Last updated on May 13th, 2019 at 02:33 pm
Joseph Balthazor isn’t shy about his goal for Hallmark Building Supplies Inc. "The plan is to be over $100 million by 2009," Balthazor says of the Milwaukee company’s revenues.
Halmark was founded in 1974. The firm’s revenues increased from $17.8 million in 1999 to $31.9 million last year.
The company has increased its revenue about 25 percent every year it has been in business, according Balthazor, who is president of the firm.
Hallmark plans to acquire one or more businesses to help achieve that revenue goal.
The company also plans to add new product lines, including Wellcraft Egress Systems and Azek trim boards, Balthazor said.
Hallmark’s main product lines are DuPont Corian solid surfaces and DuPont Tyvek weatherization systems, which they market and distribute in seven Midwestern states. Hallmark sells mostly to builders and retailers.
"We form a relationship with our customers, with their businesses," said Balthazor. "They like working with us because we make that relationship and pull our business back through. A lumberyard who’s our customer sends out the lumber for a house, and they send out the Tyvek with it. We help the lumberyard grow their business."
Hallmark operates as an interdependent system, Balthazor said.
"All of the parts of our system are defined and important," Balthazor said. "Our salespeople are not more important than people working in the warehouse. Everyone is trained and knowledgeable. We are always working to improve our process. Everything has to be performing at a high level to win."
Hallmark’s employees are critical to the company’s success, Balthazor said.
"I call all of our employees ‘associates,’ because an employee is just someone who comes into work everyday, but an associate has involvement in the business and pride in what they do," said Balthazor. "We value them, train them and invest in them. They are empowered in the company. We make sure we take care of them first, and they represent us well to our customers, and in turn increase our business."
Hallmark Building Supplies Inc.
Location: 6060 77th St., Milwaukee
Year established: 1974
Main products/services: Marketer and wholesale distributor of consumer branded building materials to residential and commercial markets.
Number of employees: 46
Website: www.hllmark.com
June 24, 2005, Small Business Times, Milwaukee, WI
