The pace of doing business today is faster than ever before and shows no signs of slowing down, according to Tim Rudd, co-president of M&M Office Interiors Corp.
To survive, companies often need immediate answers and solutions to their challenges.
“If you haven’t made any changes to your business in the last two years, you’re falling behind,” Rudd said.
M&M is a Pewaukee-based office furniture dealer that has grown to become a resource for its customers. The company uses software that provides pricing and three-dimensional color renderings on site for its clients.
Under the guidance of Rudd and Wayne Breitbarth as co-presidents, M&M has increased its annual revenues by an average of 32 percent each year since 2003.
M&M is southeasternWisconsin’s sole distributor of Holland, Mich.-based Haworth Inc.’s full line of products, including architectural interior products, which provide office interiors and adaptable work spaces. The products include moveable walls and raised flooring.
M&M offers Haworth’s raised flooring, which carries heating and cooling capacities that can reduce a company’s operating costs. Additionally, the flooring conceals electrical data wiring.
The company also provides Haworth’s newest take on cubicles: demountable office walls that create an office environment.
To better reflect the company’s current goals, M&M developed a new way to market itself.
“The space you want, the experience you deserve” is M&M’s new tagline. It was the byproduct of interviewing the firm’s clients and employees.
“There’s a sense that we provided solutions, not just office furniture,” Breitbarth said.
M&M is a part of the 20 Group, a conglomeration of 20 non-competing office dealers from around the nation that share best practices. M&M provides constant employee education and keeps pace with changing technologies.
“We have tried to instill in our people a philosophy regarding all relationships with all of our vendors, customers and employees,” Rudd said. “Our approach has been one of ‘fix the problem and worry about who’s going to pay later.'”
The company’s dedication to customer satisfaction has garnered Haworth’s Award for Excellence, recognition given to one outstanding dealership from around the country for focusing on customer relationship practices. Nearly 250 businesses applied for the award.
“Our approach to providing benefits and other employee-related programs is that we want to provide the strongest program in the industry in metro Milwaukee,” Breitbarth said.
The employee-focused programming includes a unique approach to meetings and celebrations, including “M&M Jeopardy.” In addition, the two presidents take each department of M&M for half-day excursions to build camaraderie and relationships.
“We consistently send all appropriate employees to industry training and have been recognized as one of the top dealers in training commitment,” Rudd said.
M&M’s employees are involved in local charities and community service throughout southeastern Wisconsin, Breitbarth said.
“We encourage this activity and believe it adds to the overall feeling of family and our commitment to a well-rounded lifestyle,” he said. “We feel very strongly about our employees. They’re the ones that got us here.”
M&M Office Interiors Corp.
Address: W233 N2833 Roundy Circle West, Suite 100, Pewaukee
Web site: www.mmoffice.com
Industry: Office interiors solutions (including needs-based consulting and related products)
Number of employees: 44
