September 2020
Christmas Photo Contest
We are now accepting entries for our Christmas photo contest! (Yes, it is only September, but Christmas is just around the corner!) Here at Dutch Country General Store we are already in the Christmas spirit while assembling our very first Christmas Catalog… but we need your help! We realize this is the perfect time to ask you – our customers – for photos that capture your favorite holiday moments from bygone days, or even recent moments you have shared with loved ones. The photos just might be featured in our upcoming catalog!
Now's The Time To Dig Up Those Treasured Family Photos!
Submit your favorite, original “Christmas Memories” photo for a chance to be featured in our upcoming Christmas catalog and/or among our in-store holiday displays! Entrants selected will ALSO receive a $10 gift code to use at dutchcountrygeneralstore.com or on your next catalog order.
Just announced: the panel of judges will be selecting a Grand Prize winner, who will receive a $100 gift code!
The subject of the photos must be related to the Christmas season and of a family-friendly nature. Some examples might include: a fond holiday tradition from bygone days; your son or daughter playing with your father’s favorite childhood toy; or perhaps a cherished gift you received just recently from Dutch Country General Store. You must own the rights to the submitted photo; no stock images allowed; raw photos are preferred, though some basic edits may be allowed.
So Many Wonderful Memories To Share!
There is no limit to the number of entries, and it is possible that more than one of your photos may be selected as a winner. Entrants with multiple photos selected as a winner will receive a $10 coupon code for each photo!
Winners will be announced on or before September 30th, 2020 on our Facebook page and in our email newsletter. We can’t wait to see all of your wonderful family memories and traditions. Thank you for sharing!
July 2020
It’s the Little Things (Even In A Pandemic)
Optimism is Contagious...
In the last several months things have gotten a little wild in the world. I’m sure you’ve noticed! It’s important to see the big picture and not hide your head in the sand, I don’t like to let most anything get me down. They say I’m an optimist… sometimes to a fault. But as a business owner during this pandemic, I’m not sure what I would do if I didn’t have a sense of hope. There are new challenges every day! Getting to serve our wonderful customers (including many new faces all over the country!) in the last several months keeps bringing a smile to my face every day.
A First Time for Everything
We’ve gotten notes about how much our products have brought families together, which is so very important in these trying times. Whether it’s the recently laid off single dad using our yeast to take his first stab at baking bread for the first time out in New Jersey, or the “usually too busy” family that just discovered how much fun it can be to sit down together and put a puzzle together.
These are the reasons we have kept working so hard, often almost around the clock. We’ve hired more people in our warehouse and our customer service department. We’ve done everything we can to make sure you get what you need to make your “at home” time the best it can be.
It's the Little Things...
That said, what I’m noticing from our customers and even our staff, is that they are telling me about the little things they are finding new joy in. You see, it’s not always about the big and exciting things, but it’s about the simple little things that truly make life more complete. I like to think that is what Dutch Country General Store is all about.
The little things. The little things that make life simply better. Whether it’s the homemade Mrs. Miller’s jam you put on your toast in the morning, the special Whiskey Boat Goods Candle with a scent that brings back fond memories, or that toy from your childhood that’s just too perfect not to share with the next generation. These are the little things. Celebrating them with the ones you care for, the ones you love can make all the difference.
The Dutch Country General Store Catalog...
As our first-ever catalog is now hitting mailboxes, it’s been a true labor of love. I hope you’ll flip through its pages and let us send something to your home that’s just perfect to share with your family. Something that will bring back old memories, make new memories, or just help make these odd times in our world a little brighter. Even something little can make the day better.
Take care and stay healthy,
May 2020
CINNAMON ROLLS FOR THE KIDS
Last week we had the great pleasure of donating 300 of our FRESH BAKED CINNAMON ROLLS to the Buddy Pack Program for the Hannibal Alliance for Youth Success and Hannibal Public School District #60. The Buddy Pack Program feeds tons of kids everyday throughout the Hannibal, Missouri area and is very much needed, especially in times like these. There are many programs like it throughout the country. Probably a few in your neck of the woods, too.
During these crazy times we really need to focus on doing what we can for each other – big or small – everything (and everyone) can make a difference. There is no limit on how much we should “love thy neighbor” and we try to live by that rule everyday at Dutch Country General Store. What so many of us take for granted is the ability to eat a decent meal. (If you have had the privilege of eating my wife’s cooking it’s always a great meal!) But, so many kids out there don’t always get a good meal, let alone a treat like a homemade style cinnamon roll. You probably know that we are almost famous for our selection of fresh baked items in our stores – pies, cinnamon rolls, cookies, breads, and more. We know the joy a happy, full belly can bring to folks and we wanted to share some of that joy with the kids.
I encourage you, now and always, count your blessings and see what you can do for your neighbors. Lend an ear, lend a hand, lend a dollar, or even a loaf of bread. It doesn’t take much to make a big impact.
Hope to see you real soon!
March 2020
A Note From Levi Regarding the Coronavirus Outbreak
Dear Friends,
With news of the Coronavirus, we, at Dutch Country General Store would like to let you know that we are implementing some enhanced measures to ensure your safety, and the safety of our team, while still providing the service and products you have come to know us for.
With that in mind, we wanted to update you on the actions we have taken in response to the outbreak.
Here’s what we’re doing:
• We’ve enhanced our already robust cleaning techniques of all areas, including not only customer areas, but also our warehouse, packaging room, ice cream and coffee area, and deli areas. We are also cleaning our facilities frequently with recommended sanitizing products and encouraging all employees to have increased vigilance about frequent hand washing.
• While we are known for our wide variety of free food samples in store, we are suspending this practice until further notice. Unfortunately this also includes our free popcorn, however we are still offering free ice cream cones and free coffee, as always.
• In addition, we are taking steps to ensure the welfare of our team. This includes instructing employees who feel ill to stay home and consult their healthcare providers.
Rest assured, we look forward to seeing you and want to reassure you that we are doing everything we can to promote a safe and pleasant shopping experience. As always, if you would rather shop by phone or online and have your order shipped to you, we are here to help. Please call us at 641.722.3678 or visit www.dutchcountrygeneralstore.
Take care and keep the faith,
December 2019
GRATEFUL FOR GROWTH: DUTCH COUNTRY GENERAL STORE TO OPEN LOCATION IN HANNIBAL, MISSOURI
2019 has been an exciting year, and this final month on the calendar is proving to be the icing on the cake. Not only do we get to celebrate the birth of Christ, but we also get to announce that a second location for Dutch Country General Store will be opening in “America’s Hometown”, Hannibal, Missouri in Spring 2020.
If you haven’t been to Hannibal, Missouri I highly suggest you take your family (or your pretty girl) down there for a visit! We looked all around the midwest for places to open another store, and I’ve got to tell you that Hannibal stood out loud and proud. We will be located in the historic downtown, but in all honesty, the whole town is pretty historic.
Being the home of Mark Twain (who is almost as funny as me) is what they are most famous for down there. You know, he’s the guy that wrote the stories about Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn? Turns out those stories and characters are all based on people and places in Hannibal and the adventures Mark Twain had when he was growing up there along the banks of the Mississippi! Back then his name was Samuel Clemens. Someday I’ll tell you how he decided to change his name, but that’s for another day. Anyway… they also have caves, riverboats, haunted historic mansions and more. And in Spring 2020 they will have their very own Dutch Country General Store!
We have been very blessed to continue to grow and expand this year. Our new cooking show, Dutch Country Kitchen, has become very popular. Looks like my wife, Erica, and her friend and co-host Diana Upton-Hill, may be back in 2020 with more recipes. Our website continues to grow as we have added many, many new products that all have my stamp of approval! We are shipping products all over the place to every state you can imagine! We also made the INC5000 List of Fastest Growing Companies again this year! And now we have announced a new store coming soon. There is just so much to thank God for.
And I want to thank you, all our great new friends (and the old ones, too) that we meet in-store and online every day! You are a blessing to us and we are thankful for your business. We look forward to seeing you again in 2020 online or in our stores in Bloomfield, Iowa and Hannibal, Missouri! Stop by and see us real soon!
Merry Christmas to you and yours,
LEVI
Ok ok… they also asked me to include the “official press release”. Here it is… (click the image below)
September 2019
7th Anniversary & Fall Festival
We hope you'll celebrate our 7th Anniversary & Fall Festival with us at Dutch Country General Store!
Dutch Country Kitchen live in-store event – “Make It With Pumpkin” Baking Contest
Saturday, Oct. 5
Entries due by 9 am
Judging behind closed doors at 9
Display & winners announced at 10:30
Prizes! (Gift cards $25, $50, $100)
Pumpkin painting – for the kids!
10:30-3:30 Saturdays, Oct. 5 & 12
Just $1 make & take per pumpkin
Coloring contest
Ages 12 & under
Great prizes!
Pick up your coloring sheet in-store, or print online
HUGE SALES
27% off ALL TOYS
27% off cast iron cookware
27% off Poly Lawn Furniture
Buy 2 jars of salsa, get 1 bag of chips FREE
Live music
Oct. 12, Noon-2pm
Fiddle stylings of Jaden Birkner
And MUCH MORE!!!
September 2018
Hard Work and Persistence Really Does Pay
Dutch Country Living Lands Spot on Inc. Magazine’s List of Fastest-Growing Private Companies – the Inc. 5000
By Levi Good, Proprietor, Dutch Country
A couple months back I got an email that was humbling and also exciting. It was from the editor of INC Magazine, letting us know that we had been selected to be on their 2018 list of the 5,000 fastest growing companies in the United States. There is only 1 other retail company in Iowa on the list. I was blown away! So many great companies have been on the list in the past including Microsoft, Dell, Domino’s Pizza, Timberland, Yelp, to name a few.
Many people don’t know that Dutch Country Living is the parent company that runs Dutch Country General Store, Amish Made Poly & Poly Furniture USA, and is headquartered right here in rural Davis County, Iowa. My wife, Erica, and I run the company with the help of our amazing team including managers Brenda and Jack.
In 2012, when I was all of 21(and a little crazy… ok I still am) I took over the reins at Dutch Country General Store, which was in some rough territory at the time. Since then, we’ve been able to grow the retail location about 250% or so. It’s a huge blessing to be able to do what we do. Trust me when I say I never thought, growing up on my dad’s dairy farm in Virginia, that I’d end up an entrepreneur. We focus on delivering a great experience through all our brands, both in the store and online, and delivering authentic Mennonite and Amish made products throughout. That’s what makes us special, I think.
Our store, just outside of Bloomfield, Iowa, is a popular tourist stop. On any given day about 75% of the cars in our parking lot are from out of town, and many out of state. People seem to love our Amish wood furniture, bulk foods, candy, candles, heirloom quilts, fabrics, wooden toys, jar goods, and more. They come back over and over and they shop online at the website from wherever they live. We ship orders all over the country every week!
In 2016 we started Amish Made Poly, a poly furniture company. Right away we experienced huge growth and it continues to double in size every year. Still, we try so hard to remain true to authentic Amish roots. Our poly furniture (adirondack chairs, rockers, gliders, swings, etc) is not made in a big factory somewhere; it’s made in small shops on Amish farms using the same traditions of quality building that they’ve been using for hundreds of years. Sure, the material is now recycled poly, rather than wood, but the tradition of fine craftsmanship remains the same.
All in all we are so thankful to our customers, to YOU, for all your support and love of our products. We try our very hardest everyday to deliver great service and quality items we can stand behind. Without you we could have never made the Inc.5000 list for 2018, so THANK YOU!
Levi
July 2018
Summer 2018
Good day to you and yours,
Sunday afternoon took me to the couch looking through my old photo album when I was a pipsqueak. Ah yes, the joys of Summer as a child… As you can see in the photo, even at a young age I was an accomplished cherry pitter. My oldest sister, Heidi, was sorting them, I was pitting them, and I think Mom was acting as the inspector/supervisor. My other sister, Elizabeth, is probably hiding behind the couch in the living room reading a book. 😉 (But don’t worry, I’m sure I found and made her wash all the dishes.)
After pitting the cherries we would lay them on cookie sheets and freeze them so they wouldn’t all stick together in one big clump. After they are frozen we would then put them in pint or quart bags. We could then enjoy them all summer long in smoothies, with mixed fruit, or in cherry cobbler.
We had two cherry trees behind the calf barn, and it was always my job to protect them from the blackbirds, which I always thought was counterproductive because for each cherry the birds ate, that was one less that we had to work up…
Photo taken June 2006. I was 15, Elizabeth on the right was 16, and Heidi on the left was 17.
I also ran across this photo which was taken a few years later in the summer kitchen. We were still doing cherries and, yes, it looks like we found Elizabeth (the one with the towel on her head) and made her help this time. 🙂 It also looks like mom must have fully trained us and no longer needed to supervise the work. You’ll note we were still using the same cherry pitter all those years.
Now comes the great responsibility of teaching my own children the value of hard work, along with the concept that by working now, one can then enjoy the fruits of one’s labor later. There really is nothing like eating food that you prepared and put up yourself, especially when you get to work as a family.
I also swindled my mother out of her amazing cherry cobbler recipe 🙂 (Yes, that is her actual recipe card; some people still use those…)
I hope you have an amazing summer, filled with the joys which God’s creation affords. Don’t eat too much cherry cobbler and be sure to share some with your neighbors.
Hope to see you real soon!
Levi Good
