Two brothers with a passion for cabinet-making are planning to expand their Tigerton-based business, Malotky Custom Creations, into Vilas County.
Owner Adam Malotky, 22, started the company three years ago after discovering a love for craftsmanship in high school, spending summers working at a local shop.
“I had such passion for it,” Malotky said by phone. “I didn’t want to do anything else. I liked working for other people, but I knew if I did it for myself, I could make more money, build a reputation and a brand, and do everything the way we wanted to.”
He soon brought on his younger brother Cole, 20, as an employee. “My brother had worked at the same shop I did, and once I got up and running and got my feet under me, he came with me.”
Together, they specialize in all things cabinetry, with a focus on kitchen design and customization to meet each customer’s needs. They’re committed to using only high-quality materials to avoid issues down the line, opting for high-grade veneer core plywood over cheaper alternatives like particle board, soft-close hardware, and in-house-made trim crown moldings.
“It’s about having control of the whole process and doing the best we can with the best materials possible,” said Malotky.
To launch the business, Malotky sold off anything he could to afford tools and equipment, and aside from having a mentor, did everything on his own. “No one really helped me with it. I just kind of figured it out as I went, from setting up the LLC to getting an accountant.”
He admitted ageism was a challenge in the beginning. “There was a huge problem finding work, especially being so young, nobody trusts you, and if you don’t have a portfolio to show all the stuff you’ve done, it’s very hard to get people to give you money.”
Now, things look different. “We’ve grown a ton. We went from doing smaller stuff to doing kitchens regularly, and we’re getting into new construction,” Malotky said.
The next phase for the brothers, who are members of the Brown County Home Builders Association, is expanding into other areas, including the North Woods. “We’ve done some jobs up north, and from what I’ve heard, there’s a lot of projects going on up there. So we’re hoping to bring what we do up there and maybe that could be a common area of work for us.”
When asked what sets his business apart from other cabinet makers in Wisconsin, his response was instantaneous: “We actually care.”
“Being a small custom shop, when you call the business, it comes right to me, you speak with me,” Malotky said. “And if you have a problem, I’m the one who’s going to be fixing it. You’re not calling a salesman. We’re trying to build a reputation for truly doing quality work. We want everybody to be happy.”
That personalized, hands-on approach is reminiscent of a true family business, and Malotky said he hopes to work with more of his family and friends in the future.
“We have our other brother who helps us occasionally when he can, mostly weekends. Our grandpa comes out once a week and helps us. A couple of my friends help out. I’d like my mother to be an office worker, and my father wants to come and work with us.”
Malotky credits his upbringing in small-town, rural Wisconsin for his strong work ethic. “Growing up, I worked on a dairy farm that taught me hard work. You work, you get paid, you don’t work, you don’t get paid. Simple as that.”
Perhaps just as simple is Malotky’s advice to other aspiring entrepreneurs, young or old: “You only fail if you give up. That was a piece of advice given to me. Even if everything goes wrong, as long as you show up tomorrow, you didn’t fail.”
More information, including a portfolio, can be found at malotkycustomcreations.com.
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