"The breadth of our product lineup is exceptional, and so is the breadth of the product knowledge among of our staff"
— Tom O'Brien
director of retail sales
Kentec Inc. at a Glance
Founded: 1957
Ownership: Privately owned by the Morgan and Kennedy families
Key individuals: George Morgan, president; Chuck Rawlins, vice president and CFO; Tom O'Brien, director of retail operations; Mike Waters, industrial and reseller sales manager; Gary Kennedy, rental manager
Headquarters: 3250 Centerville Highway, Snellville, GA 30039
Facilities: Main location 89,000 square feet — 74,000 square feet of warehouse, 5,000 square feet for service and parts, 10,000 square feet of office and support. 20 branches in Birmingham, AL; Delray Beach, Jupiter, Miami, Orlando, Panama City Beach and Port St. Lucie, FL; Cumming, Douglas, Jonesboro, Lawrenceville, Lilburn, Lithonia, Marietta and Woodstock, GA; Duncan, SC; Nashville, TN; Pineville and Mooresville, NC; and an A-OK Rentals in Lithonia, GA (ranging in size from 2,000 to 10,000 square feet)
Employees: 126
Key markets: Residential construction, manufactured housing, pallet manufacturers, marine industry, resellers/dealers, cabinetmakers, millwork specialists, utility trailer manufacturers, woodworkers (professional and hobbyists)
Lead lines: Senco Products, Interchange Brands, Paslode, Dow Chemical, Aerosmith Fastening Systems, DeWalt, Makita, Porter-Cable, Bosch, MAX, Hitachi, Delta, Jet, Irwin, QuikDrive, Rol-Air
Computer software: InforSystems/NxTrend
Associations/affiliations: STAFDA and Sphere 1
Website: www.kentec.com
Snellville, GA — "As an area matures and residential construction starts to slow, we begin considering where we need to move our store," confides George Morgan, president of Kentec, Inc. "We don't look at any of our 20 branches as permanent locations; our intent is to always be where the construction 'action' is."
Operating on the assumption that a residential contractor has ample opportunity to buy fasteners and tools, and that most won't drive more than about 10 miles to do business with even a favorite vendor, Kentec is constantly monitoring the pulse of its business territory. "Our experience has been that there's five,imaybe 10 years where a particular branch will do well, and then it's time to move," adds Morgan. "There are, of course, exceptions but that kind of rotation has worked out quite well. We've moved, consolidated or opened a new branch about once a year for the past 10 years.