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August 2005
Speeding tickets might be on the docket for WOOD 100's Sweet Sixteen class, as every representative on this year's annual report is sporting double- or triple-digit growth - a first in Wood & Wood Products' history.
The median growth for these 97 U.S. and three Canadian companies was 27.5%, up from last year's 16.8%, and ranges from 13.6% to 306.9% - also some of the best numbers posted by WOOD 100 companies.
Compound that record-breaking growth with the fact that 88 companies are predicting another double-digit year, and 59 representatives say they expect 2005 to be their "best year ever," and that makes for a very sweet year indeed.
Another WOOD 100 first, Centerpiece Surfaces Inc. of Rogers, MN, is the pioneer solid surfacing manufacturer to reach the No. 1 spot. The 14-year-old, four-employee company saw its sales increase to $704,000 in 2004, up 306.9% over 2003's $173,000.
Each of the top five companies also earned more than 100% growth last year. In fact, No. 2 Drawer Box Associates of Zebulon, GA, enjoyed 153.3% growth after nabbing the No. 4 spot last year with an 84.8% increase. Between 2002 and 2004, the dovetail and dowel drawer box manufacturer went from $250,000 to $1,170,000.
All WOOD 100 companies, regardless of their "rank," have sustained solid growth records this year. Twenty-two percent of them point to customer service as the number-one reason for their success, though increased productivity, marketing programs and new product development are close favorites. (See chart.)
Sour Side
It is perhaps a bit surprising that these fast-growing North American woodworking companies still worry about money matters. Even though 61 of the companies say their profit margins increased compared to three years ago, while just 15 report lower margins, "profit margins" was one of the top three identified concerns for the 2005 WOOD 100 Report, and "economy" nabbed the number-one concern spot for the sixth consecutive year.
Rounding out the top three was the ever-present "employee recruitment/retention" category, which when combined with the closely related "employee skills" category would beat out economy as the number-one concern. (See complete story.)
More WOOD 100 Facts
- Thirty-three of the WOOD 100 firms were featured in last year's report; 53 of this year's companies have appeared in the WOOD 100 at least once since the report's inception in 1990.
- WW Wood Products (No. 21) is making its 12th overall and 11th consecutive appearance; Oak Craft (No. 32) is making its 11th appearance; and sixteen of the companies are making at least their fifth appearance in the WOOD 100.
- Thirty-seven states are represented in this year's WOOD 100; California leads the way with nine of this year's WOOD 100 companies, followed by eight from Arizona, six from Texas and five each from Georgia, Kansas and Washington. Three are from Canada.
- Eighty-six of this year's WOOD 100 companies listed a Web site on the entry form; these will be hot-linked online.
- The oldest represented company, Indiana Furniture (No. 59), was founded in 1905; Drury Bluff Millwork (No. 95), founded in 2002, is the youngster in this year's crowd, though 11 companies have been formed since 2000.
Other Views of the WOOD 100
There is more than one way to compare the achievements of the WOOD 100 companies. These charts rank the top companies by sales volume range, dollar growth and sales per employee.
TOP GROWTH COMPANIES
(based on 2004 sales)
|
| Under $1 million |
$1 million to $2.5 million |
$2.5 million to $5 million |
$5 million to $25 million |
Over $25 million |
| Centerpiece Surfaces (No. 1) 306.9% |
Block & Chisel Interiors (No. 4) 112.4% |
Artifex Millwork (No. 22) 47.6% |
Boyce Highlands (No. 8) 75.3% |
WW Wood Products (No. 21) 49.2% |
| Cabinets by Schiller (No. 3) 152.6% |
C&H Cabinets & Countertops (No. 5) 111.8% |
Riverwoods Mill (No. 30) 40.8% |
JSI Store Fixtures (No. 9) 66.1% |
Showplace Wood Products (No. 38) 36.8% |
| Venuti Woodworking (No. 7) 75.6% |
Indwell Woods (No. 6) 78.9% |
Danielson Designs (No. 32) 40.2% |
Builders Cabinet Supply (No. 11) 63.2% |
Indiana Furniture (No. 59) 29.1% |
| Old World Butcher Block Furniture (No. 12) 62.2% |
Woodesign (No. 10) 63.4% |
Central Wisconsin Woodworking (No. 37) 38.0% |
Reborn Cabinets (No. 18) 52.8% |
Legacy Cabinets (No. 65) 26.8% |
| Woodtronics Inc. No. 13 60.5% |
Westwind Wood Specialties (No. 14) 58.7% |
Pennville Custom Cabinetry (No. 39) 36.4% |
PIN (No. 25) 42.5% |
Custom Cupboards (No. 68) 25.5% |
| Advanced Woodwork (No. 16) 57.4% |
Fadco(No. 15) 58.3% |
Valet Organizers (No. 41) 36.0% |
Glenn Rieder (No. 27) 42.2% |
Woodharbor Doors & Cabinetry (No. 69) 25.2% |
|
Tortorelli Creations (No. 20) 50.0%
|
Drawer Box Associates (No. 2) 153.3% |
Sunwood Doors (No. 46) 34.7%
|
Twin Oaks Custom Cabinets (No. 28) 41.3% |
Wellborn Forest Products (No. 73) 23.6% |
| Labourdette Construction (No. 23) 43.8% |
Pollaro Custom Furniture (No. 17) 56.4% |
Top Drawer Components (No. 47) 33.7% |
Oak Craft (No. 34) 38.9% |
Jasper Seating (No. 77) 20.9% |
| Hensel Woodworks (No. 24) 42.8% |
Fuller Architectural Hardwoods (No. 19) 50.5% |
Tellios Millwork (No. 48) 33.4% |
Commercial Casework (No. 36) 38.3% |
Huntwood Industries (No. 79) 20.0% |
|
Curtis Cabinetry (No. 33) 40.0%
|
Harbor Wood (No. 26) 42.5% |
QSI Custom Cabinets (No. 66) 26.4% |
Great Lake Woods (No. 43) 35.3% |
Cox Interior (No. 80) 19.8%
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