1 min read
We were excited to discover that one of our clients in Richmond, Custom Kitchens, 
was honored to receive the Retailer of the Year award by the Retail Merchants Association for 2013! The award is given annually to retailers around the area for better practices in management, industry and community involvement, and more. The event was held this year at the association’s meeting in Henrico County.
The co-owners, Richard and David Hendrick, were absolutely ecstatic to be recipients this year. Custom Kitchens was founded in 1957 by the brothers’ father in 1957, who was in attendance for the event. After he retired, the brothers took over and have taken the company to new levels, being recognized as an industry leader across the country. Randy Hallman of the Times-Dispatch goes on to explain further in his article about their tremendous work leading up to this year:
The merchants association noted that during the economic downturn, the Hendrick brothers changed operational tactics, avoiding layoffs of any of the company’s 20 employees and managing revenue growth each year.
The company has supported community nonprofits and charities including the Science Museum of Virginia, the Greater Richmond ARC and Habitat for Humanity.
For example, the company donated a $25,000 kitchen remodel for Hanover Habitat for Humanity in 2011.
Richard Hendrick said he and his brother have considered expanding, “but we like having happy, satisfied clients, and we can do that at the size we are.”
Technology advances have changed the business since they took the reins.
“When we started,” Richard Hendrick said, “we didn’t even have a fax machine.”
Computer design techniques have given the company an extra tool, “but we still like the hand-drawn designs,” he said.
Looking forward, he said, new products and other elements for the kitchens and baths the company designs will keep their work interesting.
“We have to be more expert,” he said. “And we still have to keep the same level of quality with the carpenters and other members of our team, so we can do the top-notch work our customers expect.”