SIDNEY — For over three decades, Dickman Supply had been under the ownership and direction of Tim Geise. That will all change in 2019, as his three sons, Chris, Kevin and Jason will be leading the business into its 66th year of operation following his retirement.
After starting in the warehouse with Dickman Supply in 1967 and purchasing it in 1986, Tim has spearheaded the growth of the company to one of West Central Ohio’s leading electrical and industrial suppliers.
“I’ve been very blessed to be one place for so many years,” said Geise. “I am looking forward to enjoying retirement, but will never forget the relationships and memories that have been made over the last 52 years. It’s been an absolute joy to work with so many great customers, employees and suppliers.”
The company was able to send Tim out with a bang, increasing sales by 13 percent from the previous year and setting a new annual sales record. While a strong economy certainly helped sales overall, Dickman Supply was able to make significant advances in several areas of operation including generator, motor and variable frequency drive sales. New sales records by both the Celina and Marysville helped fuel the company’s success as well.
Even after a record year, Dickman Supply has not stayed content with their current offerings and services. While providing knowledgeable service on everyday electrical and industrial supplies is at the core of the business, they have always kept an eye on the future. Dating back to the early 2000’s, Dickman Supply was a pioneer in introducing LED lighting technology to the area, which has allowed them to become a DP&L Channel Partner Top Performer for 10 straight years. Now that LED technology has become the new norm, the company had to find new ways to stay ahead of the curve.
While vendor managed inventory (VMI) is not necessarily a new concept, Dickman Supply wanted to take it to the next level. Various distributors have created programs to help customers maintain appropriate levels of inventory for items such as hardware, fasteners, and personal protective equipment. Dickman did not want to limit their program to such items, and instead created a program that has no limits on what kind of material they can manage.
“VMI has become more and more popular each year,” said Brent Palser, vice president of sales. “The most fundamental way to put it is we help make sure the customer doesn’t have too much or too little inventory. We set the foundation for our program about 4 years ago, but it really took off in 2018. Customers have grown to realize that VMI can help eliminate stock-outs, increase turns, reduce ordering errors, and even decrease personnel costs.”
Dickman Supply has now set up a VMI program at over 20 customers, some with as few as 50 items while others have nearly 1,000 and has dedicated additional resources to keep up with the demand.
The company looks forward to continued success under their new leadership.
