Promoting the Seeley Lake experience through collaboration

SEELEY LAKE – After a year of owning the Tamaracks Resort on Seeley Lake, Jessica and Jeff Kimmel have expanded their business model by not only opening up their property to the public but also intentionally collaborating with other local businesses to offer more services on site.

When the Kimmels purchased the resort in May of 2018, one of their goals was to offer more services. Along with hosting various events on the property they opened up the resort to the public offering various options to those who aren't staying on the property.

"The Resort NEVER should have been closed to the public as it is Forest Service Land, YOUR land," wrote Jessica in an email. "And, it's not really about benefiting the resort - it's about bettering the Seeley Lake experience. When people come to Seeley Lake, we need them to fall in love with ALL of Seeley Lake, not just one or a couple places."

Resort guests and locals can bring their dog down to the water to swim in Seeley Lake at the new Dog Park, rent various summer and winter motorized and non-motorized recreation equipment and schedule a portage to popular trailheads.

The Kimmels partnered with nearly a dozen local businesses to offer yoga sessions, on-site massages at the Tranquility Spa, catered dinner boat cruises and live music events. They also provide welcome pastries and fresh flowers in the rooms at check in, offer local products in their gift shop and have collaborated with other businesses in the area to offer opportunities outside the resort that their guests want including horseback rides, growler fills and a place to fuel their boats on Seeley Lake.

"I wanted to provide a service, so I found someone who does it and does it well. The end goal was to add to these businesses, not take away from what they were already doing," wrote Jessica. "When we work together, we get to talk about other businesses with a personal connection and pride. It becomes important to build up other businesses. The end result is whoever we are talking to gets a really positive impression of us as a town."

Owner of Essential Massage Therapy and yoga instructor Alicia Kues said combining her services with the Tamaracks Resort has allowed her to offer guests and locals a unique spa experience and given her a powerful yoga location that would not have been possible without collaboration.

"This allows businesses to bring their individual specialty and combine it with what others have to offer, into a win-win combination," wrote Kues in an email. "Someone has the location and someone else has a service to offer. By combining these we can be an attractive destination location to more visitors and give our locals access to great experiences without having to leave the area."

 Kyle Zumwalt, owner of It's a Wrap, started catering events at the Tamaracks Resort last fall as a vendor. Then the Kimmels approached him about catering their summer music nights. He sees it as a great opportunity to reach a large customer base and bring people into town.

"If we can put on different events in town, the more that people realize we are doing things. The more that we can work together, the better we can draw people up here and give them a good time while they are here," said Zumwalt.

This summer Tamaracks Resort started providing pastries from The BBQ Pit and fresh flowers from ReMarkable Floral in the cabins to welcome their guests.

"Our guests will come into the office on Monday after checking in on Sunday and say they loved the breakfast pastries. With a smile, we can honestly tell them to head to The BBQ Pit as the quality is always consistently great," wrote Jessica. "And when they comment on the beautiful flowers, sometimes they are surprised to find out that we have an amazing local florist."

Both of the owners of The BBQ Pit and ReMarkable Floral agree that this promotes a wider sense of community and more support for other businesses.

"It works out really well," said owner of The BBQ Pit Michelle Brumfield, who is quick to recommend the Tamaracks Resort for recreation rentals and a wedding location when her customers ask. "I think supporting one another is what we really need to do."

"This model of tying businesses together provides a flow-through of customers, introduces our business to people we might not know, and provides 'one-stop' shopping convenience and fun," wrote ReMarkable Floral owner Ruthie Mizner-Welch in an email. "We have benefited with increased bridal packages and tourist awareness."

The Kimmels are excited about all the of the changes this past year and hope their guests will get to experience something new every time they visit and locals will take the opportunity to come and check out the 17 acre property on Seeley Lake.

"Don't be afraid to change your business model. Change is not only inevitable, it is healthy," wrote Jessica. "If you have a business in Seeley Lake and are interested in partnering with Tamaracks Resort or any of the above listed businesses, don't hesitate to reach out. It could be the beginning of a beautiful relationship in which we ALL win!!"