RENTAL Resource
It’s the time of year when high schoolers experience the closing of one door and the opening of another. Graduation season is often an exciting time for a senior, but it can also be bittersweet. Classmates will be separating as they go off to different colleges, and the reality is that many of themwill not see each other again for a long time, if at all. This is one of the reasons so many graduating seniors want to throw a party. It’s a celebration of completing high school, but it’s also a chance to see everyone before they go off on their own. My experience was a little different. I grew up and attended school in a small town, so I’m lucky enough to be in contact with the same people I was friends with during my high school years. But I know that it’s not that way for many people. Whether you’re from a tiny town or a sprawling city, I’m sure there is one thing we can all agree about: Getting together for one last hurrah can help us remember the good times. The entire graduation ceremony and the parties that follow are much more organized now than when I graduated high school. Today, most schools offer senior send-offs with activities for the entire graduating class to attend. A lot of time and effort is put into these events, and the schools make sure their students are taken care of and have an enjoyable time before they head off to the next phase of life. When I graduated, we had to put together our own parties or get-togethers if we wanted to celebrate. Even at-home graduation parties have gone through a big transformation since the time when my colleagues and I graduated. A typical graduation party was usually at someone’s house or in their backyard. We’d have food, but that would just include some drinks, chips, salads, and maybe sandwiches for everyone to enjoy. The spread was usually displayed on a couple of tables covered in plastic tablecloths, including plastic cups in our schools’ colors. How Graduation Celebrations Differ Different Approach, Same Memories
prepare for these types of graduation celebrations. Through my work and while attending some of my family members’ graduation parties, I can see howmuch the festivities have changed over the years. Instead of serving sandwiches and chips, some of these celebrations are catered under large tents with full buffets on tables covered in real linens. They’ve certainly evolved into events that someone won’t easily forget, and I’m proud that G & K Event Rentals can help make that happen. Having thrown our own graduation parties and experienced many celebrations through our business, my team and I know howmuch effort goes into them. For us, it’s about more than simply supplying our clients with the items they need for the party. When we sit down with our clients for the first time, we make sure to go over what type of party they want to throw, the items they might need, and how many people they’re expecting. From there, we prepare everything for them, such as tents, tables, chairs, catering, games, decorations, and anything else they might need. We know how important these celebrations are, and we can help in all aspects of putting together a memorable graduation party. For all of those graduating this year, we want to extend our congratulations! We wish you the best of luck on this new journey of life.
Today, these parties have become a lot bigger and more elaborate. My team and I have helped many of our clients
1 G & K Rentals | www.gkrental.com | 507-625-3238
Meet Eric Closser Branch Manager
Eric started working with us when he was in high school. After he graduated and entered college, Gary called and offered him a full-time position. “He asked if I was interested in helping with a new location he was starting up,” Eric remembers. “For the next two years, I was going to school full time and working as much as I could here.” Joining the second location in New Prague, Eric witnessed G & K Event Rentals’ transformation into what it is today and has contributed greatly to our company’s success. “We’ll be pulling up to about 15 years now in New Prague this year. It’s pretty exciting,” he adds. During the slower months at G & K, you can find Eric out on a river with his favorite fishing pole. “I’m a big fisherman,” he says proudly. “I even participate in some tournaments from time to time.” Aside from fishing, Eric spends his time attending his eldest daughter’s softball games with his wife and second daughter. G & K Rentals is proud to have such an amazing individual as part of our team. We look forward to our future with his continued enthusiasm and leadership.
You won’t find a closer-knit team than here at G& K Event Rentals. Our family atmosphere knows no bounds. We ensure that everyone feels welcome and receives the best customer care. Eric Closser is one such individual who encourages, builds, and thrives while helping everyone he meets.
He enjoys being flexible with our employees, and his favorite part of the job is taking the time to give each customer exactly what they’re looking for. “I like visiting with them and seeing what their end goal is,” Eric says. “Doing the best job I can for them andmaking sure their celebration is a success is essentially what we’re all doing at G& K. Getting that to happen for our customers is great.”
When you’re thinking about buying a new product or service, what’s the first step you take? If you turn to the World Wide Web in search of reviews, then you’re in good company. According to a survey conducted by BrightLocal, 85 percent of consumers regard the customer review to be the single most credible and trustworthy source of advertising. That same survey found that 68 percent of customers surveyed were willing to provide feedback for a company. So, how do you get your customers to write the glowing reviews that help close deals? 1. DIVERSIFY YOUR PLATFORMS Don’t rely on customers to go to your website to leave reviews. There are numerous websites you can utilize that make leaving feedbackmore convenient for your clients. What’s more is that these other platforms are highly trafficked. BrightLocal found that Facebook and Yelp were consumers’ most trusted sources of user reviews in the U.S., but you can also use Google My Business or the Better Business Bureau. Most importantly, be sure you are active on all the platforms you use. The Good Kind of Gossip How to Cultivate Valuable Customer Reviews
2. OFFER INCENTIVES Give your clients a reason to write reviews. Consider offering incentives like a discount or coupon code, coffee gift card, or an entry to win a contest for an even bigger prize. 3. ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS Think of the review process as a conversation rather than a request to be met, and use open-ended questions to start. Before you even request a review, you can ask customers questions like “How was your recent experience with us?” or “How are you liking your product?” That way, you can gauge their satisfaction before they leave any feedback. 4. RESPOND, RESPOND, RESPOND The last thing you want to see is a scathing one-star review. But no matter how hard you work, they are still bound to happen. When you receive one, take the time to respond thoughtfully —without being defensive — and try to come up with a possible solution to the complaint. And be sure to respond to your positive reviews as well. When you show that you engage with all of your customers, prospective ones will be more likely to give you a shot.
2 G & K Rentals | www.gkrental.com | 507-625-3238
Looking for Games?
We’ve Got You Covered!
One of the biggest attractions we enjoy providing for our customers is games. Our carnival games come in all types and sizes, offering a number of choices for any celebration. If you’re looking for simple games, we can provide you with burlap sacks for a race and the perfect tug-of-war rope. We also offer larger games, like Mega Connect Four, a dunk tank, and giant Jenga. Having games at your celebration, party, or festivity provides your guests with entertainment and gives everyone an activity to participate in. No matter what event you’re planning this summer, including a game or two is sure to add a refreshing vibe, and G & K Event Rentals has you covered.
Inspired by PaleoLeap.com
Shrimp Sausage Skewers Ingredients
Creole Seasoning Ingredients •
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1/2 pound raw shrimp, peeled and deveined 1/2 pound cooked sausage, cut into 1-inch pieces 2 zucchini, cut into 1/2-inch cubes 2 tablespoons extra- virgin olive oil Wooden skewers, soaked in water for 30 minutes
2 tablespoons paprika
Our team has seen time and time again what having a fun game can do for celebrations. Every summer, towns in our area host popular festivals, such as the ‘Bago Fun Fest inWinnebago, Sauerkraut Days in Henderson, and Heimatfest in Jordan. Summer is our busiest season as everyone at G & K Event Rentals focuses on helping the event organizers prepare. We set up carnival games, make sure they have a stage for performances, set up tables and chairs for attendees to relax in, and pitch large tents to provide cover and shade. Our goal is to make sure these organizers are well taken care of, which also ensures their guests have a great time attending their festivals. We’re proud to be part of the community by supporting these summer events. G & K Event Rentals knows the difference the perfect game can make. If you’re throwing a party and are looking to provide your guests with something fun, call our offices today or visit our website. We can help you select the best party or carnival games for your event.
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1/2 tablespoon garlic powder 1/2 tablespoon onion powder 1/2 tablespoon cayenne or chili powder
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1/4 tablespoon dried oregano
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1/4 tablespoon dried thyme
Directions
1. Heat your grill to medium-high. 2. In a bowl, combine all ingredients for creole seasoning.
Garden Blooming Day
3. In a large bowl, combine the shrimp, zucchini pieces, and sausage pieces, and cover themwith the olive oil. 4. Add creole seasoning and mix well until all ingredients are covered. 5. Load up skewers with alternating pieces of shrimp, sausage, and zucchini until they’re full. 6. Grill skewers until shrimp are well-cooked (6–8 minutes). 3 G & K Rentals | www.gkrental.com | 507-625-3238
Gemini Mother Memorial Nightingale Spring Cinco Mayo Emerald May Remember
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
P.O. Box 4092 Mankato, MN 56002-4092 (507) 625-3238 www.gkrental.com
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FromMy Graduation to Now
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Team Member Spotlight
The Value of User Reviews and How to Cultivate Them
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Festivities and Games
Shrimp Sausage Skewers
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Genealogy Sites Provide Breakthroughs in Cold Cases
Genealogy Sites and the Warming of Cold Cases
The Revolution in Forensic Science Continues to Captivate the Masses
Killer. After 13 murders and dozens of assaults, he was finally brought to justice after investigators matched his DNA to the evidence found at the crime scenes. They gained access to his DNA from the personal genomics site GEDmatch. Although access to the data of popular sites like 23andMe and Ancestry.com is restricted to its customers, law enforcement agencies successfully subpoenaed the companies to hand over the requested data. With the ability to theoretically solve any crime with preserved DNA, law enforcement and websleuths alike are foaming at the mouth at the possibilities genealogy testing has to offer. If only we’d preserved some of Jack the Ripper’s DNA!
We’ve come a long way in the field of forensic science since 1986, when DNA was first used to convict someone in court. In 2019, criminals who would have gotten away with their crimes in the past are now put behind bars where they belong. The advent of genealogy testing has been thrust into the spotlight with high-profile cases that were solved by sequestering information from sites like 23andMe and Ancestry.com. With this revolution in DNA testing on the rise, there’s really no end to the impossible-to-solve cold cases that can finally be put to rest. Whatever the motivation was behind genealogy sites in the beginning, they’re now some of the most sought-after databases in the world and are worth billions for their collection of the most personal consumer data in existence. Using these websites’ data, investigators can make DNA matches with potential offenders. The most famous recent case is the successful apprehension of Joseph James DeAngelo, otherwise known as the Golden State
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G & K Rentals | www.gkrental.com | 507-625-3238
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