The year was 1984: The Soviet Union boycotted the summer Olympic Games in LA, Michael Jackson’s hair caught on fire during the filming of a Pepsi commercial, and Apple introduced its iconic Macintosh personal computer—this, before the advent of the worldwide web. It’s safe to say that we’ve come a long way over the past 30 years. At Dover Home Remodelers, we are a bit nostalgic during this, our 30th anniversary year, as we look back at our Company’s humble beginnings and see how far we have journeyed as a home improvement resource for customers here in Northeast Ohio.
Jim and Eileen Orr established the business in 1984 in Westlake; Jim had worked in the industry for more than eight years as a framing contractor and grew Dover Home Remodelers organically as an extension of his experience and expertise. With an emphasis on providing value and quality for our customers, Dover has remained committed to that charge over the years, completing more than 5,000 remodeling jobs.
In every sense, Dover is a family company. We are proud to have a significant number of our employees here since the Company’s inception and vendors with whom we’ve enjoyed long-term partnerships. That longevity speaks volumes about the type of business we run—and the people who drive our success. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, more than 50% of small businesses close their doors within the first five years.
Our longevity and market strength in the home remodeling industry is a testament to the talented people who work for Dover—and their shared commitment to providing nothing less than the very best in innovative design, quality craftsmanship, and customer satisfaction. That dedication is what sets us apart and moves us forward: More than 70% of Dover’s business is generated from repeat customers or customer referrals.
Adaptability is also integral to success in this industry. According to Jim, the most significant shift or challenge in the industry is our potential client’s ability to access data on an array of products on the internet. We are fully aware of this and our job is to guide our client past some inadequate products and instead toward products that have longevity and style using our experience.
Like many business that have weathered the storms of the recession and market instability, Dover has come out on the other side stronger and more competitive by making tough changes during the lean times. In more recent years, we’ve also had to adapt to the new digital age, changing the ways in which we communicate and engage with our customers.
During 2014, we’ll take some time to commemorate this milestone with a customer-centered celebration in late spring or early summer. And we’ll continue to enjoy a glimpse back at our history while we focus on moving forward, with cutting-edge design and product innovations—helping to create spaces and experiences that allow our customers to realize their dream space within their own homes.
Thank you for your support over the past three decades. We look forward to what’s next.
The best is yet to come,
Beth Orr
Vendors
Schaefer Plumbing Inc
