Cabinet builder sees rise in remodeling

By Katie Mills Giorgio, correspondent

Name: Tom Erger

Title: Founding partner and operations manager

Company: Cabinet Studio Inc.

Address: 700 16th St. NE, Cedar Rapids

Phone: (319) 743-0985

Website: cabinetstudioinc.com

Elevator pitch: “You don't unlearn paying attention to the details.”

"I learned woodworking from my dad and together we built furniture and did projects around the house,” said Tom Erger, talking about how his interest in cabinetry started at a young age.

Erger opened his own cabinet shop before going to work in the home construction industry as both a lead carpenter and construction manager.

In 2000, he decide to combine his cabinetry background and general construction management experience with the design skills of business associates Mike Pitzen and DeVonna Wood to create Cabinet Studio Inc.

“It was a premise that allowed us to do something unique in this area,” he recalled. “And no one else, yet today, designs and manufactures their own cabinets as well as orders all price points of custom cabinet products.”

Cabinet Studio takes projects from initial design consultation to installation.

“Combining the construction management segment is reassuring to our customers,” he added.

One big shift during Cabinet Studios's 11 years has been the increase in remodeling projects.

“We started as 60 to 70 percent new versus remodel,” Erger recalled. “But three years ago we started picking up on remodeling projects ....”

Today that ratio is more like 50 to 60 percent for remodeling projects.

Today the company works on much bigger projects than he could do on his own, and Erger's role has shifted to the business side - “hiring, coordinating jobs and managing the day-to-day business details.”

A typical day for Erger starts with answering emails, followed by a tour of the shop to talk about the status of custom cabinetry projects. By midmorning, he heads out to visit projects in progress - usually two to four different sites.

Then it's back into the office for more planning and pricing.

Perhaps one of the biggest changes for Cabinet Studio was the move to the Shores Central Park Building, constructed in 1911.

Erger, Pitzen and Wood bought the site in 2004 and renovated it - Erger himself serving as general contractor.

Seven other businesses are now housed there.

The Irish District building created the opportunity for Erger to take on the role of neighborhood advocate.

“Moving down here had a lot of implications that I didn't understand at the time,” he said. “Today we try to be a catalyst for this neighborhood to reinvent itself.”

When he's not managing cabinetry projects, Erger pays attention to his farm. He and his wife, Karen, started with a pair of Belted Galloway cattle and now have 20 cows, plus some chickens and a horse.