Leading the Way

Founded in 1992, Bailey has taken the idea of packaging success, or, more specifically, bundling services and products, to the next level. "Bailey offers a package of value-added services to the construction industry by bundling services and products that can be adapted or modified to meet any needs," explains Ron Jensen, cabinet division/ sales manager for Daytona Beach, FL-based MASCO Contract Services, a supplier of Merillat cabinets and Euro Solutions storage systems for Bailey. Jensen nominated Bailey, which is run by Eli Bailey, CEO and owner, and Jon Reddell, president.

"Bailey offers the ability to combine products such as cabinets, laminate countertops, granite countertops, cultured marble products, window treatment, electrical wiring, stem work and flooring to fill any needs," states Jensen.

The company can also provide either only product or a complete package that includes design, installation and after-market service, Jensen adds.

Bailey operates five kitchen and bath showrooms that provide complete design and installation services geared to consumers, contractors and builders. An additional four to six showrooms are planned. Bailey employs 272 employees in the Leesburg headquarters, and operates a total of seven company-owned branches.

Bailey's primary products include cabinets, countertops, appliances, flooring and window treatments. The firm boasts strong partnerships with both Merillat and GE Appliances.

As a result, overall sales for Bailey have doubled during the period from 2002 to 2004.

Second Place: V-A-H Marketing, Buena Park, CA

V-A-H Marketing prides itself on its strong commitment to providing a high level of service for its dealers and gaining market share for its suppliers. These have not only led to the on-going growth and success of the Buena Park, CA-based firm, they have also captured it second-place honors in the category of Overall Excellence in Operating a Kitchen and Bath Distribution or "Whotail" Firm.

"The V-A-H Marketing mission statement reads, 'We always strive to achieve a level of service so outstanding that our customer will describe it as excellent,'" say Chairman/CEO Richard Bergstrom and President Robert Bergstrom, who run the firm that was founded 57 years ago by their father, William A. Bergstrom.

Blake Woodall of Vent-A-Hood Corp. in Richardson, TX, who nominated V-A-H, agrees: "By operating with high ethics, leading products and [excellent] service, V-A-H Marketing has established strong dealer loyalty, and can trace many of its on-going dealer relationships back to the company's inception in 1947." Vent-A-Hood supplies ventilation products to V-A-H.

In fact, says Woodall, "V-A-H is so passionate about its mission to serve the customer that it does not compete with its dealers. It offers all dealers the same fair price, and earns their allegiance by showing them how to increase their profits with quality products."

Today, V-A-H Marketing is a full-service, wholesale distributor of high-end appliances with warehouses in northern and southern California that service Oregon, Washington, Nevada and Hawaii. The company maintains an 18,000-sq.-ft. building in Buena Park, CA, and a 15,000-sq.-ft. building in Union City, CA. Both locations have fully functional luxury showroom space, office space and warehouse facilities for inventory, service and repairs.