Kreinik Manufacturing is a family-owned business that started in Jerry and Estelle Kreinik’s home in early 1970s. Estelle was a needle worker, who basically wanted access to more interesting threads. So they started researching, buying, then making them. Doug Kreinik, owner of Kreinik Mfg. Co., Inc joined the family business in 1983.
Today Kreinik makes a variety of silk and metallic threads for needle workers, crafters, scrap bookers, quilters, fiber artists, fly fishermen—even fashion houses—to express their creative selves. So they pretty much always have thread on the brain. It’s how they look at the world.
Doug’s background is in retailing, sales and marketing, manufacturing, and computers. He has appeared on Shay Pendray’s Needlework Shop and has written for Piece Works Magazine. He is well known through his speaking engagements around North America, the UK and Russia, telling the story about his company and the industry, teaching the textile artist about threads, and moving people out of the box into the world of embellishments.
They also make C.A.K.S. Laces in honor of Doug’s son, Charles Austin Kreinik who took his own life at age 28. In the end, Charles was affected by physical pain, alcoholism and depression, but in brighter days he was a gifted person of quirky humor and generous spirit. You could even spot that in his clothes: he loved wearing unique, patterned socks and bowties.
So lace up your shoes, put one foot in front of the other, and keep on going—or dancing! Your purchase helps others, supports grieving families, and makes the world a little brighter
Their manufacturing facility & customer service offices are located in the United States in Parkersburg, WV. They have a staff of creative people that are dedicated to serving you.
Show Notes:
- 00:31-2:37: Jim introduces today’s guest, Doug Kreinik, and his family business, Kreinik Manufacturing and asks Kreinik to give our audience a brief insight into his personal life.
- 2:38-6:10 Kreinik talks about how the company was started by his mother in the 70s and how it eventually became a family business once his Dad began working for the company as a road salesman. He also describes how the company has evolved over the years.
- 6:11-6:24: What’s your company’s 30 second elevator pitch?
- 6:25-7:16: “Kreinik is about creating quality yarns and thread for crafters, for interior designers, or for anyone that wants quality in their work.”
- 7:17-7:31: What’s the one thing you’re most excited for for your company right now?
- 7:32-8:56: “Creating new products and selling all around the world.” Kreinik discusses with Jim the places around the world they do business and how that came to be.
- 8:57-9:14: What year did you take over the family business?
- 9:15-9:32: Kreinik talks about becoming a part of the business in 1982 and then buying the business from his parents with his brother in 1988 before he eventually bought him out 20 years later in 2008.
- 9:33-10:07: What’s your worst business moment you’ve had so far?
- 10:08-13:09: Kreinik talks about the struggles of hiring people when starting your own company and what can happen when hiring one bad seed.
- 13:10-13:14: What would you say is the best thing about doing business in West Virginia?
- 13:15-14:42: “We’re number 50 in a lot of things. Well, we can only go up from this point.”
- 14:43-15:34: What’s the long-term vision for your company?
- 15:35-15:56: “The long-term vision is to keep creating and bringing out new ideas and to expand the market in crafting and fly fishing.”
- 18:08-18:26: Discuss the link to the CAKS charity on your website
- 18:27-20:10: Kreinik shares the inspiration and tragedy behind this charity he created.
- 20:11-21:41: What’s one piece of advice you’d give to people that are thinking about starting their own company?
- 21:42-24:30: Kreinik offers three essential rules for being in a family business: 1. The child of the family should work for someone else prior to being employed by their parents. 2. When you’re a parent bringing in your children, don’t bring in the spouses of the child. 3. If you have a small business and you want to open up a second office, this can be extremely difficult.
- 24:31-24:45: What’s one thing you do everyday that you think contributes to your success?
- 24:46-26:48: “I communicate with everyone in the plant.”
- 26:49-26:54: What’s one resource you use in your business that you can’t live without?
- 26:55-27:53: “One of my favorite tools is Excel.”
- 27:54-27:58: What’s one book you’d recommend?
- 27:59- 28:21: “The Goal”
- 28:22-28:43: If you could meet anyone in West Virginia that could positively help your business, who would it be?
- 28:44-29:26: “I’d like to meet Jennifer Garner.”
- 29:27-29:38: How can our listeners learn more about you and your company?
- 29:39-30:50:
- 30:51- Close: Jim thanks Doug for joining him on today’s episode and once again recognizes the wonderful sponsors of the show that allow stories like this one to be told.