Business Person or Business Couple of the Year
It's time to voite again for the Bainbridge Island Chamber of Commerce's Business Person of the Year.
Winners are honored at a special Chamber luncheon serve as the honorary Grand Marshal(s) in the Grand Old Fourth of July Parade.
A potential nominee does not have to be a Chamber member to qualify for this prestigious award.
Nomination forms are available onlinne or at the Chamber office.
2009 Business Couple of the Year
Ace is the Place for the Mikami's
Steve and Becky Mikami owe their success in retailing to three guiding principles: "great employees, a ton of inventory, and a big parking lot."
The Mikami's own the Bainbridge Island Ace Hardware store on HIgh School Rd., where over the past 18 years they have quietly carved out a dynamic niche in the housewares, home and garden and paint retail segments while earning kudos for customer service and community involvement.
For their business acumen and their willingness to lend support to many island causes, the Chamber of Commerce has named the Mikami's its 2009 Business Couple of the Year. Steve and Becky were honored in a "roast and toast" banquet on May 20 at Wing Point Golf & Country Club.
"We like to fly under the radar," says Steve. "I was a little hesitant about accepting this award, but when my Dad passed away, it made sense." Steve's father, "Tuck" Mikami, died on April 21 at age 85.
"He would have been proud of you, and us," said Becky. "Yeah, he taught me a lot about business, hard work, and not giving up," added Steve.
The Mikami's practically grew up in the hardware store business. Becky's parents - the Garber's - own a Coast to Coast store in Gig Harbor. She was raised sorting screws, inventorying plumbing supplies and mixing paint, and stil takes pride today in outwitting male customers who might think their home repair project questions are over her head.
After looking at a number of potential sites for a store on the island, the Mikami's - with help from their parents - opened their outlet at its current site in 1991. At the time, there was much consternation in the community over the opening of the nearby Island Village Shopping Center. For a while, some locals were boycotting the stores in that complex - specifically Safeway.
"We fell into that," recalls Steve. "It was hard to win people over in the beginning, but customer service won out," added Becky.
The Mikami's started with five employees and worked the floor themselves - working the cash register, making keys, mixing paint, ordering merchandise, stocking shelves and selling products. All their earnings meanwhile went back into buying inventory.
Ace is a dealer-owned buying cooperative. The Mikami's have stock in the cooperative, but they can also buy from independent producers. "Every store is individually owned," Becky said. "You can choose your niches."
As the couple had children - they now have four - they improved and expanded their operations, taking over the former Lindsley's space in 1997 for their home offerings. They also began supporting local causes that met their personal philosophies - schools, kids' activities, churches and non profits. "We believe in keeping it local," said Steve. "If we don't have it, we refer to other island stores or tell customers to Google it. They appreciate that kind of advice."
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