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The American dream came true when George Goedecke started Goedecke Painting in Manchester NH, in 1923. 86 years and four generations later, Goedecke Decorating has evolved into a one-of-a-kind store for your entire interior decorating needs. Below is the History of the Goedecke's and their families.
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1923 George Goedecke founded Goedecke Custom Painting, in Manchester NH, after establishing himself as a working painter with local contractors. George achieved “Meister Maler” or Master Painter status in the decorative arts world at the Kaiser’s Palace in Berlin Germany, before and after World War I. George’s business flourished in Germany until the rampant inflation wiped out his company. As a master craftsman George had the ability to expand his business and trained a crew to do the painting wallpapering, gold leaf, and faux finishes. Some of the early customers could often see George bringing supplies slung over the handlebars of his bicycle with no tires, just bare rims that he pushed by hand.
1932 Herbert Goedecke joined his Dad at the age of 16, after completing his sophomore year at West High School. Father & son soon expanded the business to 20 plus employees during the busy season.” Uncle” Roy Todt and Brother-in-law Milton Spencer also join the business at this time.
1937 It’s a Wedding…Herbert marries Grace Goodwin and in keeping this a family business she becomes the bookkeeper for the company.
1942-1945 “Grandpa” George kept the business alive during these years when Herbert serviced planes for the United States Army Air Corp and Uncle Milton served in the United State Navy.
1947 It’s a Homecoming with Herbert And Milton return from the service and banding together to help Grandpa George build Goedecke's to a business of prominence.
1954 Retirement-George retires and Herbert takes over with Milton as his Chief Foreman. As the business and reputation grows so does the cliental. Goedecke's service area now includes Portsmouth, Keene, Northern Massachusetts and Center Sandwich.
1954-1965 The perfect summer jobs for Herbert’s sons George, Carl and Alan and many of their high school friends. These jobs also help them through college.
1966 College Grad-Alan Goedecke graduates from the University of Vermont with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. After working a year at the business he follows his brothers footsteps and joins the United States Army Engineers, as a 2nd Lieutenant and fulfills his two-year ROTC active duty.
1969 Partners- 1st Lieutenant Alan returns and a partnership is formed between him and his Dad Herbert.
1970 It’s a Wedding- Alan Goedecke marries Nancy Schindler.
1971 Sadness…Before the final papers can be signed Alan’s Dad dies of a massive heart attack. Alan is now left in charge with 26 employees.
1973 Goedecke Decorating Center is born. Alan and fellow contractor Jack Hallet team up and open a 1,000 square foot showroom, warehouse and a shop to continue the contracting. Nancy starts “helping out” with odd jobs around the building.
1976 Alan and Jack decide to double the building size to make an 1800 square ft showroom.
1984 Jack Hallet decides to buy the contracting business from Alan and forms his own business.
1985 Adding on again…the warehouse gets an additional 1800 square feet and the showroom expands to 3800 square feet.
1987 The annual sales have raised to almost the one million dollar mark but the recession starts and a four-year decline starts. Nancy helping out has lead to her running the window treatment department.
1988 Struggles-with sales declining Alan & Nancy’s sons Herb & Peter start helping out at the store.
1990-1994 Changes- Sales have started picking up and Herb leaves for college to study cross cultural ministries. Pete continues helping at the store while attending New Hampshire Technical College to become an airplane mechanic.
1996 Milestone- Sales have pushed past the one million mark thanks to the help of both the boys. Herb and his friend Mike decide to do missionary support work in South America for 2 years. This is mostly construction related work on missionaries’ homes.
1998 Another wedding- Peter marries Sheryl Ricard and also becomes our top ceramic installer. Herb back from South America takes over the flooring department.
1999 More Changes- The Adam’s Mills building, right next-door goes on the market and we quickly make an offer. Herb & Peter join Nancy & Alan on the Board of Directors and the family decides to double their store with a brand NEW one. Mike becomes the general contractor and finish carpenter, and the summer becomes a blur of planning, and working day and night to get the store done. Through all the changes Sales have increased 47%. On Columbus Day Weekend, family, employees and friends move the entire operation from the “old” building to the “new” building and it is business as usual the next day.
2000 Grand Opening- In February Goedecke Decorating Center has their Grand opening with customers and representatives praising our store. Sales have escalated to 2.2 million and we are named the top family business in Bedford, NH.
2001 Flooring America has asked us to join their group. This is the largest buying group in the United States. Sales have now moved to 2.5 million.
2002 This year we become a Hunter Douglas Gallery Dealer- the first in Northern New England. Sales have now reached an incredible 2.75 million.
2003 Happy Birthday- Goedecke Decorating Center celebrates 80 years of decorating excellence. With sales hitting 3.1 million. The store now has 11 full-time employees, 15 part-time employees and 6 very busy installation subcontractors. Pete and Sheryl usher in the next generation of Goedecke's with a baby girl named Alison Grace.
2005 Expansion- not only have we added Benjamin Moore to our product line, started an expansion program by increasing the size of the warehouse…Peter and Sheryl have expanded their family with Jonathan Walter. Sales have increased again to 4 million.
2006 New design-Mike Ellis returns and agrees to help with the redesign of the showroom. Hours are spent on expanding the showroom floor and being able to show more flooring samples and increasing the paint and sundries area. The new center aisle is the Goedecke road to twelve different tile ideas. In September the Benjamin Moore Signature Store is opened.
2007 Paint and flooring are booming and sales reach 4.3 million.
2008 Pete moves into the paint dept to give Don a boost. Herb marries Viktoria Withrow.
2009...
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