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Couple find a strong niche in handcrafted cabinetry and furniture.
Art Aisner
Special to the Jewish News
W
hen the bottom fell out from
underneath Michigan's hous-
ing market, Andy and Lesly
Sallan didn't panic. Sure, the sputtering
economy would impact their custom cabi-
netry business as new construction slowed.
But the owners of Bloomfield Hills-based
Millennium Cabinetry used the downturn
to reinvent and meet a high demand in
custom room remodeling. Not only did the
business stay afloat, but Millennium also
entered this year — its 25th — growing
while some competitors struggled.
As the Sallans looked within the com-
pany to re-evaluate fiscal priorities, they
realized homeowners were doing the same
and looking for ways to maximize the
value of their home.
"We had to diversify, and what we found
was a big growth opportunity with clients
who want to update or maximize their
space while also helping improve their
property value," said Andy, Millennium's
founder and president.
Remodeling projects that use
Millennium's elegant, handcrafted cabine-
try and furniture now make up the major-
ity of their business, which services all of
Metro Detroit, much of Southeast Michigan
and even some clients out of state.
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A Successful Transition
Though he wouldn't discuss numbers,
Sallan estimates that revenue from remod-
eling projects alone has jumped 60 per-
cent since 2007.
While shifting focus with their business,
the Sallans believe they've stayed success-
ful by continuing to work the same way
they did 20 years ago.
All projects, big and small, are meticu-
lously planned. And the Sallans painstak-
ingly educate their clients about where the
costs come from.
To meet deadlines and stay efficient,
Andy Sallan said entire structures are ana-
lyzed to head off unforeseen problems.
"So often, contractors don't provide a
cost allocation or a realistic budget and
that's where costs can run out of control:
he said. "We take a lot of pride in doing it
the right way and know that a room takes
on the personality of the client. It's our job
to make that happen."
And its done by paying attention to detail.
Lesly and Andy Sallan check one of the custom cabinets in their showroom.
Millennium is a full-service firm that
manages projects from concept to instal-
lation. It works closely with a client's pre-
ferred designer or offers its own custom
designs since Lesly started consulting
about 10 years ago.
Also setting Millennium apart is flex-
ibility due to its own state-of-the-art fac-
tory in Farmington Hills. Custom designs
and specifications typically come at added
costs and time. But Andy Sallan said that
if specifications change or problems arise,
Millennium's carpenters can address them
promptly without shipping delays or costs.
At The Ready
"Being around as long as Millennium has,
they have experience with certain architec-
tural or structural issues in the field that
make the installation process less stressful
for the design team as well as the client,"
said Michelle Mio, owner and partner
with Rariden Schumacher Mio Interiors,
Birmingham.
After working on several projects
with the Sallans, Mio said the quality of
Millennium's products is surpassed only
by their commitment to accessibility. Each
client gets daily progress reports via hone
or e-mail and has 24/7 accessibility to
Andy.
Clients can also get a live look at ongo-
ing renovations through video cameras
that link to their website,
www.millenniumcabinetry.corn.
"We never have to babysit Millenium,"
Mio said. "It is so refreshing to collaborate
with a company that does what they say,
when they say."
Alicia Stillman essentially left the keys
to her West Bloomfield home late last
fall while traveling and had a completely
revamped kitchen by the New Year.
"I didn't have the time or the patience
to really be involved in all aspects of
the project, but I knew what I liked and
trusted Millennium to handle everything;'
she said. "I send them instant messages all
the time, telling them how much I love my
new kitchen."
Working Together
It's no coincidence that the Sallans work
well together professionally. Married since
1990, the Franklin couple treat their 18
employees like family and work at devel-
oping a team-first attitude. They lead by
example, with Andy focusing on sales,
factory operations and installations. Lesly,
who studied and worked as an occupa-
tional therapist, now uses her love for
interior design and practical experience
running a household to create visually
dazzling concepts that prove remarkably
functional.
"He's got his niche and I've got mine,
but we work as a great team:' she said. "We
share an office, share a home and share a life
together; but we're very good about keeping
the business and home lives separate."
With different daily schedules, one key
rule they instituted was taking just a few
minutes to quickly catch up on business
when they return home, and then shut
down work talk while spending time with
children Jillian, 18, Syndee, 15, and Dean, 13.
Both Southfield natives, now 46, see
themselves staying in the remodeling
business, and in Michigan, for years to
come. "I didn't think I'd be doing this for
25 years when I started, but I love it and
every day is different;' Andy said. "We get
to create things that make a difference in
how people live their lives." ❑
September 16 • 2010
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