For Howland Boyer, owner of Cabinet Factory Outlet Plus at 7125 Q Street, the key to long-term success is teamwork, expertise, and appreciation for a product.
“We have very talented designers,” shares Boyer. “My job is mostly to support them to do the best they can.”
This is done through things such as the business’s display wall, which is designed for customers to see colors and styles as much as to understand the value of what’s being purchased.
“My designers love to talk colors and design and beauty—and I say, ‘Hey, you need to talk about the rating,’” Boyer says playfully. This combination of form and function allows customers to get the best value.
This approach is one of the many lessons he learned after his father's passing in 1985, when he took over the family business at age 24. “I still had a lot to learn, and I’m sure I made a lot of mistakes.”
This inheritance would also make Howland the fourth generation of men in the Boyer family to pursue a career in the builder supply industry. His choice of cabinetry, however, began in high school.
While participating in the Distributive Education Clubs of America, commonly known as DECA, one of his father’s employees encouraged him to look into cabinetry.
"It sparked a lifelong interest in kitchens and how the design works,” says Boyer.
Boyer delved into the nuances of cabinet construction, woods, hinges, and the evolution of design trends.
"Wood is always good, but some darken, and some are softer—they would damage easily for cabinets," he explains. "I went with cabinet construction to learn what makes a sturdy cabinet and what will make it last longer.”
His interest extended to the hinges and methods developed by post-World War II European engineers and metalworkers that made frameless, full-access cabinets possible. Such styles are now available in his store.
“We have some constructions that home centers typically don’t deal with,” Boyer says, adding that Cabinet Factory Outlet Plus also keeps select varieties of middle-grade cabinets in stock.
Having recently undergone a kitchen remodel in his own home, Boyer remarks how it is a joy to him to work alongside talented people, continue a family legacy, and provide excellent service and products for his customers.
“It’s a wonderful honor to meet nice people and help them improve their homes and properties,” he says.