Ever since Bryan Tolles acquired Farmington Hills-based KSI Kitchen & Bath and
Cabinets Express in 2019 from founders Don Fisher and Don Ziegle, he’s made it
his mission to accumulate companies that can handle most any remodeling or new-build project.
The goal is to partner with great brands that are well-established in the building products space, whether it be retail consumers, home builders, or multifamily developers, says Tolles, whose background is in private equity and investment banking.
“From my perspective, if we can bring these companies together and give them resources, a great team, and professional management, they can grow,” he says.
KSI started in 1971 as Kitchen Suppliers Inc. in Oakland County, and supplied Merillat Cabinetry to home builders. It eventually moved to Brighton, as its business expanded with a network of showrooms. From there, KSI added Cabinets Express locations to offer customers a selection of value-oriented products.
Shortly after Tolles purchased KSI he hired Tony Achatz as CEO, and the buying
spree began.
In May 2020, KSI acquired luxury cabinet provider Maison Birmingham. In March 2021, it purchased Starlite Kitchen and Bath in Grand Rapids. It bought Paramount Fence in Livonia and ASA Cabinetry in Commerce Township in July of 2021. In September 2023, KSI picked up Henderson Glass in Rochester Hills and Bloomfield Hills’ Riemer Floors.
Tolles, who estimates he’s invested more than $10 million in the consolidation effort, says the growing enterprise is working to finish combining the administrative parts of the various businesses to improve efficiencies — no small task, considering KSI now consists of three warehouses, 10 KSI stores, three Cabinets Express locations, six Henderson Glass sites, and two Riemer outlets.
Overall revenue grew to between $65 million and $70 million in 2023, from less than $30 million in 2019. Today there are more than 220 people in the six businesses, up from fewer than 100 employees.
“We’re committed to, and starting to see, improvements in being the employer
of choice in these industries,” Achatz says. “We had to take the time to understand
the nuances of each of these industries and make tweaks, improvements, and
enhancements to our business to attract top talent.”
One might expect KSI to become a sort of one-stop-shop for homeowners and
contractors. Tolles says that kind of cooperation between the new companies is
starting to occur.
“If customers can come to a source they can trust and be provided with multiple
products and multiple services, it’s easier for them and better for us,” Tolles says.
When asked if KSI is finished acquiring companies in the home improvement
space, Tolles says he’s “always looking for something.”
