Tag: south dakota

Who is the KCMA and Why is Showplace a Member?

Posted on by Justin Ehrman

Showplace is proud to be a member of the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association (KCMA). You may wonder what this organization is and why it’s important to be a member. Let’s talk about it.

A strong American cabinet industry is very important to Showplace Cabinetry and our employee owners. One of the most important ways we support the industry is through our active involvement in the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association (KCMA).

So what is the KCMA? According to the KCMA.org website, “The Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association (KCMA) is a non-profit organization founded in 1955 to represent companies who manufacture cabinets, bath cabinets, or other residential cabinets and key kitchen and bath industry suppliers. With a membership now more than 300 strong throughout North America, KCMA works to advance the cabinet industry through advocacy, setting cabinet quality standards, sponsoring kitchen and bath cabinet-related research and providing the cabinet industry with management tools and educational programs.”

The KCMA provides resources to help companies succeed, but they also provide legal support and advocacy for its members and the industry.

“There is no other organization that is more devoted to promoting American cabinet manufacturers than the KCMA.” – Bill Allen, Showplace CEO

Paint room employees
Employee building a cabinet frame
Employee in cutting department

High Praise

Bill Allen, Showplace CEO, has high praises for the organization. “There is no other organization that is more devoted to promoting American cabinet manufacturers than the KCMA. Through the KCMA, information is available on various aspects of our business such as: government regulations, wage and labor surveys, safety, trend of business statistics, and much more.”

The KCMA has played a vital role as a champion of fair trade for the domestic cabinet industry while fighting against unfairly traded imported cabinets from China. The KCMA also administers trusted certification programs promoting ANSI construction standards, severe use and environmental stewardship that have been recognized as industry standards for decades.

Showplace employees
Showplace employees

In 2022, Showplace employees (pictured above) were honored to host a plant tour as part of the fall conference for the members of the KCMA, including executives from many manufacturers from around the country.

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What is an Employee-Owned Company and Why Does it Matter?

Posted on by Justin Ehrman

Showplace is a 100% employee-owned company. What does that mean and why does it matter? Let’s take a deeper look at what it’s like to be an employee-owner and why that benefits you when you purchase Showplace cabinets.

First, the history… Since its beginnings in 1999, Showplace Wood Products (now doing business as “Showplace Cabinetry”) has been one of the fastest growing cabinetry brands in America. From the start, this success has been grounded in Showplace people: A team of hardworking, results-oriented workers, managers and directors who care about what they do. In a world of seemingly endless choices, their creativity and hard work has made Showplace the brand of choice for 1000+ dealers and thousands of customers around the country.

In the time of constant mergers and acquisitions by distant holding companies, the founding shareholders of Showplace chose a different path. They were determined to perpetuate Showplace in a way that protects its employees and dealers from a large corporate entity that doesn’t share their vision. The founding team also sought to reward Showplace employees for their personal contributions to its ongoing success.

As a result, Showplace now exists as a 100% employee-owned company through the creation of an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). The move to an ESOP ensures the stability of Showplace into the future, while keeping the current board of directors, management, and day-to-day control unchanged.

Clapping Employees
Employees Approve of the Newly-Announced ESOP Program

ESOP Begins at Showplace

At an employee meeting in December, 2006, it was announced that Showplace was transforming into a 100% employee-owned company.

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What’s it Like to Be an Employee Owner?

Employees take ownership in decisions that affect their daily jobs and are involved in evaluating and improving those processes to ensure that we are as efficient as possible.

We hear from visitors that tour our facilities that, “Everyone’s always smiling. They must really like their jobs.” Yes, it’s true! We love what we do! And, knowing that Showplace truly cares about all employees and their futures is part of the many reasons why we smile from ear to ear.

How Do You Benefit?

Purchasing products from an employee-owned company means that you are supporting the present AND the future of our employees. But, that’s not all. Here are more benefits of buying cabinetry from employee-owned Showplace!

Cutting Department Employee

Made with Pride

Our employees own 100% of the company, so we care about the success of our company and take pride in our work because our name is on each and every cabinet that leaves our facility in South Dakota.

Cutting Team Group Photo

Involvement

To ensure that we do our absolute best to take care of our commitment to ship quality products on time, we are proud to be involved in decisions that improve our production workflow and efficiencies. These improvements benefit our dealer-partners and you.

Green Kitchen

Efforts Come to Life

We appreciate seeing the end result of our hard work through photos shared by our dealers. Seeing how our cabinets help to transform homes into something truly magical inspires us to keep doing our very best. And when we do our best, we all benefit.

Here’s a peek at a recent home remodel project using Showplace Cabinetry to completely transform the space into a contemporary kitchen of dreams!

Showplace Cabinetry: Environmentally Conscious

Posted on by Justin Ehrman

Showplace is a certified member of the Environmental Stewardship Program (ESP) of the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturer’s Association, and has a strong environmental commitment. Our modern production facilities are energy-efficient, and incorporate every opportunity for recycling and air quality protection. With our supplier partners, we promote the protection and sustainability of our world’s forest resources.

Our Commitment:

As an ESP manufacturer, all Showplace cabinets and facilities meet the following criteria:

KCMA Logo
  • Air Quality – Emissions from ESP certified cabinets are greatly reduced given the materials and finishes used in the manufacturing process.
  • Environmentally-sourced Products – Materials used to manufacture ESP certified cabinets are sourced in an environmentally-friendly way.
  • Environmentally-friendly Processes – Manufacturing processes track waste and implement opportunities to reduce, reuse, and recycle with a focus on energy conservation.
  • Environmental Stewardship – Policies requiring a firm commitment to environmental quality, in addition to the environmental practices and policies of partnering vendors and suppliers.
  • Community Involvement – Committed to supporting and participating in the community through charitable giving and service.

In addition to these commitments above, we are also CARB2 compliant and follow EPA emission standards.

Showplace Cabinetry: Built Tough

Posted on by Justin Ehrman

Framed Showplace Cabinetry is KCMA-certified, passing the toughest tests of durability and performance in the marketplace today.

These independent tests evaluate the integrity of cabinets in the following categories. If you want quality cabinets in your home that will last, know that Showplace cabinets have been certified by the KCMA and have this seal of certification.

KCMA Quality Badge
  • Cabinet Structure – Loading cabinet shelving with 15 pounds per square foot, gradually loading mounted cabinets to 600 pounds, and dropping a three-pound weight at six inches above the cabinet bottom to evaluate the overall strength and durability.
  • Drawer Operation – Cycling drawers 25,000 times fully-loaded with 15 pounds per square foot, representing roughly 20 years of regular use.
  • Door Operation – Opening and closing cabinet doors 25,000 times and testing their ability to withstand 65 pounds of hanging weight.
  • Cabinetry Finish – Exposing cabinets to stain threats like vinegar, grape juice, coffee, alcohol, and even mustard for varying amounts of time to ensure any discoloration can be easily cleaned without any lasting damage.
  • Temperature – Placing cabinets in a humid heat-box for 24 hours at 120-degrees to ensure no finish blistering or discoloration.
natural wood floors with white cabinets and dark wood cabinet island. The appliances are stainless steel. the handles of the cabinets in the kitchen are two different styles - one is a long skinny handle and the other is a half dome under cling that can be used to pull out the drawer.

Why Purchase Certified Cabinetry?

Having passed each of these tests, you can be confident your new Showplace Cabinetry will withstand the rigors of daily life. Find out just how tough these tests are.

Learn More About Certified Cabinetry

Environmental Excellence

Posted on by Justin Ehrman

Showplace Wood Products has a strong commitment to environmental excellence. As a matter of policy, we believe it is essential to protect the global environment and conserve natural resources by consistently implementing environmentally responsible technologies and processes.

Our Commitment:

Toward that goal, Showplace Wood
Products commits to the following objectives:

  • Conserving energy by implementing energy efficient technologies wherever feasible.
  • Pursuing recycling efforts for all our waste streams.
  • Promoting the protection and sustainability of forests and other natural resources through our suppliers and partners.
  • Protecting air quality by complying with all relevant environmental permits and regulations.
  • Promoting our environmental policies and objectives to our employees and the public.

Showplace Wood Products will adhere to these objectives and demonstrate our responsibility as a good corporate citizen by constantly pursuing the protection of our environment and the conservation of our natural resources.

Building a wood hood
Cutting wood
Employee Planting Trees

Environmental Stewards

Showplace is an approved participant in the Environmental Stewardship Program of the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association. Click below to learn more about the program.

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Showplace: American Made Cabinetry

Posted on by Justin Ehrman

Showplace is a 100% employee-owned company, that means the people building the product, OWN the company……the whole company! There are no private equity owners, no outside shareholders to impress, just rock solid American workers from the Midwest producing great products out of parts and pieces made right here in the USA! The over 650 employee-owners at Showplace represent the best in American manufacturing. Hard-working, dedicated people building the finest American made cabinetry and shipping it to customers in all 50 states from Maine to Hawaii.

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We pride ourselves in being a South Dakota manufacturing company built on midwestern values. Our culture is one that focuses on our customers and our employees, we are constantly striving to deliver fine products, on time & complete while at the same time showing great appreciation towards the dedication of the entire Showplace Team!

Our assembly factories in Harrisburg, South Dakota are fed cabinet doors and drawer fronts from our super-efficient door plant located in the small community of Beresford, South Dakota. Our factories are some of the largest employers in these small cities and we take that responsibility very seriously when it comes to supporting these communities.

Smiling employee in our small parts department

Employee-Owned

Our employees take pride in their work because they own the company through the Employee Stock Ownership Program (ESOP).

Building a cabinet frame

MIdwest Values

Our hard-working employees embrace the effort it takes to make high-quality product that will be part of homes across America.

Smiling employee carrying wood panels

Community

Not only do we take care of our employees like they’re family, but we take care of those in need in our community by volunteering and providing financial support to nonprofits and charities in the communities surrounding our factories.

Showplace offers several cabinet lines including framed construction (overlay and inset), and frameless.

Included in the 1+ million combinations we offer are 86 door styles, 13 wood species, 34 standard paints, almost unlimited custom paint colors, 26 stains, several specialty finish packages, and more!

No matter what style of cabinetry you are looking for, Showplace can deliver!

Showplace employees volunteer for charities
Showplace employee group photo
Employee building cabinet doors

Learn more about us!

Read about our company’s mission, history and and explore all that we have to offer!

Learn more about us!