Business Products 2021 Winners

BEST AUTO DEALER (Domestic)

OLATHE FORD LINCOLN snaps up the Gold for its lineup of pinnacle Lincolns and new Fords—the venerable F-150 and larger models in that line, Ranger light pickups, SUVs from Escape to Expedition, and even the new electric iconic Mustang. CABLE DAHMER CHEVROLET, where owner Carlos Ledezma says success at the region’s biggest group of dealerships is grounded in front-to-back customer service, drives off with Silver. Bronze goes to BOB ALLEN FORD, also a full-service Ford dealership with new and used vehicles, parts, service and collision repair.

BEST AUTO DEALER (Foreign)

ARISTOCRAT MOTORS, almost always in contention for Gold, pulls away again in that category, riding its impressive selection of top-end imports; Mercedes-Benz, Maserati, Porsche, Jaguar, Land Rover and Alfa Romeo, as well as a diverse set of reliable pre-owned models. Silver goes to MOLLE TOYOTA in south Kansas City for its varied selection of that import brand, used cars and a suite of exceptional services. BARON BMW and JAY WOLFE ACURA leverage those same attributes and tie for Bronze.

BEST CORPORATE GIFTS

HALLS is again the pick for Gold honors. Though the product offerings have been scaled back to fashion items, a gift card that allows your employees, vendors or clients to personalize a selection is a great way to say thank-you or celebrate a special occasion. Our Silver winner BEST OF KANSAS CITY is just that—a Crown Center shop and on-line outlet for tasty treats and concepts unique to our grewat city. And when the right selection of a corporate gifts and decorated bottles of wine is the question, Bronze winner MANO’S WINE is the answer, providing a full range of corporate gifts and fine domestic and imported wines in well designed packaging.

BEST FLORIST

Eye-catching floral arrangements, production of unforgettable events and interior-design services high on the “Wow! Factor” add up to Gold honors for TRAPP & CO., the Midtown operation just a few blocks north of the Country Club Plaza. Trapp has dazzled customers and clients for more than half a century. TOBLER’S FLOWERS, with both floral arrangements and plants, as well as special-occasion gifts, wraps up the Silver here. Bronze is divvied up by the FIDDLY FIG, which relocated its impressive array of floral and gifting operations to south Kansas City last year, and STUDIO DAN MEINERS, specialists not just in floral arrangements, but also wedding planning.

BEST JEWELER

Engagement and wedding rings, diamonds and designer jewelry, fine timepieces—not all of us rely on a phone for that—and repair services all come together at MEIEROTTO JEWELERS, the Gold-winning Northland retailer. With locations on the Plaza and in Overland Park, TIVOL earns Silver by continuing a century-plus tradition of fine jewelry and watches. A long-time KC brand gone national—it has 210 stores in 36 states—HELZBERG DIAMONDS shares the Bronze with SHANE & CO., the Overland Park jeweler with all-occasion gifts, wedding/engagement rings and jewelry.

BEST LIQUOR/ WINE SELLER

In south Kansas City, Overland Park and Liberty, the Gold standard for wine, spirits and beers—domestic, imported and craft—is LUKAS WINE & SPIRITS SUPERSTORE. Great drinks all around, and even services to assist with event planning. GOMER’S, with five locations from south Kansas City to Parkville and the mixers and snacks needed to complement your drink selections, grabs Silver. MIKE’S WINE & SPIRITS, easily accessible in the city with its locations in Brookside, Westport and Waldo, rings up Bronze with a full selection of spirits, wine and beer.

BEST OFFICE FURNISHING FIRM

Rarely in history has there been such a focus on getting the office setting right—either in the mother ship or at remote-working locations, as we’ve seen since 2020. That’s where SCOTT RICE OFFICE INTERIORS has come through for Gold honors and its selection office systems desks, chairs, credenzas, tables and accessories. Lenexa’s JOHN A. MARSHALL picks up Silver for its selection of workspaces, tables, storage, flooring and more—even products that serve non-traditional work spaces like health-care settings. And new to Best of Business honors and bringing home the Bronze is TRILOGIE, the West Bottoms enterprise committed to helping employees feel awesome at work.

BEST MEN’S APPAREL

That killer suit that radiates success? The ties, cuff links and shoes that help set it off? You’ll find all of them, along with shirts, slacks, casual wear and more, at MICHAEL’S their Downtown location in the Crossroads, proudly earns the reader Gold. HALLS grabs a the Silver with its impressive range of men’s fashions by the likes of Canali, Moncler, Ralph Lauren, Peter Miller and more. NORDSTROM, as with the women’s fashions, is a hit with readers for men’s wear, and garners Bronze.

BEST WOMEN’S APPAREL

From understated-yet-elegant business attire to evening and casual wear, readers say NORDSTROM has it all. The retailer pushed back until 2023 its planned relocation from Oak Park Mall to the Country Club Plaza, no doubt to the delight of its nearby customers in Overland Park. HALLS with its range of designs that starts with premier lines such as Oscar de la Renta and Eileen Fisher, wraps up a second helping of Silver recognition. Bronze goes to DILLARD’S, with four area locations offering clothing, handbags and accessories, lingerie and beauty products, among a massive variety of home goods.