Reading, MA Cabinetry and Countertop Company Upended by Trump Tariffs
–– The Beck Companies has completely retooled its business in the wake of crushing business policies ––
READING, MA – “I’m not going to lie,” said Tracey Beck, owner of The Beck Companies with showrooms in Reading, MA and North Smithfield, RI, “this has caused us a tremendous amount of time, money, and gray hairs.” The cascading effects of these tariffs have rippled throughout their entire business, and throughout the cabinetry industry at large. Perceiving these tariffs as a potentially mortal blow, the company moved quickly to retool its operations to stay competitive and avoid the downfall they already see starting to hit their industry.
Many companies that are manufacturing and sourcing overseas will go under, because they won’t be competitive due to extended lead times and increased expenses. With the stroke of the President’s pen, the business environment has changed overnight, and not everyone is moving fast enough to stay ahead of the tsunami of changes coming. Margins will shrink and meanwhile consumers will hold off on projects due to higher costs, further squeezing revenues and impacting growth. It really is an existential crisis, which is why The Beck Companies believed it would be deadly to do nothing and just “wait and see.”
The company is proud of its accomplishments: an entirely local, single-sourced operation that is now 100% American Made and independent of the impacts of tariffs on foreign imports. But it wasn’t an easy feat. Many of the cabinetry components, finishes, doors and hardware are imported from overseas.
The company had to change up all of its product lines, work with new suppliers, change its color selections and more, all while making sure to keep quality the same or higher while simultaneously keeping costs the same or lower. It meant purchasing a whole new stock of materials, tossing its old brochures and color guides, updating its website and marketing collateral, in-store demo units, and pricing matrices, just to name a few.
“This affected every single department, from purchasing to sales to our design consultants, installers and more. We had to invest a lot of money buying and stocking new materials, establish new supplier relationships. It’s been a lot. I’m very proud of the team for pulling this off without missing a beat,” said Tracey Beck. The company can now produce custom cabinetry and counter tops locally in Rhode Island without delays, and with complete price assurance. It was a Herculean effort but now that the changes are complete, they believe it only makes the company stronger, creating a stable business for the foreseeable future.
About The Beck Companies: For over 40 years, The Beck Companies have produced hiqh quality cabinetry and counter top solutions via it’s KB Surfaces, CAS America, Closettec and Great American Recreation brands. The Beck Companies, is a family-owned, woman-owned and operated company renowned for its dedication to excellence and innovation. Since 1991, The Beck Companies have created a state-of-the-art high-tech fabrication/manufacturing facility for the fabrication of granite, marble, soapstone, engineered stone, custom closets, and commercial casegoods, strategically located under one sprawling roof. The Beck Companies embodies a commitment to quality and customer satisfaction, ensuring that each of our clients benefit from the extensive resources and solid reputation of the parent company. For more information about The Beck Companies, visit the website here.