Saint Louis Closet Co. has been locally owned and operated since opening in 1991. We are a custom closet manufacturer of floor based closet systems. We specialize in attention to details and customer service. Proudly serving Saint Louis City, Saint Louis County, Franklin County, Jefferson County, Saint Charles (MO), Madison and Saint Clair (IL) Company Profile Jennifer
Quinn Williams Jennifer Quinn Williams has always been an organizer. “My mother likes to share the story about when I was in the 6th grade and I papered my closet with Time magazine covers, bought matching red plastic hangers, and totally organized my entire belongings,” says Jennifer with a smile. “I guess closets have always been my fate.” Anyone would agree that good organizational skills are a fundamental qualification for starting your own business. And in 1991, Williams did just that, opening the doors of Saint Louis Closet Co., the first locally-owned closet company that installs custom organizing systems crafted to stand alone and fit the exact dimensions of a customer’s closet.
Saint Louis Closet Company has grown from modest means. In her first semester of graduate school, while working part-time at another closet company, Jennifer loved what she was doing and saw how she might be able to do things differently. Then, in October of 1991, she approached the Small Business Administration (SBA) to learn how to go about starting her own business. That November, she decided to try her luck at a
start-up loan. “There was no fairy godmother, no investors,
no capital and banks are notoriously difficult to deal with and
here I was approaching Boatmen’s for a $50,000 loan,”
notes Jennifer. So, at the ripe old age of 25, Jennifer had not only graduated from Saint Louis University and begun graduate school, but she also had begun to set up and operate her own business. That first year would realize $236,000 in sales, an amount that has been exceeded by some 800 percent 10 years later. Managing Family And A Business - All In Day’s Work
“My family is definitely my support system,” says Jennifer. “My husband, Matt owns his own business as well, so it’s nice to always have someone around to bounce off new ideas. Plus, we both understand the daily stresses of running a business.” And with two entrepreneurs in one family, life can get crazy. “We make it work,” Jennifer notes. “It requires good communication and a lot of organization.” And how does Jennifer react when long work hours and management stress take their toll? “It’s all a part of having your own business,” Jennifer says shrugging her shoulders. “My family truly makes it all worthwhile.” Giving Back to her Hometown Community Jennifer’s roots are tied to Saint Louis having grown up in Kirkwood and graduating from Kirkwood High School in 1984. This hometown entrepreneur then went on to Saint Louis University to earn a B.A. in Communications. So when she was considering starting her own business, Jennifer was excited about the prospect of locating in Saint Louis. “I really enjoy running my business here,” says Jennifer. “There’s a great feeling in knowing that you’re helping your community and providing your neighbors with a superior product at the same time.” Jennifer’s hometown connection makes a difference, especially when it comes to the company’s charitable and civic endeavors. Jennifer’s list of involvements is already an impressive one. She’s donated to her local alma mater, Kirkwood High School; earmarking $10,000 for the school’s yearbook program along with $250,000 in custom closets for the classrooms. And, Jennifer donates old clothes and other throwaway items from customers’ closets to homeless shelters. In addition, scrap wood and old, unneeded closet parts are given to local schools, churches and charities. SLCC’s Employees Make the Difference. When Jennifer started Saint Louis Closet Co., she knew the importance of surrounding herself with quality people. “Our company’s biggest strength,” notes Jennifer “is that of customer service. All 24 of our employees strive for excellent customer service. They continually try to exceed our customer’s expectations.” In fact, she attributes SLCC’s reputation for strong customer service to her well-trained and professional staff. Jennifer’s right-hand woman, Angelia York, embodies these qualities completely. Angelia has been with SLCC since 1991, working first in sales then becoming office manager and today serving as Vice President. Also a Kirkwood High School graduate, Angelia loves working in her hometown. “It’s a really positive feeling to be part of a business where you live. I’m now selling closet systems to the families I grew up with. Our customers are truly our friends and neighbors.” Jennifer is proud of the product Saint Louis Closet Co. offers. “We have a unique system,” comments Jennifer. “Where other closet companies hang organizers on existing walls - a practice that is not as secure or as adjustable as our product, we provide a safe, floor-based closet system built of our laminated shelving that is totally adjustable from the floor to the ceiling,” says Jennifer. “You have the ability to adjust, add or subtract from your closet system at anytime.” The company prides itself on paying close attention to details, listening carefully to what customers want. They specialize in closets, pantries, storage space in garages, playrooms and home offices — all custom made. “Almost all closet installations take less than one day, and since we manufacture our own systems,” says Jennifer, “we can turn orders around quickly. This gives us an edge over franchisers of other closet systems,” she noted. “In fact, I can give you one example where we delivered a closet system to a woman who wanted it done the very next day - which we somehow managed to do!” All the closet systems are designed, manufactured and sold out of her 30,000 square foot headquarters in Maplewood. Saint Louis Closet Co. owns state-of-the-art machinery, all of which Jennifer can operate herself, (she is a believer in cross-training), and which allows the company to make its own product. “Other than growing the trees for the wood, we’re almost totally vertically integrated,” Jennifer said.
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2626
S. Big Bend 
From
Humble Beginnings A Company Is Born
Jennifer
brings the same moxy and organizational skills to managing her personal
life. As a mother of a 6 year old son and a 5 year old daughter,
Jennifer is no stranger to juggling multiple responsibilities. “Starting
my own business was great preparation for motherhood... it’s
amazing how you use the same skills in running a household as you
do in managing a business.”
Secret
of Success: Quality product and service