| 476 North Greenbush Road Rensselaer, NY 12144 p: 518.283.2752 f: 518.283.0105 |
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1789 Route 9 Clifton Park, NY 12065 p: 518.383.2654 f: 518.383.2928  |
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| Showroom owner, counter maker revive Millbrook cabinet line The Business Review • October 22, 2010 by Michael DeMasi  Frank Sanderson spent just $800 to get control of the Millbrook Custom Cabinetry name, a tiny investment for a veteran brand in the furniture industry. Sanderson lost hundreds of thousands of dollars when the Millbrook factory in Nassau closed abruptly a year ago and the company filed for bankruptcy. Sanderson had been one of the investors in Millbrook, but not an owner. He sold the custom cabinets at his three kitchen and bath supply showrooms in the region. Now, Sanderson hopes to recoup his losses by reviving the Millbrook line at his showrooms: Kitchen Buyers Outlet in Clifton Park, Millbrook Custom Kitchens of North Greenbush and Keeler Concepts by Design in Chatham. To do so, Sanderson had to get the rights to the Millbrook name. He also needed a cabinet maker to build the high-end product. Sanderson, 72, accomplished both tasks. He was surprised to learn the former owners of Millbrook Custom Cabinetry never patented the name, even though they were in business for 50 years. Sanderson said it cost $800 in filing fees to get the rights. Sanderson turned to a longtime business acquaintance to get the cabinets built: Alan Boulant, owner of Solid Surface Craftsman in Glenville. Boulant had stepped in to help Sanderson after Millbrook went bankrupt, fulfilling orders that customers had placed with Sanderson for new kitchen and bath cabinets. Solid Surface Craftsman specializes in countertops, but has built wood cabinets for hospitals and other large commercial customers, as well as the occasional house for company executives, friends and family. Boulant saw an opportunity to expand the business by building Millbrook-brand cabinets for Sanderson and a generic version for other wholesale suppliers. “We have a network of over 60 dealers that we sell countertops to,” Boulant said. “Now we’re going to sell them cabinets.” Boulant has hired eight former Millbrook employees, including Michael Gallant, the company’s former president. One of Gallant’s jobs will be to design a marketing catalogue. Solid Surface Craftsman expects to finish this year with about $8.5 million in revenue. “[Millbrook] did $3.5 million in revenue,” Boulant said. “The way I view it, there’s $3.5 million of potential revenue on the street. My goal in five years is to turn it into a $4 million or $5 million revenue stream.” The arrangement gives Sanderson solid footing to build up his business. Most of his customers are remodeling their homes. A typical kitchen cabinet job costs more than $30,000, including labor. Revenue was about $2 million before the recession hit. This year they are projected to be $1.5 million, a rebound from last year, his worst ever. (return to top of page) |
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© Millbrook Custom Kitchens 476 North Greenbush Road • Rensselaer • New York • 12144 • p: 518.283.2752 • f: 518.283.0105 1789 Route 9 • Clifton Park • New York • 12065 • p: 518.383.2654 • f: 518.383.2928  |