Making Homes Better
The Muhler Co. is committed to servicing the specialty window and door market.

HP: Tell us about your company and how it got started.

Justin Healy: The Muhler Co. was founded by Henry Hay III in 1992. Initially, the focus of the company was on selling high-end windows and doors. Over the years we have added products related to the window and door specialty market; included in this is retail sales of replacement windows and sunrooms, decorative and impact-rated shutters, commercial glazing and millwork.

Recently Muhler has started fabricating dry lamination impact glass for use in residential and commercial windows and doors. Dry laminated impact glass has several benefits including reduced weight, eliminating the need to temper glass, and ease of fabrication.

When Muhler started, there were just three employees. It has since grown consistently over the years and presently has about 100 employees working in all areas of home improvement ranging from manufacturing to servicing, selling and installing.

Muhler has moved three times since its inception. We currently operate out of a retail and office space in North Charleston, SC, as well as a manufacturing and warehousing facility located close by.

HP: What hurricane protection products did you handle initially? What products do you handle today?

Healy: Muhler shutters initially carried rolling shutters, storm panels, accordions and colonial shutters. We have since added Fabric Shield by Wayne Dalton, and we also manufacture our own, impact-rated raised panel colonials and louvered colonials.

Muhler has also started manufacturing aluminum hardware for colonial shutters. This new line looks just like it came from a blacksmith’s shop. It has a black, power-coated hammered finish. It is strong, and because it is aluminum it will never rust. Along with the cast aluminum hardware, we also offer stainless steel and carbon steel.

HP: What one product or line stands out above the rest?

Healy: Our colonial shutters are, in my opinion, the best made. We use fiberglass for the stiles and louvers on the louvered shutters and fiberglass stiles with stabilized PVC on the colonials.

In a recent meeting with the city of Charleston Board of Architectural Review the board members were unable to distinguish between our shutters and wood shutters right next to them. Combined with our proprietary aluminum hardware, there’s not a better shutter out there.

HP: What is your approximate sales volume? What was it after your first year in business?

Healy: In the year prior to my coming to Muhler, the shutter department grossed about $350,000. Since then, our annual gross has risen to several times that amount. That number fluctuates with the level of hurricane activity.

HP: Who are your customers? What parts of the country do you service, and how many salespeople do you employ to service them?

Healy: Our service area is constantly expanding, but at present we are focused on Charleston and Myrtle Beach, both in South Carolina.

Muhler presently has 22 full-time salespeople.

HP: What best describes your niche in the marketplace?

Healy: Professionalism, service, commitment to the customer.

HP: What are some of the key factors involved in your growth and success?

Healy: Again, customer service and commitment to supporting the customer. Also, I’d say adherence to proper installation practices and selling the correct product on each application.

HP: Is your business computerized? Do you have a company Web site, and how is it used to communicate with customers?

Healy: In the last two years we have installed an enterprise software system. We have a company Web site (www.muhler.com) and www.muhlershutters.com, a companywide network. We use them both with desktop computes and with Backberrys for intra-office communication.

HP: How has your segment of the industry changed since you first began?

Healy: The most fundamental change in the industry is the implementation of the International Residential Code (IRC) and the International Building Code (IBC). The new codes have generated significant levels of business with both custom and tract builders.

We would like to see more consistent adoption of the IRC and IBC, which we feel would stabilize somewhat the ups and downs of the business associated with the hurricane activity level.

HP: What trends and cycles do you see occurring in the industry?

Healy: Adoption of IRC and IBC has been fragmented. In the years ahead, we’d like to address this by educating the architects, builders and homeowners and then working with the code officials to make sure what is required by code is being specified and installed.

HP: What advice would you give to other hurricane protection professionals?

Healy: Sell the correct product in each application, service what you sell and take care of the customer.

The Muhler Co.
5935 Rivers Ave., Ste. 103
North Charleston, SC 29406
(800) 899-5712 · (843) 572-9727
Fax (843) 377-4160
www.muhler.com