Best of Ohio’s Amish Country offers a well-rounded tour
By Joanne Lehman
Sure, you’re in a hurry, but even a couple of days in Ohio’s Amish Country will remind you of the benefits of slowing down and taking time to enjoy the good things of life. Need a quick guide to find your way to a satisfying day or two in Amish Country? Are you planning a tour for your club or organization? The Best of Ohio’s Amish Country Web site is a quick guide and showcases seven of Wayne, Holmes and Stark county’s most successful businesses.
According to member Glenda Lehman Ervin, vice president of marketing at Lehman’s, her company joined this cooperative as a way to spread the word about fun things to see and do in the three-county area. “All the businesses are family-owned and operated by multi-generational Amish and Mennonite families,” she said of the cooperative. “We have a cultural legacy to share and know what we can offer area visitors.”
Lehman Ervin said the group meets monthly for a lively meeting where they share marketing ideas. Together, they’ve created an online location for visitors to learn more about what these unique, well-established businesses have to offer. She said that by pooling their ideas and marketing dollars, they are working to attract more visitors to the three-county area and this will benefit everyone who lives and works in the area, whether they are part of the marketing group or not.
Bruce Stambaugh works as a marketing consultant for Homestead Furniture in Mt. Hope. He said Ernie Hershberger, owner of Homestead Furniture, came up with the idea for this co-op of non-competitive businesses. Stambaugh said it’s a current advertising trend that allows several businesses to share costs for a full-page ad. By collaborating and pooling resources, they are able to put together a package that is attractive to those who want to explore the area and experience what it has to offer.
The businesses, according to Stambaugh and Lehman Ervin, each have their unique perspectives and share a wealth of knowledge. They also each have contacts in the world of tourism and marketing. “We meet to talk about where to advertise and we share our ideas,” said Stambaugh. “It’s a way to establish a presence in the customers’ mind and attract people to the area.”
One of the things these businesses have in common, besides their cultural heritage and family ownership, is that many offer something extra to their guests. For instance, tour groups will be able to watch furniture being made at Homestead Furniture or watch chocolates being molded and dipped at Coblentz Chocolates. They will observe the process of laser engraving and other steps used to create the popular inspirational gifts made at P. Graham Dunn.
One of the group’s goals is to connect with tour guides and help them find a variety of interesting stops that provide entertainment, education and shopping opportunities for visitors. Stambaugh said that although their co-op provides a number of destinations, individual guides may use co-op members’ businesses as a starting place. From there, they may choose to add other stops to their itinerary, depending on the interests of the group.
The Best of Ohio’s Amish Country includes seven businesses—Amish Door Village in Wilmot; Coblentz Chocolates and Walnut Creek Cheese, Walnut Creek; Keim Lumber, Charm; Homestead Furniture, Mt. Hope; Lehman’s in Kidron; and P. Graham Dunn near Dalton. The companies are arranged geographically in a way that allows visitors to make a circle tour through the three counties where they’re located.
The Web site offers a preview of each company through individual YouTube videos linked to their logos on the home page. These, along with a few paragraphs of text, relay the history and unique features guests will see when they visit. The Web site also includes a blog where business owners post interesting happenings in their companies. The calendar with upcoming events helps tour planners round out an area visit. Here, visitors can find concerts, festivals and other fun activities. For more information, see www.bestofamishcountry.com.
