The Kopfmann Co. Inc., a countertop manufacturer, distributor and installer on Milwaukee’s north side, started selling directly to developers, builders and retail customers last year.
Previously, the company only dealt with wholesale customers, selling countertops to big-box stores. While that market gave the company solid sales channels for decades, The Kopfmann Co. needed to expand its reach to grow, said Bob Kopfmann, president.
So, the company began direct marketing and started offering installation services for customers, Kopfmann said.
“For June, our orders are 90 percent higher than March,” Kopfmann said.
In normal conditions, The Kopfmann Co. receives orders that are turned out in five to seven days, and it relies on daily orders to keep work flowing. However, because the company is so busy now, it has contracts for about 50 percent of its capacity through June and July.
“June and July are looking to be record months,” Kopfmann said. “Sept. 30 is the end of our fiscal year. And it should be interesting.”
While The Kopfmann Co. continues to sell a large share of its product to big-box stores such as Menards, continued development of condominium and apartment projects in southeastern Wisconsin has helped drive its growth.
“We used to get a call to measure one unit,” Kopfmann said. “Now we’re getting a call for three.”
The Kopfmann Co. now has 16 employees now, but needs to hire five in the next four to six weeks. Most employees are trained to work in four or five different positions, meaning they can assist in the countertop manufacturing process, help install sinks in those countertops go on site for installation jobs, Kopfmann said.
Kopfmann Co.’s current employees have been working 50-hour weeks in recent months, to keep up with the demand for countertops.
The company’s growth prospects go far beyond just hiring the five employees it’s looking for now. Kopfmann wants to start a second shift this fall with five to seven additional employees.
“I’m pretty excited, and so is everyone else here,” Kopfmann said. “There’s been a lot of seed planting – in November we added a new sales rep. We’ve added molded marble (countertops) and quartz and granite. It’s starting to hit home.”
To keep growing sales, Kopfmann Co. wants to offer more kitchen products to customers.
“The next thing is taking our showroom and expanding into a line of cabinets,” Kopfmann said. “We want to create a partnership with a cabinet company. That’s the next step to work with. It’s exciting when you start thinking about handling more things and adding revenue, but not having to handle the manufacture of things.”
Address: 3142 W. Mill St., Milwaukee
Product: Countertop manufacturer, distributor and installer
Employees: 16, looking for five more now
Web site: www.kopfmannco.com
