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Interview with Tom Steffan: South Texas Factory Rep For Wood-Mode & Brookhaven Cabinetry
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Describe your background info and how you got into your current position?
I grew up in the kitchen business & went to work for my dad in 1975 (he was the Wood-Mode rep before me). I was lucky to have my dad as my mentor since he was a pioneer in the sales & design of custom manufactured kitchens. I started out servicing builder business and eventually got involved in the retail kitchen business before taking over the rep territory in 1992.
What is the best advice you could give to clients?
My best advice would be to do your homework on what you want in a cabinet and or kitchen design. Kitchen design showrooms that represent Wood-Mode are staffed by designers with years of experience & training. There’s value in working with a product that’s been satisfying customers for over 40 years in Houston alone.
What are your favorites in the Wood-Mode and/or Brookhaven lines?Wood Specie- Cherry (I chose it for my new kitchen)Finish- Glazed/burnished (I like the character it adds)Interior Feature- Soft-close drawers (reduces kitchen noise)Other- Good kitchen designWhat trends do you see for 2012 in the world of cabinetry?Contemporary and/or transitional designs will remain a strong trend in 2012 based on what we see from major manufacturers, interior designers & the home building industry. Painted finishes of all types also remain very popular.What do you think are the reasons for Wood-Mode/Brookhaven’s success?Wood-Mode’s success over the last 70 years has to be attributed to providing a high quality “finished” product that we stand behind 100%. We have multi-generational customers because as we all grow older we invest in products we can depend on.What advice would you give a client that is faced with a builder/remodeler/architect/designer that is overriding their decisions saying they know what is best for them?I would remind them who’s paying for the project and who will have to live with the end result. Over the years we’ve had too many clients repeat this statement….. I wish I had not let them talk me out of what I wanted…. they promised I would be just as happy & they would save me money, etc.For the fun one, If you were not a Wood-Mode Rep, what would you be?If I was not a rep in the kitchen cabinet business I would be a rep in the appliance business….. they get to take the best trips!Kitchens | Tags: interview, family, Home Remodeling, Interior design, Brookhaven, Wood-Mode, Cabinets
