Travel to Guelph, Ontario and you’ll come across a kitchen cabinet business that has been operating since 1964.
Nu-Way Kitchens Inc. has a long standing history and is one of the oldest continuously running kitchen cabinet shops in the country!
We spoke to Jake Wolters, Owner at Nu-Way Kitchens Inc. to learn more about the company and their ingredients for staying in a successful business for more than 60 years.
- We’ve been in business for more than 60 years because we love what we do!
- Being adaptable is important. In our third generation business each of us has different strengths and weaknesses. If we stick to our strengths and hire people that will fill in our weakness then we will have a strong company.
- With a strong history and the next generation now involved, the company may not be new anymore but it is adapting to new trends and techniques and it’s ready for whatever the new challenges are ahead.
CKCA: What’s the story behind Nu-Way?
Jake: My dad, Clarence, worked as a home builder in the late fifties installing all the baseboards, casings, closets and all cabinets including kitchens and bathrooms. That was the trim carpenters job at that time. I joined full time in 1979 and then my brother Andy came on board in 1985. My brother and I bought my Dad out in 1992. Andy left the business in 2014 and that void was filled by my son Ryan that same year who is now owner with me.
CKCA: What’s your market?
Jake: We sell only to our local geographical area. Usually within an hours drive from our shop. Seventy percent of our sales are residential and the rest are builders.CKCA: How large is the shop?
Jake: Our shop and showroom is a total of 4,000 sq. ft. with 5 employees. All employees have been with us for over 10 years.CKCA: Tell us about the family run business.
Jake: My son does all the books and is the head installer. My dad is 92 so his involvement is very minor. He will still do some occasional pickups and deliveries for us just because he likes to get out of the house. I kind of have my hands in all areas of the business just to keep everything in order.CKCA: What type of equipment do you have in your shop?
Jake: We are still a little old school with our equipment. A panel saw, edgebander and line boring machine. Our guys are quite efficient with them so it hasn’t been a problem for us. A CNC machine is in our sites, but we haven’t pulled the trigger on that yet. Our company has not changed in size for most of the 60 years that we have been in business.CKCA: What do you think has been a key reason why you have stayed in business all these years?
Jake: We love what we do. I think I would struggle if I had to work for someone else. There have been some lean years for sure and they can be stressful. But overall I couldn’t see myself doing anything else.
CKCA: Tell us about your business challenges?
Jake: Don’t over extend yourself. When the market is hot it’s easy to borrow a lot of money for expansion, but you have to be prepared for a downturn in the market as well. You need to have money set aside for those lean years because they will come.CKCA: You got involved with the CKCA and became President, why?
Jake: I joined the CKCA in 2002. That was after my Richelieu rep hounded me for over a year to come out to a meeting. After that first meeting I could see the benefit to being involved. I’ve never looked back. I was proud to be President of CKCA from 2011 to 2014 and would encourage anyone to get involved.Don’t over extend yourself. When the market is hot it’s easy to borrow a lot of money for expansion, but you have to be prepared for a downturn in the market as well.
CKCA: You got involved with the CKCA and became President, why?
Jake: I joined the CKCA in 2002. That was after my Richelieu rep hounded me for over a year to come out to a meeting. After that first meeting I could see the benefit to being involved. I’ve never looked back. I was proud to be President of CKCA from 2011 to 2014 and would encourage anyone to get involved.
CKCA: What are your thoughts on the industry?
Jake: The kitchen cabinet business is ever changing. That’s one of the things I like about it. We do things so different now compared to when my dad started in the sixties. I’m sure things will keep on changing. Each cabinet shop will have it’s own strengths and weaknesses. You will have to adapt your business to serve the customers you are selling to. A small shop like ours has to serve our local geographical area which will be different than a large shop with multiple showrooms across the country.
CKCA: In these trying times with market fluctuations, what do you tell our son to encourage him to keep going with the business?
Jake: My son is very smart. He keeps his eyes on things that will have an impact on our business which, in turn, can be stressful. I see the same things coming, but my attitude towards those changes is more like “this too shall pass”.CKCA: Your company has built a lot of resilience, what does that look like?
Jake: The strong years we’ve had in business are good problems to have. Those are manageable problems. The tough years are a challenge of a different type. Trying to get through some lean years is about survival and going home with a smaller paycheck or no paycheck at all and living off your savings. We were fortunate to not have too many of those years.
CKCA: What do you say to
people entering the industry or
taking over a business?
Jake: Being adaptable is very important. We are in our third generation now and each of us have different strengths and weaknesses. If we stick to our strength in the business and hire people that will fill in our weakness then we will have a strong company. My dad was happiest when he was working on cabinets. He didn’t like the sales process or dealing with customers. He did that because he had to. I ,on the other hand, enjoyed the sales process and the finishing of cabinets. Ryan is much more business minded and is all about seeing profits. Trust me, that is a good thing. I wish I had more of that!
On behalf of the CKCA we would like to congratulate Nu- Way Kitchens Inc. for being an inspiration to the industry. From your humble roots you have stayed the course longer than most, driven by a genuine passion and commitment to serve the community keeping your business steady and strong. Your ingredients for success are uniquely yours and they have served you well. Now with a fourth generation born in 2024, it will be exciting to see how the future will unfold at Nu-Way Kitchens Inc. We wish you continued success.
Nu-Way Kitchens Inc. in the 1980’s.
