At the Butter Braid® brand, we believe it’s important to celebrate the important milestones and achievements of our fundraising family. That’s exactly what April’s “Dealership Spotlight” post is all about. This month we are celebrating the 25th anniversary of Kittelson Marketing Company and their accomplishments throughout the years. Since the beginning, Kittelson Marketing Company has been providing quality products and outstanding customer service, striving to make fundraising as easy as possible for all their groups.
History
Before starting Kittelson Marketing Company, Eric Kittelson spent years working in the grocery business. Then, one day, he was presented with the opportunity to start his own Butter Braid Pastry dealership. At the time, his wife, Paula, was pregnant with their first child. There would be a lot of challenges having a new baby and starting a business, so they weren’t sure if it was the right time to set out on their own. In the end, Paula and Eric decided they couldn’t let the opportunity pass. They hoped that, with a lot of hard work and long hours, they would have more family time in the end. So, on April 6, 1996, Eric Kittelson opened Kittelson Marketing company in Maple Grove, Minnesota.
Changes to the Dealership
A lot has changed in 25 years. In the beginning, Eric was taking on the bulk of the work and Paula helping when she could. Paula was a computer programmer, so she used her skills to make running certain parts of the business a little easier. In 2003, Paula officially joined the business, and her and Eric have worked side-by-side ever since. Scott Shatto started working with the Kittelsons around the same time, helping in the warehouse and packing orders. In 2006, he joined the business full time and has become an integral part of the operation.
During that time, the Kittelsons were blessed with 2 sons who grew up in the family business. When they were little, they would sweep floors and clean tables between packing orders. Now, Connor is working at Kittelson Marketing Company, and Tyler helps in the warehouse when he is home from college.
The business has continued to grow by leaps and bounds since 1996. Originally, Eric rented cold storage from a local company and packed orders for deliveries where he could find space. The first delivery vehicle he had was an old pick-up truck. Kittelson Marketing Company has since expanded their operation. Now, they have 3 vans with freezer units for delivery and, in 2013, purchased their own building which housed their office and warehouse with a 1100 square foot freezer.
Fundraising Groups
Owning Kittelson Marketing Company has been an exciting 25-year journey for Eric and Paula. For them, it’s been a blessing to work with so many wonderful people and help them achieve their goals. Even after two decades in the fundraising business, the Kittelson Marketing team is still passionate about helping others raise funds for their great causes.
The Kittelson Marketing team is devoted to helping every group they work with raise the funds they need. It doesn’t matter if the group has one seller or a thousand sellers, Kittelson Marketing Company is there to ensure they have the tools they need to be successful. Since 1996, they have worked with schools, churches, sports teams, dance and gymnastic studios, scout groups, and 4-H clubs. With their 25 years in the fundraising industry, Kittelson Marketing company has helped their groups raise over $18 million.
Groups love the personal touch provided by Kittelson Marketing Company. They appreciate that the team treats every group as unique and focuses on their specific needs and fundraising goals. Michelle, a local group leader, details her experience working with the dealership, “I have been doing fundraisers for many years, and this fundraiser was, by far, the best experience I’ve ever had! The product is great and easy to sell. The process of ordering and picking up is set up to run so smoothly. Kittelson Marketing Company is fantastic to work with!”
Fundraising Stories
After so many years in the business, the Kittelson family has collected their fair share of interesting stories. In fact, Eric and Paula say they often wished they would have kept a journal to document some of the funnier experiences they’ve had. In the past, the team has encountered a rogue pig at a delivery, had an emu looking in the window of their delivery van, seen bald eagles and black bears, and gotten stuck in a customer’s front yard. Eric says that, in this line of work, you never know what each day will bring. “The one thing we do know is that we are so glad we took the leap over 25 years ago,” Eric explains. “Our business has brought us so much joy, and we got the extra time with family that we hoped for all those years ago.”
We hope everyone will join us in congratulating Kittelson Marketing Company on 25 years of service. The Butter Braid Fundraising family would like to thank everyone at Kittelson for 25 years of memories, milestones, and exceptional service. Eric and his team are looking forward to helping many more groups in the Minnesota and Wisconsin area for years to come. Let them use their many years of experience to help your group reach fundraising success.
Connect with Kittelson Marketing Company today!
Website: https://www.kittelsonmarketing.com/
