Innovative designer doors finds success in River Falls

Early in 1996, a Minneapolis newspaper featured an article about Forward Wisconsin’s aggressive efforts in recruiting businesses from the Twin Cities and encouraging CEOs to expand their firms to Wisconsin. The column quoted Eau Claire-based Ken McAdams, Forward’s Western Regional Director at the time, and detailed his regular visits with Minnesota CEOs as well the annual fall prospecting trip to the state that he organized.

Kent Forsland, Founder and CEO of Designer Doors, read the article and called Ken McAdams to find out more about what Wisconsin could offer his growing business .  Kent had started his Minneapolis-based company in 1987 and was seeking a more permanent place for his firm that would allow for future expansion. Forsland liked what he heard and the process moved quickly. By mid-1996, Designer Doors made the decision to relocate to River Falls and the firm started operations there in October 1996 .

Arriving in River Falls, Forsland brought eight employees into a 20,000-square-foot building with $623,000 in sales annually of the custom wood overhead garage doors his company manufactures.  In the summer of 1997, Forward Wisconsin hosted Kent Forsland and his wife Diane at the GMO golf tournament and recognized them for their successful relocation to the state.

Today, Designer Doors employs more than 80, a ten-fold increase from when it came to River Falls in 1996, including 14 national sales representatives. The business is planning on hiring another 10-15 people in 2005. Total sales in 2004 were about $12 million and projections for 2005 are for $17 million in sales.  If that wasn’t impressive enough growth, Designer Doors announced in February of this year an expansion project.  It is adding another 35,000-square-feet of manufacturing space in a second location in River Falls and adding a 7,000-square-foot office complex as well.