Hayes Cabinets celebrates 50th anniversary

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Hayes Cabinets, a family-owned business based out of Woodland, recently celebrated its 50th anniversary.

The business, which provides top of the line residential and commercial cabinetry throughout the area, was co-founded by Loren Swanberg and Frank Blehm. It started in a small garage east of Woodland in 1972.

“We’re proud of it,” Swanberg said. “We’ve had some loyal customers over the years, and we work real hard to keep clients happy and coming back, and many of them do come back two or three times. … It’s very appreciated.”

In 1980, the pair bought their first brick and mortar location in Woodland, and then in 2000, the company moved into the facility they are currently housed in. Around 1990, Swanberg said he purchased Blehm’s shares and became the sole owner, until his sons Ryan and Tyler became co-owners of the company recently.

“As you can tell by the age of this (company), the boys are pretty much running the place, and I’m still here and sweep the floors once in a while and make a little coffee. They’re doing most of the day-by-day stuff,” Swanberg said.

As co-owners, he said Ryan and Tyler are doing a great job.

“They worked here since they were old enough to push a broom, so they know the place pretty well,” Swanberg said.

Over the last 50 years, Swanberg said the business went from “hands-on mechanical” with a limited amount of equipment to a fully computerized system with graphing and cutting included.

He also said they do mostly custom residential work, which is how they develop a lot of their relationships.

“We also do quite a little bit of memory care, retirement-type facilities, where we developed relationships over the years and have been doing several of those companies’ projects for years and years,” Swanberg said.



In terms of products, Swanberg said the current trend customers gravitate toward is walnut and white oak, which typically features smooth and contemporary lines. He said a lot of painted products are popular with customers as well. Hayes also has products in alder, beech, cherry, knotty alder, maple and sapele.

“They all change. It cycles every 10 years or so,” he said.

In Swanberg’s opinion, Hayes stands out from similar companies due to their attention to detail and the quality of the components in the products.

When he was young, Swanberg was inspired to start the company after working various jobs in the field.

“I was always interested in building and woodworking and that kind of thing,” he said. “When I was in high school, I had to work for certain cabinet shops, so that was kind of the background.”

Swanberg is also fond of his employees, some of whom “started young with us and retired with us,” he said. He also said the company’s turnover rate is low, so many of the workers have been there throughout their career. 

Despite the five decade milestone, Swanberg said it’s business as usual at Hayes Cabinets.

“We should probably be doing a bit more, but no we haven’t (celebrated),” he said.    

Hayes Cabinets is located at 660 Mitchell Ave. in Woodland.

For more information, go online to hayescabinetsinc.com.