Growing panes | A conversation with Kristopher Brill, co-owner of Pinnacle Window Solutions in Biddeford
Photo/Heidi Kirn
Kristopher Brill
Pinnacle Window Solutions
Founded: April 2009
Employees: 6 (5 full time, 1 part time)
Startup costs: $5,000
Projected revenue, year one: $1 million (gross)
Projected revenue, year two: $1.75 million
Contact: 283-9939
57Jefferson St., Biddeford
www.pinnaclewindowsolutions.net
What is Pinnacle Window Solutions?
Pinnacle Window Solutions is a specialized window distribution company that works with architects and builders to provide high-end, high-performing window and door solutions and green solutions through locally manufactured products. We’re working with the local design and building community throughout Maine and New Hampshire. All of our windows are made locally, with the exception of our highest performing product line, Serious Materials, which offers the highest R-value in North America. Those are manufactured in Colorado.
Why did you launch this business?
Well, I knew that I had a solid base of builders and architects who enjoyed the service that I offered them [through a] window distribution company I worked at previously. It was floundering, so I knew I had something to offer and really the opportunity just presented itself to me so I jumped. I partnered with Caleb Johnson of Caleb Johnson Architects. Caleb was part of my solid foundation. I was his window and door resource and professional and did virtually every project with Caleb that he drew for three years before we started Pinnacle.
How do you market your business?
We choose to market through architectural sales reps and so it’s face to face right now and we’ll start an ad campaign in Maine Home & Design this year, but it’s primarily through the architectural and building community. We’re also sponsors of the Portland Society of Architects, so being supportive of the architectural community and presenting the products that we carry intelligently to them. We also have our website and we’ll be starting a campaign shortly, where we take our email list of professionals we’re working with and the architectural community and we fire out updates them to them every few months.
How did you finance this business?
Personal savings.
What made your startup costs so low?
I was able to utilize an office infrastructure that was fully set up by merging with Caleb Johnson Architects’ office, so that certainly kept overhead low. Also, through the generosity of a close friend of mine, Kevin Rollins, who owns Rollins Furniture, who had a steel building for shipping and receiving that he has rented to me at a very reasonable cost.
How did you build your client base?
Through personal interaction, visiting, shaking hands and showing a level of confidence when given the chance to provide services.
What’s been the biggest challenge running this business?
I would say managing the growth wisely. Sometimes growing too quickly can be a real problem, so just making sure that we have systems in place to handle unexpected large volumes of business. That’s why we just made the jump to hire two more people because it was more than we could handle.
How has the economy affected your business and business strategy?
I’m really happy with the success we’ve seen so far so I don’t think it’s affected us too much. But as far as the strategy, it has left us with an understanding that we need to run a very lean operation with low overhead. We started in the worst part of the recession, so all we’ve experienced is growth. It helps that we offer an environmentally friendly product. Some of my locally made products perform to the industry standard, but what makes it green is that we’re using locally harvested Eastern White Pine and keeping it within just a few hundred mile radius from the factory, which reduces shipping costs. Energy savings come with our Serious product where we’re performing two to three times more efficiently than the mainstream domestic brands.
What are your future goals?
Our goals are to build a reputable company that is based on service and quality. Ultimately, we’d like to have two separate locations, one in Maine and one in New Hampshire, and we’d like our gross revenues to grow to $5 million a year.
Interview by Mercedes Grandin
New Ventures profiles young businesses, 6-18 months old. Send your suggestion and contact information to editorial@mainebiz.biz.
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