New Berlin-based Schroeder Solutions Inc. has experienced dramatic growth in the last four years since it became a one-stop shop for businesses that are designing new workplaces or remodeling old ones.
The company has grown from 40 to 80 employees, while revenue has more than doubled to $8.5 million since it was created in 2003 with the merger of Schroeder Installation Services and sister company Integrated Office Solutions, according to Scott Gierhahn, president and chief executive officer.
Schroeder Installation had moved and installed office furniture, while Integrated Office Solutions was based in the same building. As more companies outsourced their office planning, Gierhahn saw how the two businesses could merge operations and provide better service to their clients while also reducing redundancy.
“Since then, there has been nothing but growth,” Gierhahn said.
Today, Schroeder Solutions provides full service to its clients in four areas of design and furnishing:
Workplace design. Interior designers can help a company create a master plan that includes everything from offices to paint colors.
Office furnishings. Schroeder Solutions offers complete workplace furnishing from a variety of suppliers.
Architectural products. They build the client’s desired office space. For example, one option that has become increasingly popular is moveable office walls.
Support services. They install, repair, replace and keep inventory records for their clients.
The company’s continued growth depends on its people “having an extremely high passion for costumer service,” Gierhahn said.
The local family-owned business prides itself on personal customer relationships. The company sends a thank you note with every order confirmation, and its installers hand out customer comment cards asking for input on any problems. The firm follows up by mailing customer surveys.
Schroeder Solutions also encourages employees to offer suggestions to improve the business, with a suggestion box, an open door policy and a continuous improvement process.
“We encourage everyone to challenge the way we do things,” Gierhahn said.
