TIM MYERS

Amy Sung

ROSELAWN, Ind. -- Know your customers on a first-name basis. Be involved with area schools. Be supportive of area organizations. Have a vested interest in your community.

Those are tenets of the IGA Hometown Proud philosophy that govern how Tim Myers operates his Roselawn IGA supermarket here. That's why Myers, 47, has been named a 2005 IGA International Retailer of the Year.

Myers' store, which became an IGA licensee more than 20 years ago, averages 6,000 customers a week. He enjoys seeing regular customers and welcoming new ones. He also takes pleasure in witnessing the progress of employees. "It's been rewarding to know some of the students who have worked for us have gone on to become doctors, lawyers, judges, teachers and just really good people," Myers told SN. "You'd like to think that a few chances provided by working at Roselawn IGA have helped kids get a good start in life."

Myers has been around the grocery business for his entire life. In 1955, his father bought his first store. He and his father own the Roselawn IGA unit, which was built in 1976. Originally Roselawn Star Market, it became Roselawn IGA in 1983. It has grown significantly: from 9,850 square feet to 16,560 square feet. The store was last remodeled in 1998-1999. Recent investments in technology include new credit card, debit card and food stamp-processing readers to speed and facilitate electronic transfers. Efforts are also under way to accommodate 13-digit bar codes and to expand computer capacity to permit increased product selection.

Changes being contemplated include installing new exterior signs, a new entrance way, a new front-end scanning system and maybe an ice cream shop. These plans are in the early feasibility stage. Myers declined to disclose annual sales figures. However, he did tell SN, "We've experienced growth each year, especially after our addition [of space]."

Myers' involvement with the community through IGA is extensive. The Roselawn IGA store participates in such IGA events as Hometown Holidays, Hometown Proud, KidsFest and Explore the Store. Collaboration with area groups, most involving children, include Summer Reading at the Library, Traveling Baseball and Little League.

Roselawn is mostly rural, but is near the metro northwest Indiana region and Chicago area. There is growth and change in the region.

"We are experiencing an increase in our Hispanic community as the dairy industry located near Roselawn continues to grow," Myers said. In response, the store's grocery and fresh produce departments now carry a large selection of Mexican specialities. In addition, many employees speak Spanish and English.

"We try to know our customers by first name, offer really good customer service, and have very strong and diverse perishable departments," Myers said. "We encourage our customers to ask for items they cannot find elsewhere. We add those products whenever possible.

"When we opened in 1976, we were the only ones selling milk, bread, snacks and soda," he continued. "Now, within a mile of us, there are at least a dozen other businesses selling food items. We try to do a lot with the Hometown Proud concept and stay very community-oriented, offering a variety of marketing events to keep our customer base.

"Our success is tied entirely to our management and employees. We have been fortunate to have a core group of staff that has been with us for more than 20 years. You have to have a strong network and be surrounded by great people: your family, your management staff and your employees, a great wholesaler, good vendors and customers."