How Business Management Software for the Cabinet Industry Started
In the early years of CompanionCabinet, there was no such thing as business management software in the cabinet industry. Dealers relied on design and accounting software with no real way to manage their business. Brent and Chris, our two founders, saw an opportunity to bridge these two worlds together with a software solution that would enable dealers to run a more successful business.
Brent's parents started selling cabinets in 1963, but the headaches of the cabinet business convinced Brent to decline his father's offer to take over the family business. Brent started his corporate career at Ernst & Young in 1994 where he and Chris first met.
When Brent's mother became ill, Brent gave up his corporate career to help with the family business. That's when Brent first asked Chris to help automate his cabinet dealership. Chris refused saying, "Good software takes years to develop. Great software takes even longer."
As the two continued chatting in the weeks ahead, they sketched out a rough idea for a cabinet dealer software solution on 14 napkins. The company was founded in 1997 and the name CompanionCabinet was chosen. By 2006, our two founders decided to take on outside investments to fund the company's growth. For more information about them, see our management page.
Market Leadership & Innovation
"It's amazing to me that I can manage my cabinet
operation entirely on the web with Aurora."
-John Anderson, Owner, Southern Kitchens Ltd.
By 2005, CompanionCabinet Software received several awards: KBB Magazine's most innovative product, Intuit's Top 10 Developer Award and Charlotte's Blue Diamond Award for the most innovative tech start-up.
In 2007, with rumors of a market slowdown about to hit, CompanionCabinet Software launched the Dealer's Voice in an effort to help educate dealers. The Dealer's Voice is the industry's largest, most comprehensive center of excellence for dealers. With hundreds of free articles, how-to-guides, audio series, books, tools and more, the resource center is a one-stop-shop for anyone selling kitchens and related products.
In 2008, CompanionCabinet developed and launched the industry's first selling process, the 4M Sales Process®. This industry-specific selling process has increased the closing rates of thousands of kitchen designers and is widely recognized as a standard in the cabinet industry.
In 2010, after over a decade of improving dealers' margins and streamlining their operations, CompanionCabinet rebuilt their entire product suite as the first web-based business management solution for anyone selling kitchens & related products. It was named after the Roman goddess of dawn: Aurora.
“CompanionCabinet Software’s solution for electronic ordering
is manufacturer-friendly and addresses my concerns with cost
and dealer adoption.”
– Mael Hernandez, President of Custom Cupboards
Next, CompanionCabinet launched the industry's first web-based catalog management tool for manufacturers. Phoenix helps manufacturers electronically share leads, promotions, orders, confirmations, delivery notifications, invoices, news and announcements with their dealers. Phoenix also measures the effectiveness of sales promotions and "closes the loop" for manufacturer's marketing teams.
In 2011, CompanionCabinet launched the industry's first consumer portal called the Consumer's Voice to help dealers educate their prospects. CompanionCabinet also expanded into other markets like flooring, faucets, fixtures, appliances, plumbing, and remodeling and opened its solution to dealers based in Canada.
After over ten years of software and industry process excellence, CompanionCabinet's business management solutions have helped companies withstand two enormous market downturns with a proven track record of improving their sales & profitability.