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Connecting Tradition and Technology: How Zimmerman Art Glass Thrives with Fiber Optic Support in Corydon, Indiana

Written by Mainstream Fiber Networks | Dec 18, 2024 3:33:30 PM

Corydon, Indiana in the far southern part of the state, has a rich and unique history. Serving as the capital of the “Indiana Territory” until 1816, Corydon has played an important part of shaping the state of Indiana. Culturally, Corydon is still important for Hoosiers, featuring one of the oldest glass blowing establishments in the country.

Zimmerman Art Glass has been in business since 1942, and Kerry Zimmerman is finding new ways to help his company thrive. Using technology to grow while still maintaining the charm of being a 4th generation business owner can be a tough balancing act, but Kerry’s partnership with Mainstream Fiber Networks is making significant impact on the business, and the town of Corydon.

Zimmerman Art Glass had frequently struggled with reliability when it came to their internet service. Online ordering and social media marketing and presence were not in the business model for Kerry and his team, because their internet was either slow, or not working.

In June of 2021, during the height of COVID, Mainstream built to Corydon, including a build that connected Zimmerman Art Glass with a fiber optic network and phone system. “Thanks to support from the community and from Mainstream, we were able to take our business, which was struggling thanks to a lack of internet reliability, and make it a success,” said Kerry Zimmerman. “Not only did we get reliability, but the speed of uploading and downloading high resolution photos of our products is incredible.”

Now Zimmerman Art Glass continues to be a local treasure, connecting to their customers around the world and maintaining their Hoosier roots and charm for future generations. They also continue to share their love of art and glass with students, as elementary, middle, and high school kids show up regularly for tours and demonstrations.