W.A. Zimmer celebrates 50 years in business

Shown above are the owners of W.A. Zimmer. From left are Summer Zimmer; founders Marcia and Bill Zimmer; and Satin and Ryan Lemon. Pictured in front are the Lemons’ children, Lawson and Landree.

For 50 years, W.A. Zimmer has been a familiar name in Huntington and the surrounding communities, built on family values, quality craftsmanship, and a commitment to adapting with the changing needs of its customers.

The company’s story began on August 16, 1976, when Bill and Marcia Zimmer opened the doors to their new business. At just 24 years old, Bill admits he entered the venture with plenty of confidence.

“I thought I knew it all,” Bill said with a smile. “But I found out quickly that I did not.”

What he did know was that hard work, listening to customers, and a willingness to learn would be the foundation of a successful business.

The first location for W.A. Zimmer was at the corner of Vine and N. Jefferson Streets, where the business operated for 18 years. The company later moved to its current location at 1700 N. Broadway, where it has proudly served customers for the past 32 years.

When the business began, W.A. Zimmer focused primarily on exterior home improvements.

“We started by selling aluminum and vinyl siding and possibly replacing a storm door now and then,” Bill recalled.

Over the years, the company continued to grow and evolve with the industry. In the early 1980s, W.A. Zimmer expanded into window sales. By the late 1980s, the company began offering three- and four-season sunrooms, and in the early 2000s added pergolas and awnings to its product lineup.

Today, W.A. Zimmer specializes in outdoor living solutions, including stationary and operable pergolas, motorized retractable screens and awnings, patio covers, and three- and four-season rooms.

“Our goal is to always deliver the greatest value proposition in the industry and we continue to evolve in ways that reinforce that,” said Ryan Lemon, Bill and Marcia’s son-in-law and one of the company’s owners.

Ryan and Bill agree that understanding the customer’s vision is the key to a successful project.

“We invest the time necessary to get to know our customers and find out exactly what their wants and needs are. We’re just as proud of the experience we deliver as we are of the industry leading products we offer,” they said.

General manager Steve Petry said the company’s most popular products today reflect the growing interest in outdoor living spaces.

“Our number one product today is the operable pergola and we have quickly become Indiana’s fastest growing dealer for MagnaTrack motorized screens. The demand for our motorized products – including awnings – has exploded over the past five years,” Steve said.

“We have been partnered with Temo Inc. since 1983 and have been their #1 pergola seller in the nation for the past five years,” stated Bill.

Ryan added that one of the company’s biggest advantages is the quality and low maintenance of its products.

“Everything we sell is maintenance free,” Ryan explained. “When we are done with a project, there is no ongoing maintenance that needs to be done. Customers don’t have to worry about painting, staining, or replacing rotting wood.”

The company has also remained focused on providing specialized products rather than trying to serve every possible market.

“We don’t try to be everything for everyone,” Ryan said. “We focus on what we do best and make certain we can provide the best products and service possible.”

Today, W.A. Zimmer partners with industry leaders including MagnaTrack, Sunesta, and Temo to provide customers with trusted solutions for their outdoor spaces.

Looking back over five decades in business, Bill said the biggest challenge has been navigating the many changes that come with owning a company.

“You can never give up,” Bill said. “Over the past 50 years, we’ve seen a lot of ups and downs with the economy, suppliers, and the workforce. But we don’t allow those things to control our outcome. We just have to keep moving forward and doing our best.”

Ryan believes the company’s continued success is the result of exceptional people working toward a common goal – from its dedicated team members and trusted manufacturing partners to the thousands of homeowners who have placed their confidence in W.A. Zimmer for the past five decades.

“We’re blessed to have an incredible team, outstanding manufacturing partners, and customers who continue to place their trust in us,” he said. “Our job is to keep earning that trust by listening, continually improving, and delivering an experience that exceeds expectations.”

Bill’s path into the industry started before W.A. Zimmer was ever created. While still in high school, he worked canvassing for another company, visiting homes and knocking on doors to see if residents were interested in new siding. That experience helped shape the entrepreneurial spirit that eventually led to the creation of W.A. Zimmer.

As W.A. Zimmer looks toward the future, the company continues to explore new opportunities for growth. In addition to its Huntington location, the business has expanded into Northern Indiana and Southwest Michigan with a state-of-the-art showroom in Elkhart.

“Because of our sales volume and commitment to service, we just earned the opportunity to expand our territory to the north side of Indianapolis, including Fishers, Carmel, Zionsville and Westfield,” Ryan said. “I could absolutely see our third location opening in that region within the next three to five years.”

After 50 years, W.A. Zimmer remains committed to the same principles that guided Bill and Marcia from the beginning: listen to customers, provide quality products, and always strive to exceed expectations.

As a family-owned and operated business, we are proud to be active members in the communities we serve, sharing the same values and dedication to quality. As Bill reflects, “As we bump into past customers from the last 50 years at grocery stores, restaurants, the YMCA, and other local spots, the greatest reward of owning a small business is hearing how our projects have exceeded their expectations in use, durability and service. This success comes from our commitment to employing our own installation crews rather than subcontracting the work.

W.A. Zimmer gives back to the communities they serve through many different organizations to include Huntington County Baseball, Huntington County Chamber of Commerce, Huntington County Community School Corporation, Huntington County Humane Society, Huntington County VFW, Huntington Fraternal Order of Police, Huntington University, Huntington Veterans Day 5K, Junior Achievement of Huntington County, McKenzie’s Hope, New Life Ministries, Parkview Huntington Family YMCA, Pathfinder Services, Relay For Life – Huntington County, United Way of Huntington County and more. Ryan is the current chairman of the United Way of Huntington County and past chairman of Pathfinder, Parkview Huntington Family YMCA and the Huntington County Chamber of Commerce.

To learn more about W.A. Zimmer, visit their showroom at 1700 N. Broadway in Huntington, call (260) 356-1621, visit wazimmer.com, or follow them on Facebook.