Pumpkin Spice Propane: How One Otodata Customer Turned a Seasonal Joke into a Community Tradition
It’s a fun time of year for residents and businesses in Bally, Pennsylvania — thanks to propane retailer John Eddinger and his now‑famous idea to “spice up” autumn with help from the energy source that fuels his neighbors’ homes and businesses. What began as a quirky message on a roadside letterboard has become one of the most beloved seasonal campaigns in Berks County— drawing smiles, new customers, and even national industry attention.
Bally is a small borough on the suburban‑rural fringe of the Philadelphia region, where Eddinger Propane has been part of the community fabric for generations. John, the company’s Secretary is a proud fifth‑generation propane marketer and hardware retailer.
What follows is our conversation with the Otodata customer, capturing the history of his family business, the origin of Pumpkin Spice Propane, and how a simple joke became a trademarked marketing phenomenon. As Eddinger says, “I never dreamed it could take off like this.”
Our conversation with John Eddinger, Secretary, Eddinger Propane
A Family Legacy Rooted in Community
Otodata: Please describe your role at Eddinger Propane and family legacy?
Eddinger: “I'm a proud 5th generation propane marketer and hardware retailer. The business was started as a general store and roofing supply company back in 1890. One of my greatest joys in life is to work with my grandfather, my father, my uncle, and now my three sons.
It's just very rewarding and I am truly blessed.”
Otodata: What are your earliest memories of the company?
Eddinger: “Helping my grandfather pick up supply routes… he used to go in a station wagon and pick up supplies… We used to sell ammunition, hunting licenses, and fishing tackle, and it was truly like a general store. Everybody said ‘Geesey’ had everything.”
He explains that ‘Geesey’ was the nickname given to his grandfather, Francis Eddinger — a name he now proudly carries as a new grandfather himself.
Eddinger: “We have a very small hardware store and it's also our retail location where we fill portable propane tanks… Customers can pay their bill and talk about installations. New customers can walk through the door.”
Nine years ago, Eddinger was looking for a fun message to put on an old AMC dealership letterboard outside his store — something he wouldn’t have to change every few days. What he came up with changed everything.
Eddinger: “I put up ‘Pumpkin Spice Propane is Back for a Limited Time.’ And all of a sudden, people just thought it was real… They were driving from an hour away. They were lining up here.”
Customers called, debated it in office pools, and showed up asking if we had “the pumpkin spice stuff.” Eddinger leaned into the fun — joking with customers, handing out stickers, and eventually creating a website and merchandise.
“Pumpkin spice gets the first smile, but the dependable service earns the customer's trust in the end,” says Eddinger.
What started as a six‑week fall promotion now runs nearly three months, from mid‑September through Thanksgiving weekend.
Eddinger: “I joke that 9 years ago, I created the best thing to happen to propane in autumn since grain drying.”
The campaign has become a local tradition — complete with Halloween tank displays, Mardi Gras beads, stickers, shirts, and even glass figurines made by a local artist.
In August 2024, Eddinger began the trademark process for Pumpkin Spice Propane.
Eddinger: “That took about 16–17 months… once the trademark was secured in December, I took a deep breath-- this is real. I finally felt free to fully embrace the brand and pursue all of the creative ideas I had been holding back.”
The trademark opened the door for new designs, including this year’s Propane Phoenix Distelfink hex sign — a concept that has already generated huge excitement.
The campaign has become so recognizable that Eddinger’s wife once spotted a Pumpkin Spice Propane sticker on a car in front of her on the highway. Industry leaders have taken notice too — including Tucker Perkins, CEO of the Propane Education & Research Council.
“If and when you get an email from the CEO of PERC on a Saturday afternoon… you know you’ve done something right.”
A Business Impact That’s Real
Otodata: Have propane sales increased since you started this campaign?
Eddinger: “Yes, it grows every year… I just picked up a customer in the parking lot… I told him the whole story, and I gave him stickers and he's like, “I’m going to call you.”
Eddinger says he now thinks about the campaign year‑round — new concepts, new stickers, new ways to bring joy to customers while encouraging them to “fill before the chill.”
All three of Eddinger’s sons are involved in the business, and the seventh generation has now arrived. His grandson, Charles Francis Eddinger, arrived in early September.
Eddinger: “They love it… I’m thinking about these12 months out of the year now… we have a lot of fun, and it started as a joke, but it’s just not a joke.”
When asked what he means by that, he shared this.
Eddinger: “It’s a marketing campaign… a memorable, fun way to sell propane that the public looks forward to… they engage with it, they ask for it.”
Pumpkin Spice Propane may be playful, but its effect is meaningful: stronger customer relationships, increased sales, and a brand identity that people remember.
As Eddinger says:
“It’s awesome in autumn, but it’s dependable all year.”
To learn more about the Pumpkin Spice Propane story visit www.pumpkinspicepropane.com.
At Otodata, we love hearing stories like John’s and seeing the creative ways our customers use their businesses to connect with their communities. Stories like Pumpkin Spice Propane remind us that behind every tank, every delivery and every installation are people who are passionate about the customers they serve.
Have an Otodata story of your own? We’d love to hear it. Whether it’s a creative idea, a unique customer experience or a new way you’re using our technology, don’t hesitate to reach out and share your story with us.
