Strategies_Spring2023

COMPANY NEWS

What’s Your Market Uniform?

Bi-annual Blish-Mize markets are known for being family-friendly events. At the Fall 2022 market, we spotted some next-generation retailers who were excited to show off their Blish-Mize apparel. To be featured in a future issue of Strategies , submit your market family photos to Cindy Kane at ckane@blishmize.com or find a member of the Blish-Mize team at the Spring 2023 Market to share them on-site!

Thanks for Everything, Greg Lutz

S: What will you miss about Blish-Mize and the home improvement industry? GL: I will miss learning something new each day. In operations, reacting quickly and adjusting as things changed put us in a position to be really creative. That was fun and challenging for me. I will also miss the challenge of getting the job done each day. Some days we were short staffed or the volume was high, and it took all of us to get the job done, but it always felt good to know we took care of all customers to the best of our ability.

Strategies (S) : Tell us about your tenure with Blish-Mize Greg Lutz (GL): I started at Blish-Mize in February 1999. Blish-Mize is the third company I worked at after graduating from Kansas State with a degree in marketing and a minor in management. I have been in operations management for 43 years. It’s been a great run for me here at Blish-Mize, and it’s been an honor to serve as executive vice president of operations for the majority of my time here. S: What is one of your favorite memories from your time with the company? GL: I loved working with the staff and customers. Blish-Mize has a great staff and getting to know the customers was awesome. I liked when distribution center employees came up with suggestions to improve the process and working with them to make it happen. The sense of accomplishment and pride was very rewarding for all involved. S: What are you looking forward to most about retirement? GL: I am looking forward to spending more time with my family and working on projects around the house—and of course—golfing and fishing.

Greg Lutz started at Blish-Mize in February 1999 and was executive vice president of operations for the majority of his time at the company.

42 Spring 2023 • Hardlines Strategies