California Closets
{{short description|American organization product retailer}}
{{Multiple issues|{{notability|1=Companies|date=November 2018}}{{unreliable sources|date=November 2018}}{{advert|date=November 2018}}
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{{Infobox company
| name = California Closets
| type = Subsidiary
| industry = Retail, Manufacturing
| founded = Woodland Hills, California (1978)
| founder = Neil Balter
| key_people = Charlie Chase (President & CEO)
| location = Richmond, California, United States
| num_locations = 155 {{Cite web|url=https://www.californiaclosets.com/locations/|title = Locations | Closet Designers}}
| products = Organization Products, Storage Solutions{{buzzword inline|date=May 2020}}, Custom Closets
| homepage = [https://www.californiaclosets.com/ www.californiaclosets.com]
}}
California Closets is a manufacturer of custom closets and storage for homes.{{Cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/eustaciahuen/2017/01/31/10-hottest-products-for-a-luxury-green-home/#35da12054f71|title=10 Hottest Products For A Luxury Green Home|last=Huen|first=Eustacia|work=Forbes|access-date=2017-12-01|language=en}} The company provides its products through its showrooms franchising business systems in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Dominican Republic. As of October 21, 1998, California Closet Company, Inc. operates as a subsidiary of FirstService Brands Inc..
History
California Closets was founded in 1978 by Neil Balter. Balter started the business after putting shelves in a friend's closet.{{cite web |last1=Enna |first1=David |title=Closet Millionaire Earns Riches In Custom Storage |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1989/11/18/closet-millionaire-earns-riches-in-custom-storage/ |website=Orlando Sentinel |date=November 18, 1989 |access-date=2019-10-04}} The company redesigns closets with new racks, shelves, drawers and baskets of various sizes and shapes.{{cite web |last1=APODACA |first1=Patrice |title=Closing the Closet : Management: Neil Balter, the reorganizing Wunderkind, has left Williams-Sonoma before his 5-year contract expired. |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-05-12-fi-1891-story.html |website=Los Angeles Times |date=12 May 1992 |access-date=11 December 2018}}
The franchise business grew as Balter was featured on various shows, including Good Morning America and The Oprah Winfrey Show.
In 1990, the company was purchased by Williams-Sonoma, Inc. In 1994, Williams-Sonoma, Inc. sold California Closets.{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-05-12-fi-1891-story.html|title=Closing the Closet : Management: Neil Balter, the reorganizing Wunderkind, has left Williams-Sonoma before his 5-year contract expired.|last=APODACA|first=PATRICE|date=1992-05-12|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=2017-11-28|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035}}
In 1998, FirstService Corporation acquired California Closets as a subsidiary. Today, FirstService Corporation continues to acquire franchised operations within its California Closets franchise system.
In 2017, the company began to incorporate virtual reality (VR) technology for clients to envision design projects in their homes.{{Cite web|title=Closet Maker Launches VR Experience|url=https://www.builderonline.com/builder-100/marketing-sales/closet-maker-launches-vr-experience_o|last=Goodman|first=Jennifer|date=2017-10-24|website=Builder|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171204171234/http://www.builderonline.com/builder-100/marketing-sales/closet-maker-launches-vr-experience_o |archive-date=2017-12-04 |access-date=2020-05-11}}
External links
- [https://www.californiaclosets.com/ Official website]