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Anyone would agree that good organizational skills are a fundamental qualification for starting your own business. And in 1991, Jennifer Quinn Williams did just that, opening the doors of Saint Louis Closet Co., the first locally–owned closet company that installed custom organizing systems crafted to stand alone (floor-based) 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. Jennifer's tenacity paid off and she received a call from the loan officer that the SBA and the Bank had approved a loan for $35,000. What about the additional $15,000 she needed? Jennifer just forged ahead; trusting that early sales of her new closet systems would bring in the balance of money necessary to stay in operation. They did.So, at the ripe old age of 25, Jennifer had not only graduated from St. 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 over 1800% in 17 years.
Jennifer also increased her exposure in the industry by joining the Home Builders Association early on. "It's a wonderful opportunity to network with builders and remodelers and market your product,” comments Jennifer. Today, Jennifer and her company are also involved with NAPO, the Maplewood Chamber of Commerce, the Chesterfield Chamber of Commerce, the Lake St. Louis Chamber of Commerce, the National Closet Group, the Association of Closet and Storage Professionals and the RCGA.
Jennifer's roots are tied to St. Louis having grown up in Kirkwood and graduating from Kirkwood High School in 1984. This hometown entrepreneur then went on to St. Louis University to earn a B.A. in Communications. "I really enjoy running my Business in St. Louis," 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." "St. Louisans, love to buy from locally-owned companies, not franchises."
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, Saint Louis Closet Company has also installed closets at The Magic House, Glendale Lutheran Early Learning Center, St. Peter's Catholic Church and is a contributor to St. Louis Children's Hospital, the Maplewood Betterment Foundation, The Kirkwood Library, The Maplewood Library, The Susan G. Koman Foundation and The Leukemia Foundation. Jennifer's serves on the honorary board of Friends of Wings Pediatric Hospice Care and has been the Honorary Chair for two years running for the Big Bear Brunch.
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 50 of our employees strive for excellent customer service. They continually try to exceed our customer's expectations daily."
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.” By offering a variety of laminates, Saint Louis Closet Co. is not just limited to the closet. Murphy Beds, Laundry Rooms, Playrooms, Lockers, Craft Centers, Garages, Pantries and Home Offices are all products offered by the company.
"Almost all closet installations take less than one day, and since we manufacture our own systems in our custom factory," says Jennifer, "we can turn orders around quickly. This gives us an edge over our competition." There are no pre-made parts or sizes, Saint Louis Closet Co. closets are TRULY custom and cut to size.
All the closet systems are designed, manufactured and sold out of her new 30,000 square foot headquarters in Maplewood and her two showrooms in Chesterfield and O'Fallon, MO. Saint Louis Closet Co. owns state–of–the–art machinery, which allows the company to make its own product 100% Custom.
Jennifer Quinn Williams and her company Saint Louis Closet Co. have been recognized both locally and nationally for their success and quality products.
The list of career accomplishments and awards for Jennifer is long and impressive:
- 1994 Arthur Andersen’s Top 25 Business Award
- 1995 Small Business Administration’s Young Entrepreneur of the Year for Missouri
- 1995 Small Business Administration’s Young Entrepreneur of the Year for the entire Midwest Region
- 1995 Selected by The White House to participate in the Midwest Region Economic Conference where she met President Bill Clinton
- 1996 Jaycees 10 Outstanding Young St. Louisans
- 1996 St. Louis Business Journal’s 40 Under 40
- 1997-1998 Director of Maplewood’s Special Business District
- 1997 Maplewood’s Business Person of the Year
1998 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year finalist
- 1999 Small Business Administration’s Women in Business Advocate of the Year finalist
- 2000 Founding Member and Board Member of National Closet Group
- 1997-2007 Listed as one of the top 100 Fastest Growing Woodworking Companies in the United States by Wood and Wood Products (ten years in a row)
- 2005 25th Anniversary Board Member for The Magic House
- 2005 Named "St. Louisan of the Year” by Bill McClellan, St. Louis Post Dispatch, for her fight against eminent domain.
- 2006 & 2007 Honorary Chairperson for the BJC Friends of Wings Hospice Care
- 2007 Honorary Board Friends of Wings
- 2007 Keynote Speaker for Maplewood’s Women’s History Month
- 2007 St. Louis Business Journal Top 25 Most Influential Businesswoman Award
- 2007 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist
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