Lehman's sold to HRM Enterprises of Hartville

Lehman's sold to HRM Enterprises of Hartville
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Lehman's, a fixture in Kidron and with a brand known around the world, has been purchased by the Miller family, owners of HRM Enterprises and based in Hartville.

                        

The Miller family, owners of HRM Enterprises and based in Hartville, recently reached an agreement to purchase iconic Kidron store Lehman’s from Galen Lehman, it was announced on Jan. 18.

Lehman’s will remain a standalone business in HRM’s family of companies with Galen Lehman and HRM COO Zach Coblentz, a grandson of HRM founder Howard Miller Sr., partnering in the day-to-day leadership. Lehman’s will operate using the Lehman’s brand.

“We are thrilled to become part of the HRM family of companies,” Lehman said in a release. “The partnership between both family-owned businesses is a win for this community.

“The relationship between the two companies dates back generations and joining forces is a natural progression. I remember back in the 1980s, when Howard Miller Sr. would stop in and talk business with my father Jay. His son Howard Miller Jr. and I shared meals and often discussed business and our shared faith. His son-in-law, Vernon Sommers, was the first non-family member on Lehman’s board of directors, serving for over a decade. More recently, Vernon’s son and current CEO Gary Sommers and I trade ideas to improve our businesses.”

Prior to his passing in July 2020, these plans were discussed with company founder Jay Lehman. He was supportive of the partnership and expressed a long-standing admiration for the Hartville collection of businesses. Howard Miller Sr. and Jay Lehman traveled internationally together and shared the same values of integrity and customer service.

“We are ecstatic to add the Lehman’s team and brand to our family,” said Gary Sommers, CEO of HRM and also a grandson of Howard Miller Sr.. “Our company’s values of putting God first, treating customers, suppliers, and each other as we would like to be treated and giving back to our community match well with Lehman’s approach. We hope to build on the success and tradition that Galen and his family have established over the years.”

"Lehman's strong brand recognition across the country and online can be seen in the team members’ dedication to serving its customers,” added Coblentz. “We are excited to be working with those dedicated team members to continue the strong legacy of Lehman's."

HRM Enterprises has a long history of close relationships within the communities they operate. The Millers intend to continue the close relationship that the Lehman family has with northeast Ohio by supporting charitable and service-oriented organizations and encouraging team members to live the organization’s commitment to serve others both inside and outside the business.

The family of businesses of HRM Enterprises, Inc. includes Hartville Hardware, Hartville Kitchen, Hartville Marketplace, and Top Advantage Surfaces.


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