In the October 2002 issue of Kitchen & Bath Design News, the largest and most prestigious kitchen remodeling trade journal, we were judged to be one of the 2 top kitchen remodeling companies in America. The award category was "Overall Excellence in Operating a Kitchen and Bath Dealership." The following comes from that issue.
In an increasingly complex world, the need for strong leadership becomes more and more essential. While some may stand pat, there are others who view each day not only as a challenge, but as an opportunity to do something truly great-that's what leadership is all about.
The kitchen and bath industry is a strong testament to this idea, offering more than its fair share of individuals and companies who use these opportunities to educate, inspire and motivate us all- simply by their example.
To that end, Kitchen & Bath Design News is once again honoring individuals and companies in the kitchen and bath design industry who act as true leaders, with the presentation of its fourth annual Industry Leadership Awards. A total of 16 industry players-including kitchen and bath dealers, designers, distributors, "whotailers," manufacturers, sales reps and others- have been named as recipients of the 2002 Industry Leadership Awards, presented exclusively by K & BDN. Each award recipient is highlighted in this month's issue.
Begun in 1999, the Industry Leadership Awards competition is the first and only kitchen and bath industry honors of its kind, focusing specifically on leadership excellence and outstanding industry achievement in a variety of categories.
"Existing award programs in the kitchen and bath industry focus primarily on design talent. But, while design skills are certainly important, true excellence comes from mastering all aspects of our business, from customer service, sales, marketing and business management skills to the ability to create effective showroom displays and make an impact on our communities at large," states K & BDN editor Janice Costa.
"The companies and associates we're singling out for recognition with the 2002 awards are true leaders whose achievements have made a difference - to their companies, to their customers, to their communities, and to the kitchen and bath industry at large," continues Costa. "Their success is not a mystery - they are true professionals who have talent, vision, solid planning skills, and the ability to execute these. They are shining examples whose talent, hard work and business savvy can and should be admired, studied and emulated."
Kitchen & Bath Design News, October
2002
Industry Leadership Awards
Category: Overall Excellence in Operating a Kitchen & Bath Dealership
Second Place: Cameo Kitchens, Inc., Falls Church, VA
Organization and a Traditional Approach
Promote Growth
Since its inception in 1986, Cameo Kitchens, Inc. has enjoyed dramatic expansion; in less than two decades, the company has gone from practically nothing to hitting new heights in dealer sales volume. A finely tuned organizational plan has helped the firm steadily increase its business on an efficient, step-by-step basis - with a plan so effective, it won the firm second-place honors in K&BDN's 2002 Industry Leadership Awards for Overall Excellence in Operating a Kitchen and Bath Dealership.
Currently, the company does more the $4 million in sales a year, relying on 21 full time employees, including three full time designers and 14 installers. Cameo Kitchens does its own installations in all areas except electrical and plumbing, which are subcontracted to companies with which it has had long standing relationships.
The self-contained operation allows for greater efficiencies in both scheduling and costs. In fact, Cameo typically completes a total kitchen remodel in three to four weeks - including the most complex jobs - thanks, in large part, to its organized, systematic approach to installations.
The company also enjoys greater efficiencies by taking advantage of cash-on-delivery discounts, and generally avoiding a debt-based approach to its business.
Cameo Kitchens' business is focused on the retail remodeling market, with a traditional approach to what constitutes good business. Design talent, alert job scheduling, service to the customer and timely, well coordinated installations are worth more than styling, colors, and trends, believes owner Karl Keul, who is concerned about the overall decline in quality in the kitchen remodeling business.
Keul favors hands on management of his company, and has personally trained all of his designers. If there's any problem with a Cameo Job, the company fixes it at no charge, for the life of the kitchen. It's this kind of service that's given the company prodigious referrals, and allows it to operate with little advertising. Further, Cameo has designed and remodeled kitchens for such luminaries as Vice President Dick Cheney and AOL founder Jim Kimsey.
The company's Web site, www.cameokitchensonline.com, displays some of the company's work, including a section titled "Suggestions for Purchasing Your New Kitchen," which spells out many ways remodeling customer can avoid bad experiences, and outlines the questions needed to ask en route to getting the remodeling job of their dreams.
