Home Improvement Outlet has been offering top-notch interior remodeling services for over four decades. Their ability to blend traditional craftsmanship with innovative solutions has been key to their enduring success.
For the first 10 years of business, all processes were about as manual as they could get. Everything was written by hand on carbon paper, and they had no way to gain insight into the health of the business. “We just figured that as long as there was money in the checking account, we were alright.”
Soon, it became apparent that this method of determining business health was not actually helping them guide the business to greater success, and they decided it was time to bring clarity to their financials.
The leadership at Home Improvement Outlet knew of Koble’s ERP product, EBMS, through some personal connections, and saw that it had the capabilities they needed to get a handle on their accounting and operations.
“Before, everything was very inefficient in the finance side of things. With everything handwritten, we’d spend a lot of time trying to figure out how to read what we wrote after we wrote it. Now, we know our margins and can keep track of exactly where our money is at. EBMS’s finance tracking feels 100x more efficient.”
Home Improvement Outlet now ties all their processes back to their financials using EBMS. From drafting detailed job proposals that include material selections and measurements, to placing special orders and storing drawings of each job, all the information they need when it’s time to bill is pulled right into the invoice. They can even track sales performance at an individual level, allowing them to provide targeted coaching and support.
“EBMS helps keep us efficient and watch where we might be losing or making money. If you’re not making money, you have to figure out why and where it’s happening, and having a system to keep track of that is helpful.”
From their early days as a flooring and hardware store, Home Improvement Outlet has since evolved into a full-service remodeling powerhouse. Specializing in kitchens, baths, flooring, windows, and doors, they cater primarily to new construction projects, providing both materials and expert installation.
As they think about the future, the focus remains on delivering exceptional interior remodeling services. They are slowly expanding into exterior remodeling and outdoor living spaces such as pergolas and pavers, and their main priority is to continue blessing their community.
“We love taking care of our customers - taking something that needs work and making it look nice. We’re very blessed with what we’re doing and would like to continue to maintain that.”
Kelsey Stout is the Head of HR & Marketing at Koble. She loves helping people build strong and lasting businesses with meaningful work, the right systems in place, and a strong approach to culture. When not telling Koble stories, Kelsey can be found writing children's fiction, spending time with family, or playing the guitar (poorly but enthusiastically).
