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Biz Buzz shares business tidbits from across the tri-state area. In addition to this update from Fennimore, Wis., we will share other developments in Wednesday’s edition.
FENNIMORE, Wis. — A Southwest Wisconsin maker of monuments, markers and statues is now in a more visible location.
Archie Monuments, one of 10 such branches in the state, moved last month from a rented space on the southeast side of Fennimore to their own building along the town’s main street at 480 Lincoln Ave.
“Our new building is bigger (with a) bigger showroom and a large display outside,” said manager Coleen Skaife. “It’s a more visible location.”
Skaife said the new office also has a certain ambiance that can being solace to her customers.
“It’s not an intimidating office,” Skaife said. “It’s bright and somewhat cheery. It’s not cold and dark.”
She said this is in line with her company’s overall mission of providing comforting service to customers who are often mourning the death of a loved one. While she said the company recommends “pre-need” purchases, she and her team still often serve grieving family members.
“I listen to (my customers),” Skaife said. “I listen to what their family member did and how they get along with their family … so I can be compassionate with them.”
Skaife said she sometimes even encourages customers to wait before making a purchase so they can better process their grief and be more certain in what they want.
A majority of commissioned Archie Monuments markers are creative, Skaife said, with unique features requested by customers to honor deceased loved ones.
“Each one is individual,” she said of the markers. “A lot of them have (the decedent’s) dog or their favorite tractor.”
While their granites comes from all over the world, Skaife said Archie Monuments is proud to be a Wisconsin-based company. She said the company is known for its hand-etching, which is done by a mother-daughter team.
“We take great pride in designing what we do,” Skaife said. “We don’t put anything out we wouldn’t want for ourselves.”
Archie Monuments in Fennimore is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. More information is available at archiemonumentsandstone.com.