Miller's Oil & Lube Express in Whitehall celebrated 20 years in business over the last week with balloons and decorations in-house, as well as discounts, custom cookies and prize drawings for customers, including gift cards to other local businesses. There was also a drawing for a prize package that included, among other things, a company t-shirt, an Armor-All car care package and an Igloo cooler.
Gerrie Miller is the owner and operator of Miller's, and many locals know he has significant business lineage in the area, as his late mom Gloria was longtime owner of Big John's Pizza. He said he attributes his success and community-oriented business philosophy to what he learned from her.
"I knew what I was getting into," Miller said of learning from his mom. "The public is the best part. It's about the public and the people. It's not about getting rich, it's to provide service to the people. My mom always taught me that."
Miller's received plenty of community support for its celebration, as other local businesses contributed gift cards to be handed out to customers. Its Facebook page also shouted out White Lake Greenhouse for the gift of a flower arrangement that celebrated the occasion.
Miller said he's glad to call many of the other local business owners longtime friends.
"They've all contributed to the small hometown feel of Whitehall and Montague, which I almost consider as one town," Miller said. "It was great to see the support. I love to contribute to the people I support."
"Community" is an often-used word with Miller, and for good reason. He's been fortunate enough to see not just his business grow, but also his customers. He said he's known some of his customers "since they were in car seats," and now they come in and get oil changes on their own cars.
Miller's is very much a family business. Gerrie and wife Amanda's kids, Montague High School grads Kaden and Kiley, are fixtures in the building, and he credits Amanda with a lot of behind the scenes work that keeps the company going.
"My son Kaden started working here when he was five," Miller said. "Now he's in the pipefitters trade. My daughter Kiley's working here now for the summer and will work here when she's home from college at Ferris State. It's great to get family involved because they learn the behind the scenes of business. It's not, 'You shut the doors and you're done.' You're here 24/7.
"They've learned that from me, dealing with problems and struggles, but also the love of the community and giving back. That's grown into them now as dedicated workers."
