Page 32 - CMA PROfiles Winter 2018

20
Anniversar 20 YEARS 20 YEARS 20TH ANNIVERSARY NOW AND THEN
GOING
GOING
th
Anniversar
STRONG
STRONG
Celebrating
Celebrating
1998 2018
1998 2018

of the Lockdowel, as we do not have the the avenues to grow my business; through
specialized machine in our shop yet. the CMA, I’ve been able to network with
The CMA has been an other member shops on jobs that my
The transition to Lockdowel has had the shop alone would not have been able
biggest impact on our business, allowing invaluable source of to do on its own. The CMA has also
our cabinet assembly to become a education. been an invaluable source of education,
standardized process. We are no longer introducing me to programs such as the
using the traditional assembly methods – Goldman Sachs 10000 (by the way, if you
blind dado, Rafix for closets, and Lamello, We’re just wrapping up a hotel with 132 get accepted into the national program,
to name a few. closets and 200 bath room vanities, 100 percent of the costs are covered,
and it has gone well with only a few including travel and lodging).
We did end up flipping our business on its
head for a few months during the change. hiccups. Moving forward, we will continue The CMA networking events alone
I knew some employees would not buy our brand growth for Pawling Closet are worth the price of membership.
into the new assembly process, and they Company and hone in on the customers During one event this fall, two fellow
left or were let go. At one point, the shop we want to engage with for our luxury members spent a weekend at my shop,
staff was down to myself and Nicolette custom cabinetry. both learning from me and giving me
doing everything from machining to A TALENTED AND GENEROUS invaluable ideas and contributions.
finishing and installing, which punched a COMMUNITY
bit of a hole in our schedule and revenues The Cabinet Makers Association If you have a cabinet shop of any size,
for the third quarter. has directly contributed to both my and you want to be actively involved
company’s growth and my own personal in learning more about the business of
Things are settling down now, and we growth as a business owner and CEO. running a cabinet shop, as well as giving
have hired back some of the people who back to a community of talented and
left; we don’t need as many employees Without the relationships formed in the generous cabinet makers, then the CMA
now, and our net is in much better shape. organization, I would never have found is your best resource.

30 PROFILES WINTER 2018