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February 19, 1999/3 Adar 5759, Vol. 51, No. 21
It's a Royal time, working with family
MICHELLE ACKERMAN
Staff Writer
It was a mother's dream come true.
Barbara Lemberg always wished for one thing for her four children. When they grew up, she wanted them all to remain close, not only emotionally, but geographically as well.
Due in part to the creation of two companies - Rembrandt Construction in 1996, and Royal Stone Industries in 1997 - Barbara's dream became a reality, almost. The two companies are run by Barbara's husband, Milt, and three of their four children, from the same warehouse at 2949 N. 31st Ave., Phoenix.
In 1996, Howard, now 31 and the youngest of the three Lemberg sons, along with a partner, Russell Hooks, formed Rembrandt Construction, which manufactures custom cabinets and countertops, and is now known as Countertops & Cabinets by Rembrandt. While out on a remodeling job that year, he had a chance meeting with a man who had the expertise to manufacture what are known as "solid surface materials," used by "fabricators" such as Rembrandt to make countertops and sinks.
Excited about the information the man presented, Howard took the information to his father, Milt, who in turn researched the industry. The research showed that solid surface materials, such as those manufactured under the brand name product Corian by DuPont, were indeed a growing industry, with tremendous opportunity. And so Royal Stone Industries was born.
After traveling the country to learn about solid surface materials from experts in the field, Milt, 57, put his engineering background to work, designing a manufacturing facility and equipment. Concurrently, he employed his business and manufacturing backgrounds in developing a business plan, a product line, sales, marketing tools, and the necessary infrastructure to turn the idea into a functional business.
As Royal Stone was in development, son Ira, now 34, was in school studying to be a doctor - specializing in physics and chemistry. Wanting to join the family, he switched gears, adding business courses to his schedule, and then joined Royal Stone as its chemist.
Rounding out the business, when they came on board a year ago, were daughter Adina, 28, who designs kitchens for Rembrandt clients, and Barbara, 57, who does sales and public relations for both companies. That brought together the whole family, with the exception of son Jason, 36, who lives in Tennessee.
Everyone agrees that the arrangement works because, says Barbara, "we're very close as a family and we communicate constantly." Not that they don't fight.
"(Howard and I) have always fought," says Adina, laughing. "And now (at Rembrandt), he's my boss. But now we're (also) just two adults on the same level."
"(That's) what get us through the day," adds Barbara. "Here there are no grudges held, and we share everything. It's very comfortable."
Though Rembrandt sells its own products direct to the public, the company also is a wholesale supplier of cabinets to builders and contractors. Rembrandt sells counter tops through other retailers' showrooms, and Rembrandt is an authorized dealer of cabinets manufactured by such firms as Starmark and Knapp. Royal Stone sells its products to fabricators all over the Southwest and in Montana, but Rembrandt so far remains its biggest customer.
"We want to fill a niche in the community," Barbara explains. "We (custom-make) every job to a customer's specifications. We do not make sheet goods."
Royal Stone is able to offer its customers perfect color matches, something the larger companies, who sell all over the country, are not able to do, Adina says. Royal Stone also offers other custom touches, such as edge treatments and inlays. Plus, the solid surface material can be used to make kitchens, baths, conference tables, dining room tables - simply, "anything you want to have look like stone."
Milt adds, "It's definitely been an uphill battle. It's hard to get a customer to try a product they've never heard of (or to) educate the consumer."
But Barbara is confident the company will continue to succeed and grow: "It can rain; it can pour; it can hail; but nothing can stop us. We're going to make it. It was all just beshert (meant to be)."
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