Lambrechts accept

Business of Year award

Award recognizes success of

Lambrecht's and Christmas Haus

By KEVIN SWEENEY

Journal Editor

NEW ULM -- Mayor Joel Albrecht recalled Thursday when Curt and Donna Lambrecht came to New Ulm "with a super, super dream in their heart, and a shoestring in their pocket. ... If I heard it once, I heard it a hundred times, 'Gosh, they're nice people -- I sure hope they make it.' Well, make it they did. It's almost impossible to think of New Ulm and not think of Lambrecht's and the Christmas Haus."

The mayor made his comments as the Lambrechts and their shops were honored as the New Ulm Chamber of Commerce Business/Industry of the Year.

At a special luncheon at the New Ulm Country Club, Chamber Board chairman Tim Knaak presented the honor to the Lambrechts, and Albrecht issued a proclamation declaring Dec. 4, 2003, as Lambrecht's and Christmas Haus Day in New Ulm.

Julie Baumgartner gave a brief history of the business and its owners. The store has been a family-owned business in the same location since 1895, when it was the Backer and Janni Tack and Harness Shop, which also sold trunks, luggage and leather goods. Later, the Vogelpohl family bought the business and added knick-knacks and gift items to the mix. In 1983, the Lambrechts, both with successful careers in northern Minnesota, were looking for a business in which they could work together and raise a family.

During a Thanksgiving visit to Curt's parents in New Ulm, Donna saw an ad that the Vogelpohl gift shop was for sale. They bought it, and have built it into Lambrecht's Gifts and Floral Gallery, and the Christmas Haus, employing 63 people and serving as a mainstay of New Ulm's specialty shop and tourism business.

Baumgartner said the recipe for the Lambrechts success has been flexibility, adaptability and the willingness to take a chance. They took many chances in expanding and reinventing their business. The Lambrechts also realized, said Baumgartner, that the success of their business depended on the success of the community as well, and they have devoted much of their time and energy to community projects and committees.

Donna Lambrecht told the crowd at the luncheon that the recognition they have received is really a recognition of the tourism industry in general. Pointing to the list of past Industry/Business of the Year recipients, she said tourism and all the other industries are part of the business team that help make New Ulm successful.

"I emphasize the word 'team," because we're not in competition with each other, or we shouldn't be. Every building permit in the paper, every job gained, every shopping bag carried around indicates that someone is believing in New Ulm."

Donna said the 20th year of being in business is as challenging as the first, and the challenges are what keep the "creative juices" flowing. New Ulm can face the challenges as well, as it reinvents itself and heads into a successful future, she said.

Curt Lambrecht said the businesses' success depended on a lot of other people.

He credited Don Gollnast, former president of Citizens Bank of New Ulm, with being supportive of their idea to buy the business and move to town. Citizens Bank has continued to be supportive of the Lambrechts' "hare-brained schemes," said Curt. "Don would be shocked to know that we owe the bank more today than we did that first year. I guess that's a sign of success."

He credited Ralph Vogelpohl with being a mentor who worked with the them for several years and wasn't afraid to accept the changes the Lambrechts brought with them.

Curt credited his parents and Donna's parents for being the source of "unconditional love" and support they needed when getting started and for the "not- so-good" days that come with being in business.

And he credited the their employees, who "do all the dirty work you don't see, and supply the smiles we hope you do see."