Page 10 - CMA PROfiles Winter 2016

Member Shop Profle … continued from page 9

So in 2008, Radu quit his job and cleaned up the
garage to make space for his new business: SOFO
Kitchens, Ltd., which produces high-end residential
custom cabinetry and millwork. “I remember spending
countless hours in the garage, having dinner with my
wife on top of plans and cabinet boxes.”
Soon word got out about the quality of his work
and the orders started pouring in. Before long, Radu
rented his first commercial space. Monika, who worked
at the University of British Columbia, helped out with
bookkeeping and marketing. Only a year later, SOFO
Kitchens was bursting at the seams and so moved
into a larger workspace. At that time, Monika joined
the team full time. Today, SOFO still relies almost
exclusively on referrals for its business, “although we
do have a strong online presence with social media and
Houzz,” added Monika.
SOFO Kitchens is now in at its fourth location, a
12,000-square-foot facility with 1,000 square feet of
showroom space, where Radu hopes to stay for at least
the duration of their lease.
Reasons for SOFO’s impressive growth include
a talented team and commitment to having the best in
technology. “Most of our people have been with the
company since the beginning, and they bring decades of
skill and craftsmanship to the table,” Monika explained.
“Everybody is like family; we spend birthdays together,
go on cottage get-aways; we’re there for each other.”
“Another contributor to our growth is the fact that
we invest in cutting-edge technology and in staying on
top of trends,” added Radu.
Part of that investment involves travelling to trade
shows. “We attend all major shows,” said Monika. Last
year alone, Radu and Monika travelled to Koln and Han-
nover in Germany, as well as Paris to stay abreast of the

10 PROFILES • Volume 16 • Issue 1, 2016 • www.cabinetmakers.org