Corey Adams, 32
Co-Founder & Construction Director, Craft Design + Build, Connecticut shoreline
2025 projected revenue: $5 mil
Adams became a carpenter at the age of 16 and is most proud of the trusting relationships he builds with clients. “This industry is extremely personal and should be treated as such,” he says.
A New Business Model: Craft’s success came with some bumps and bruises along the way. “About 18 months ago, we were belt-on owners with two additional carpenters in the field who both happened to injure themselves within weeks of each other,” Adams recalls. Without the ability to produce work in-house, the company had to do a 180 on its business model. They needed new relationships with trade partners and a stronger sales and production process. “Although it was a challenging time, it’s been the best decision we ever made,” Adams says. “It’s allowed us to expand.” The approach is clearly working because over the past two years, the company has grown 400%.
Fixed Pricing: In Adams’ region, many remodelers operate on time and materials contracts, which Craft formerly used as well. However, the company has now developed a fixed-price system for their projects. “This means the onus is on us to use our due diligence and properly plan each project out from the beginning and eliminate any risk to the client,” Adams says.
Book Recommendation: Beyond The Hammer