth.
On Friday, Gillman Home Center held a groundbreaking ceremony for their 16th location in Shelbyville.
"We're bringing lumber, building materials and hardware for the people who are currently going out of town to get it," said Chief Operating Officer Curtis Gillman. "We want to keep Shelbyville dollars here in Shelbyville."
Gillman Home Center is now ranked the 59th largest lumber yard chain in the United States. They've opened stores as far north as Gas City and Frankfort while opening stores in Eaton and Oxford, Ohio. While they're competing with larger chains, they're doing business their own way.
"We do things different and that is intentional. By the numbers, we are a middle-sized to larger business but in our heart and core we are a small business," Gillman said. "We know our customers and know all of our employees by name, and they have our cell phone numbers and they can call us, just like customers can. I get calls from customers all the time and I really enjoy that."
Gillman Home Center is also known for giving back to the communities they serve.The company routinely donates funds, equipment and supplies for community and non-profit events. For example, they're a sponsor of the fireworks for the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra performance in Batesville Thursday.
"We say yes a lot more than we say no, we just want to give back and sometimes that is putting our name on the back of soccer jerseys," Gillman said. "It's not just about getting our name out there but it's about giving back to the community that has given so much to us."
"If it's important to our community then it is important to us," Gillman added.
In 2020, Gillman Home Center was named the LBM Journal Dealer of the Year in the category of sales between $50 and $100 million. They were credited for their entrepreneurial spirit and building the company by themselves from the ground up.
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Batesville-based Gillman Home Center continues expanding their footprint while staying true to their roots.
The origins of the hardware store began in Brookville and Charlie Gillman opened the first store in Batesville in the 1990s. Over the past few years, the family-owned company has experienced rapid growth.
On Friday, Gillman Home Center held a groundbreaking ceremony for their 16th location in Shelbyville.
"We're bringing lumber, building materials and hardware for the people who are currently going out of town to get it," said Chief Operating Officer Curtis Gillman. "We want to keep Shelbyville dollars here in Shelbyville."
Gillman Home Center is now ranked the 59th largest lumber yard chain in the United States. They've opened stores as far north as Gas City and Frankfort while opening stores in Eaton and Oxford, Ohio. While they're competing with larger chains, they're doing business their own way.
"We do things different and that is intentional. By the numbers, we are a middle-sized to larger business but in our heart and core we are a small business," Gillman said. "We know our customers and know all of our employees by name, and they have our cell phone numbers and they can call us, just like customers can. I get calls from customers all the time and I really enjoy that."
Gillman Home Center is also known for giving back to the communities they serve.The company routinely donates funds, equipment and supplies for community and non-profit events. For example, they're a sponsor of the fireworks for the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra performance in Batesville Thursday.
"We say yes a lot more than we say no, we just want to give back and sometimes that is putting our name on the back of soccer jerseys," Gillman said. "It's not just about getting our name out there but it's about giving back to the community that has given so much to us."
"If it's important to our community then it is important to us," Gillman added.
In 2020, Gillman Home Center was named the LBM Journal Dealer of the Year in the category of sales between $50 and $100 million. They were credited for their entrepreneurial spirit and building the company by themselves from the ground up.