1978

“California Closets” was an idea conceived in a college dorm.  When student, Neil Balter, could not fit his clothes and books in the small closet he replaced the standard one pole and shelf with a combination of hanging and shelving.  Many in his dormitory saw the result and asked him to do the same for them.  The idea grew into a small business in Southern California using raw particle board material.

1982

The business flourished and the first franchise was sold.

1983

California Closets experienced gross sales of $7,000,000 with over 30 franchises in North America.

1986

Product innovations have a big impact. We replace raw particle board with a laminated melamine product line and convert to the European rail installation system.  This provides a much more sophisticated finished product.

1988

By this time, the company has installed over 650,000 closets and has experienced more than $35,000,000 in sales.

1990

California Closets is sold to Williams- Sonoma.

1991

Sales floundered due to the recession through 1993.

1994

Williams-Sonoma sells CC to Anthony Vidergauz (who had been the corporate council and officer at CC since 1986) and Bill Levine (a silent partner) who was then president and CEO of PIP Printing.

1996

California Closets establishes itself as a ‘lifestyle brand” and creates a marketing fund for the purpose of building the CC Brand through national marketing and advertising programs.  Success Magazine ranks California Closets as the 25th best franchise available in an article about the top 100 franchises.

1998

A Canadian company called The Franchise Company, who specializes in in-home services, purchases CC from Anthony Vidergauz.  Anthony remains president and retains 

2000's

During the early to late 2000’s the company soars with tremendous expansion and innovation. It grows to 129 franchises (including Canada, Mexico, London, and Puerto Rico) and hits an all time high in system wide sales of $250,000,000.  We develop and introduce advanced technology sales and business management tools.

2007

Times get tough again as another recession hits and franchisees start to feel the down economy.  

2009

Bill Barton is hired by The Franchise Company to replace Anthony as CEO. Bill was previously the executive vice president at California Closets.

Ken Cleary is hired as the new director of franchise operations to create an operations department to give more support to franchisees.

California Closets starts to reposition its brand as a “socially responsible” company that still has superior products at competitive prices.

We continue to invest in our technology tools.

We begin attending the annual Milan Furniture Fair and sourcing of the latest in textured melamines and other products from Europe.

Today

California Closets continues to grow and surpass our pre-recession numbers.  The addition of new talent and a sophisticated product line sourced in Milan allows us to continue to far outpace our competition.