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Currently owned by Dee Hurst-Funk and Elvin Hurst Jr., Kountry Kraft has been a family-owned business since Dee and Elvin’s parents started it in 1959 in Newmanstown, PA. The business was “born” when their mother, Helen, gave their father, Elvin, a Sears Craftsman table saw as a gift for Christmas. Elvin started doing woodworking projects in their garage and realized how his love for the craft could be turned into his own business. At the time, however, Elvin worked for another cabinet-making shop. Employees at the shop were not allowed to own their own woodworking tools in order to prevent competition. Elvin and Helen took a leap of faith and started their own venture.
   At the time that Helen and Elvin were starting their cabinet business, they were simultaneously raising four children and running an 80-acre farm. The family grew hay and corn and raised steers. Elvin’s father, Reuben Hurst, was an electrical contractor who got Elvin and Helen work in local developments which were being constructed by local builders. Their first kitchen was sold to Elvin’s uncle, George Weaver, from New Holland, PA.
   The Hursts’ business slowly took off from there, growing more and more through sales and marketing. Today, the small garage has transformed into a 96,000-square-foot complex including a manufacturing facility, offices, and a showroom. In 2003, Helen and Elvin sold Kountry Kraft to their children, Elvin Hurst Jr. and Dee Hurst-Funk. Elvin Jr. serves as the company’s president, and Dee is the chief financial officer. Though retired, Elvin and Helen occasionally act as consultants for the company and assist with marketing and sales. Today, the business that started out in the family’s humble, four-car garage boasts approximately $12 million in sales per year and around 100 employees.
   The manufacturing facility rolls out an average of 20 kitchens per week. Winter is their slower season due to the holidays, and summer is likewise slow since children are home from school and families are spending time together. It is during spring and fall that business really picks up.
   Kountry Kraft’s mission follows the Hurst family’s four main principles: craft the highest quality, custom product; deliver it on schedule; price it fairly and be honest; be genuine and friendly in all business endeavors. Kountry Kraft produces high-end, custom cabinetry, and not only cabinetry for kitchens. They can produce cabinets for bathrooms, libraries, living rooms, bedrooms, closets, etc. While the Hursts initially did business in the PA Dutch country of Lebanon, Lancaster, and Berks Counties, their reach has spread throughout the United States, with a large concentration in the New England states.
   Kountry Kraft has over 60 authorized dealers in 18 states. They also sell direct from their retail factory in an 80-mile radius. With so many customizable options, it’s no wonder how Kountry Kraft came up with their motto: “Your only limitations are your imagination and budget!” Moldings, color, wood type, shape - If the customer dreams it, Kountry Kraft can build it to make that dream kitchen, or bathroom, or library a reality. While they offer a higher-end product, they can also make affordable custom cabinets for the average homeowner, with the option to add additional details, such as moldings, as their budget allows.  
   When asked what the most challenging aspect of their job is, Elvin Jr. and Dee said that going through the recessions has been tough. The company went from 140 employees, to around 100.
   “But we stayed course with our product line,” Dee said. “There’s not as many people looking for custom cabinetry work, but there are also not as many manufacturers. We’re a very niche market.”
   Dee also explained how Kountry Kraft will be facing another unique challenge in the future.
   “We have employees who have been with us for 30 years,” she said. “They’ll be retiring and we’ll need to replace them with craftsman. We’re having a hard time finding younger, good employees.”
   And what’s the best part of their job?
   “Seeing the customer happy after a job,” Elvin Jr. answered. “Watching the whole design process from conception to the finished product. Walking through the factory and seeing the craftsmanship that comes through there is just amazing.”
   Kountry Kraft works with customers to do full remodel projects and also constructs kitchens, bathrooms, etc. in newly built homes. Their showroom is located at their main facility at 291 South Sheridan Road in Newmanstown, and is open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. through 4:30 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. through 3:30 p.m. Anyone with additional questions can call them at 610-589-4574 or visit their website at www.kountrykraft.com.