HARRISBURG, S.D. (KELO) – For years, Showplace Cabinetry has been a nationwide staple in the cabinetry business. Harrisburg native Bill Allen joined the company in 2002 and later took on the role as president.
“The company started in 2000 shipping cabinets and was immediately successful. By 2006 or 2007, we had about 80 million in sales. We had 400 and some employees and the growth of the company was pretty dramatic in those first six or seven years,” CEO and President Bill Allen said.
Now, the company is investing $25 million over the next two years to more than double the size of the plant from 76,000 square feet to more than 180,000. An additional $5 million is being invested in automated equipment.
“The goal here is to automate, but that will not cost us a single job in our factory. Those workers who do those finishing processes, that will be replaced by this machine, will just be moved into other roles in our company,” Allen said.
Today, nearly 700 employees work at the plant. Out of the company’s 25 years of business, Christa Winter has been here for 12 of those.
“There’s a lot of teamwork that happens here. I’ve been lucky enough to work in numerous departments, so I’ve gotten to know just about everybody from sanding to finish drills to being out on the town,” Winter said.
While Allen admits the company’s $25 million investment falling during its 25th anniversary is a coincidence, his goal to leave the business stronger than when he started is no surprise.
The business has also grown into one of the nation’s top cabinet manufacturers.
