Any business that lasts 80 years must be doing something right. For Uhlmann Home Improvement, it’s not a secret ingredient. It’s right out in the open: Every customer is treated as the most important customer.
George Uhlmann of Flossmoor took over the business from his parents, Kurt and Anna Uhlmann, in 1992. He said he inherited the customer-first approach from them.
business his father started in 1945 going strong. (Photo courtesy of
The Beverly Review)
“My parents worked that way and I work that way,” he said.
He remembered one story from when his parents were still running the business and he was working for them.
“I’ll never forget, a lady walks in to our store. It was like about 10 below zero. And she said, ‘I need one window.’ My mom goes, ‘George, this lady needs one window.'”
He walked the woman home — it was a mile and a half to her house — and installed the window. She told him one of Uhlmann’s competitors had refused to serve her when she asked for only one window. But eventually, the woman ended up hiring Uhlmann to replace all the windows and the siding on her house.
Uhlmann found that building trust with customers results in loyalty. He said the company has second, third and even fourth generation customers. Sales is in his blood. Before taking over Uhlmann Home Improvement, he was selling real estate. His favorite part of his work, what’s kept him going for so many years, is meeting the people he serves.
However, good service and loyal customers haven’t always protected the company from tough times. In a story about the company’s 75th anniversary, the Beverly Review reported the Great Recession forced Uhlmann to close the store. It would reopen in 2014 in its current location at 11636 S. Pulaski Road in Alsip. It is the sixth location for the business that his father started in a Chicago apartment in 1945.
Uhlmann spent the time between store locations keeping in contact with customers and reorganizing the business. The COVID-19 pandemic six years later again required perseverence to keep the business going.
In addition to customer service, Uhlmann believes a key to the company’s success is its standards. He hires well-trained installation crews and always uses high quality, reputable suppliers. His marketing materials always emphasize the brand names of the windows, doors and gutters the company installs.
Some companies don’t tell customers about the brands they use, he said.
“With me, they know where it comes from,” he said. The assurance of quality helps Uhlmann maintain the company’s reputation.
Uhlmann said he and his wife, Ilene, moved to Flossmoor decades ago because they wanted to raise their family in the diverse, welcoming community.
“I don’t think there’s too many communities like this,” he said.
