ECHO JOURNAL | Wednesday, January 26, 2022
PINEANDLAKES.COM
BUSINESS TRADITIONS 2022
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BUSINESSTraditions ROLL OF HONOR 2022
A BRAINERD DISPATCH & ECHO JOURNAL PUBLICATION
Contributed
Jeff and Tracy Swenson pose by their mobile office, their van, with their dog, Toby.
CUSTOMER SERVICE AT HEART OF
Chem-Dry of the Lakes
By Renee Richardson Brainerd Dispatch
BRAINERD — For Jeff and Tracy Swenson, the recipe for success may be a combination of work ethic and connecting with customers. The couple, who own and operate the Brainerd lakes Chem-Dry franchise called ChemDry of the Lakes, also have worked together at the business for an impressive 25 years with a decade of that time in the Brainerd lakes area. Communication is a key to make for a successful marriage and business
151 Years
partnership. For those starting out on their own in business, Jeff Swenson has simple but strong advice. “I would say keep your promises,” he said. “ … Think about it. It’s not for everybody. … Remember you are probably going to work a little bit harder than you have for anybody else.” The trade-off: Greater satisfaction. As for a key to success in working with your spouse, Swenson said it is separating work from home. “We’ve done it so long, we would find it
150 Years
difficult not working with each other,” he said. “We really consider it a good thing we’ve worked together so long.” Swenson said he was one of those guys at work who always had ideas and suggestions that didn’t go over very well. That’s when he knew he’d be better off having his own business. He said the ChemDry franchise provided the structure, while the business decisions are your own and how successful you are depends on what you put into it. Swenson said ChemDry has become the force it has in the
140 Years
industry because of a lot of mom and pop franchises that focus on being honest and forthright, keeping promises and being on time. “I was always told, from some of the older guys, if you are going to make promises you better keep them and you’ll be successful,” Swenson said. He credits his work ethic to the example his father set, a man who worked for more than 35 years and never took a sick day. An industry leader, Chem-Dry is a worldwide franchise and has been in the lakes area for nearly 50 years. The
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company has a patented cleaning process using a natural carbonating cleaning solution called The Natural, which resembles a mineral bath for carpets. The process uses about one-tenth of the water and doesn’t involve soaps, detergents or harsh chemicals, making it non-toxic for children or pets. With less water used, the company reports carpets dry in one to two hours The company cleans carpets, furniture, area rugs, tile and stone, and wood floors; provides granite countertop renewal; removes
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pet urine and odor; and provides specialty stain removal and commercial cleaning services. Chem-Dry of the Lakes offers residential and commercial cleaning services, working in office buildings and churches as well as residential homes. A Minnesota native, Jeff Swenson grew up in the small city of Fairmont, known in southern Minnesota as a city of lakes. He said the farming community was a great place to grow up, providing examples of strong work ethics.
CHEM-DRY: Page 2
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