After 15 years in the glass industry, Kris and Valerie Petersen opened Petersen Custom Glass, LLC in 2014. Kris has extensive experience designing and installing custom glass products. His specific areas of expertise include high-end frameless shower enclosures, ADA accessible showers and other custom glass projects. With his leadership skills gained from the military and her executive skills, Petersen Custom Glass has become a successful local business in Parker, CO, serving a 25-mile radius in the metro area.
In October 2015, Petersen Glass moved out of the 1100 sq-ft garage into a brick and mortar retail space. Business expanded quickly as capacity grew to include showroom and workshop space. “We feel that starting up slowly and receiving help from the SBDC along the way, we established a solid foundation from which to grow financially in the coming years.”
All three of the consultants in the Aurora-South Metro SBDC Lone Tree office assisted the Petersens with financing questions and concerns, advertising direction and a solid marketing strategy. With the consultants’ guidance and discussing the financial pros and cons of ‘taking the leap’, “we have been able to ‘crack the nut’ with an online presence and a new physical location”.
Marcia McGilley, Executive Director of the Aurora-South Metro SBDC, explains, “The Petersens took full advantage of the resources offered by the SBDC. They were diligent in their follow-up after consulting sessions and were able to implement changes and grow their business substantially, while staying true to quality craftsmanship.”
The Petersens are 100% owners in the LLC. Originally investing $10,000 of personal assets in 2013, the Petersens invested $30,000 from 2014 business proceeds in order to expand. Their business saw an 87% financial gain in the first year – and doubled again in 2015 to over $100,000. Additionally, Assets and Net Worth doubled in the first year and then doubled again in 2015. In other words, the Petersens took the business from zero to 93% growth in just over two years! And, they were able to do all this without going into debt. As Val Petersen said it so succinctly, “We’ve been blessed to have a thriving business with no loans to pay back.”
THE COLORADO GLASS INDUSTRY IS RELATIVELY SMALL. COLORADO REPRESENTS ONLY 2% OF GLASS AND GLAZING CONTRACTORS IN THE UNITED STATES, AND LESS THAN 1% OF ALL BUSINESSES IN COLORADO ARE IN THE GLASS BUSINESS. SOURCE: REFERENCEUSA
Since glass always breaks, the Petersens found their niche. They remain versatile, accommodating low-end to high-end customers, as well as ADA, restoration and remodeling companies. Their goal in 2016 is to add one employee to help Kris and Val and they continue to provide service to homeowners, home builders and remodeling contractors.
Their website, petersenglass.com, beautifully displays Kris’ custom glass installations, showing the superior quality and elegant results of his handiwork for both commercial and residential services.
Petersen Custom Glass is a veteran-owned and operated company, offering a 10% discount on materials to veteran customers.
To contact Kris or Val Petersen at Petersen Custom Glass, please visit their website at www.petersenglass.com or call the showroom at (720) 810-1160.
