International Door & Operator Industry

NOV-DEC 2013

Garage door industry magazine for garage door dealers, garage door manufacturers, garage door distributors, garage door installers, loading docks, garage door operators and openers, gates, and tools for the door industry.

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DOORDEALERDIALOG (continued from page 17) dad, where'd you get the garage door opener?" Henry's father was in the electrical wholesale business and their home was equipped with an operator– which in the 1960's was an option not many homeowners purchased. When you get to know Henry Tarnow, one of the frst things you fnd out about him is his entrepreneurial spirit. So while Henry was working at Pontiac Motors in a co-op job, he started putting up signs in the rest rooms to sell garage door openers. Turns out, General Motors was not as excited about Henry's new venture as he was, and Henry's co-op job ended abruptly. From there he worked full time as a distributor for Vemco selling operators to hardware stores, and he eventually began selling Jan wood garage doors to builders. As his business grew, he moved into a warehouse in Detroit, adding "helpers" and eventually employees. Henry completed school at night in seven years and earned a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the Detroit Institute of Technology. According to Henry, "It was a goal of mine to get my degree, because no one could ever take it away from me." It's that natural inclination to sell and to meet the needs of the community that has made Tarnow Doors the success it is today. Tarnow Doors moved to its present 10,000 square foot offce and warehouse location in 1982. The facility has a showroom for pre-fnished steel doors on the frst foor, and a separate wood door showroom on the ground level. Henry has been a pioneer in adding new products to his business. For example, in the 1990's when he was looking for a new accounting system, he found APPGEN® Business Software to be best for his needs. The system allows for unlimited fles sizes so there is no need to purge historical data. Henry spent two years adapting the system to increase its value for a door company, and Tarnow Doors is still using this proprietary accounting system today. Another business Henry operates out of his door dealership is the manufacture of pneumatic tube systems. While the sale of the tube systems has decreased due to technological advances, Henry has a steady stream of customers from around the country who order parts, such as the circuit boards and motors. "It's totally different than anything else we do," said Henry, "the only thing in common is that our people can put them in. It's kind of like putting an erector system up, which is kind of like installing garage doors. You follow the rules, and put it in." Continued on page 21 How does your company contribute to the local community? Through several service organizations including Rotary International, as a former board member, and the Exemplar Club of Farmington. Also as a board member of our industrial park association. 18 International Door & Operator Industry™

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