Winning a Car ~ John Kuperus

One of the ways God has blessed us is with the winning of a car at the Bradley Caldwell show.  Every year this company has two trade shows where they treat their dealers royally.  This show we are served great food for the 2 ½ days and the entertainment was Sarah Evans, a country and western singer.  In addition, dealers are offered great prices from about 200 vendors displaying their products.  Collectively sales of about $15 million took place over 2 ½ days. 

            To add to the attraction of the show, prizes are awarded at the end of the show.  This year’s awards were a 2011 Chevy Avalanche SUV, 2011 Chevrolet convertible Camaro and an iPad.  As dealers place orders at different vendors, they were given tickets for every $100 worth of orders.  Dealers would tear the ticket in half and one half is entered into a plexi-glass tub that spins and the other half the dealer keeps.  Both halves have identical numbers so at the end of the show, when the tub is loaded with tickets; one ticket is drawn to determine who the winner of the prize is. 

            Our store manager, Wende Clausen, placed all the orders.  I was busy buying booths where vendors were selling their products at the show at exceptional prices.  Wende had her eye on the truck because that would be more practical for our business.  I suggested we spread them out between the different prizes.  As they drew out the ticket for the car, I heard “Wende Clausen” over the loud speaker.  We had won the 2011 yellow with black stripes, convertible; Chevrolet Camaro.  It was like one of those surreal moments that are too good to be true.  Wende first words to me were “God has blessed us” and I wholeheartedly agreed. 

            Wende’s daughter Erika was holding the winning ticket.  Then we had to address who was going to drive the car home.  I had the Farmside delivery truck, Wende had her vehicle and Erika was free.  Wende decided she was going to drive it home and Erika was going to drive her vehicle.  Later Wende told me that she drove white knuckled all the way to Seaside Heights, which is about 1 ½ hours away.  The next day she was able to enjoy the vehicle driving it in the sunshine to work. 

            Even though we enjoy the sports car, we decided to sell it.  We hope it finds a good home.  Wende will be rewarded and we are planning on using the cash in the business for improvements.