A Perfect Match
APRIL 2009 17 www.modernwoodworking.com W hen Je and Doreen Anglin started their custom furniture business seven years ago, they each brought something to the table. Je was an experienced furniture maker and former cabinet shop owner, while Doreen had a background in dra ing and design. At the time the couple's goals for the business were to remain small and only produce custom furniture. But when cus-tomers realized Je 's background was in cabinetry, the couple saw requests for cabinetry orders increase, and their focus gradually shi ed away from furniture. Although it still produces a furniture piece on occa-sion, Prairie Heritage Cabinetry's primary focus today is whole-house cabinetry, as well as products for the local hospital and commercial xture markets. With 12 employees, the Sioux Falls, S.D. business has grown to serve a 200-mile area as well as the metropolitan areas of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minn. I think a big part of our success is that we have two owners who actually run the business, says Do-reen. Je is in the shop, and I go do all the measure-ments, meet with customers and design. Placing premiums on customers and employees Prairie Heritage and its employees take great pride in the company's nished product. But with a high con-centration of custom cabinet shops in the Sioux Falls area (about 20 shops in a population of 200,000), Prairie Heritage has to rely on more than its product quality to thrive. We're in a bit of a di erent market than most ar-eas of the country, and there are some really good shops here, which forces us to be more competitive, says Je . In the 1960s there was only one custom shop in Sioux Falls, and most shop owners in this area today worked there or worked for someone who worked there, like a family tree. Because of that, a lot of shops build similarly. What separates us is customer service and going the extra mile. We really have to take care of our customers. In addition to a number of small custom com-petitors, Sioux Falls is also home to industry giants Showplace Wood Products and StarMark Cabinetry. eir presence makes employee retention a top con-A perfect match South Dakota custom cabinet shop stands by its reputation and commitment to customers By Je Crissey Finalist Prairie Heritage Cabinetry & Furniture Je & Doreen Anglin, owners