John Yakich and Robert Sanderson, Sr.
Candlelight Cabinetry, Inc.
Niagara SBDC

Candlelight Cabinetry, Inc.

Robert Sanderson, Jr. had a successful kitchen and bath cabinet showroom called Kitchen World Distributing.  John Yakich had a cabinetry business and subcontracted with Kitchen World for cabinet installation.  In 1990 they joined forces and established Candlelight Cabinetry to manufacture a semi-custom line of kitchen and bath cabinets, and the business has grown steadily ever since. The SBDC helped the partners prepare their original business plan in 1990 and they returned to the SBDC when external financing was needed to relocate and expand.

Candlelight Cabinetry, which blends custom woodworking with modernmanufacturing techniques, moved into one of Lockport's oldest manufacturing locations. With the expansion, the business dramatically increased its previous workforce. Candlelight's marker covers a 500-mile radius including New England, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Michigan; thirty percent of its sales are in NYS.

In 2002, the Niagara SBDC presented Candlelight Cabinetry with its APEX award for excellence.  The company was also recognized by the WNY Technology Development Center for its lean manufacturing concepts.  They increased monthly sales by 40 percent and reduced manufacturing lead-time by 35 percent. One of the company's noteworthy promotions is that it will provide a tree for every customer who purchases a Candlelight Kitchen, or will plant two trees in a national forest.

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