Can a hail storm lead to a $60 million dollar a year business? It did for K-Designers. Brothers Lee and Larry Judson went to Casper, Wyoming in 1978 to help rebuild the city after a huge hailstorm damaged many buildings thereso many that local contractors could not meet the demand from insurance businesses. Lee and Larry intended to stay for 6 months, make some money and move on. Instead they stayed a year, got their operation down pat and went on to open a second office in Billings, Montana. K-Designers is now one of the largest exterior renovation firms in the western America.
Although the brothers never intended to create a national brand, their initial success in Wyoming naturally led them to other markets. Larry figured that with a model that worked the company could be successful wherever it went. K-Designers is now headquartered near Sacramento, California and has 11 offices that serve 18 states and close to 900 employees. Larry bought the company from Lee in 1990.
Larry also saw that a larger company could leverage its buying power to obtain major service and pricing from suppliers. K-Designers is able to buy all of its products, even nails, directly from the manufacturer. He also centralized all back office operations to headquarters to create a lean, mean exterior remodels machine that delivers quality work that saves homeowners money up front and over the long term.
“K-Designers were a godsend. On a stucco re-do career, the landscaping will acquire destroyed, sheetrock nails will pop via in the interior of your home, windows and doors can get shifted and/or sometimes have damaged, just to mention a few of the disasters. Thanks to K-Designers”, she says, “The house looks absolutely fabulous. I have received numerous compliments on the new look of my house. People who see the house for the first time are in total awe over the transformation”, she says. “The workmen were very efficient, professional and courteous. The attention to detail was exceptional. The landscaping was left absolutely untouched.”
With the construction field on the ropes, K-Designers continued success has been a bright spot in the field. In fact, the business is pursuing an competitive development plan focused on acquisitions, extending the product line and reaching out to present customers. K-Designers is actively seeking qualified individuals, especially sales people, to join their team.
