PORTLAND, ORE. — The marketing machine that is Oregon-based George Morlan Plumbing scored an other coup on June 30 by hosting a concert for lucky listeners to Portland radio station KPAM. George Morlan Plumbing opened its Northwest Portland Design Center doors to fans of KPAM, 860 AM and popular KPAM morning announcer Bob Miller. The landmark store for Oregon's largest plumbing retailer hosted "Bobapalooza," a KPAM listener appreciation concert featuring Bob Miller's Almost All Star Band. Some 250 KPAM listeners earned tickets for the event by signing on to the KPAM Web page.
Working over the previous week , George Morlan staff transformed the cavernous warehouse that houses the Design Center's showroom into what became a rocking cabaret for the night. Pacific northwest comedian Art Krug warmed up the audience with his "guy next door " comic spirit. The Almost All Star Band, made up of polished and talented local musicians, unleashed a danceable blast of funky soul and rhythm & blues. Morlan salespeople served arena food and beverages to add to the festive atmosphere.
KPAM listeners may not have known what they were in for by accepting invitations to a concert at a store that features the latest designs in toilets, bathroom and kitchen sinks and faucets, spas and bathtubs, but they had to come away appreciative of both George Morlan Plumbing and KPAM Radio.
"This is a wonderful opportunity for us," said George Morlan President Rick Kramien. "Many of the folks here didn't even know we had design centers in our showrooms. Now they've seen it first hand and when they think of George Morlan Plumbing in the future, it's always going to be with a smile from this positive experience."
George Morlan Plumbing has hosted concerts and special events in the past but the audience has generally been contractors, remodelers and other regular customers. By reaching out to a different population, in this case a radio station audience, Kramien believes the plumbing retailer will broaden its customer base.
George Morlan Plumbing is a family-owned business that began in Portland 80 years ago. It operates eight plumbing stores and showrooms in Oregon.