Our client, MasterBrand Cabinets, has wowed us for years by how they recognize and reward their employees.  We have worked with them since 2010, and have helped with a variety of different HR projects!  They reward employees for meeting safety milestones, and they keep a “swag closet”, so employees who go “above and beyond” can select something of their choice! They are also incredibly generous with the communities that they serve!  Be sure to read to the bottom to see how you can reach out to them with community-oriented needs.

You will also not want to miss which celebrity has Kinston-made custom-cabinets in his home!

Caroline had the opportunity to chat with Lauren Bunn, the Human Resources Manager, and Jenna Graves, the Sr. HR Generalist to learn more about MasterBrand (you will not want to miss the dreamy kitchen photos) and about how they use promotional products in Human Resources.

Caroline: I have a feeling many people are not familiar with MasterBrand Cabinets, which is one reason I am so excited to introduce you to them!  Will you tell me a little bit about what MasterBrand does?

Jenna: MasterBrand is one of North America’s top cabinet manufacturers. MasterBrand Cabinets – Kinston, specifically, builds and makes semi-custom, made-to-order cabinets for families in all 50 states that have designed their kitchens, bathrooms, etc. with our knowledgeable designers based on our wide-ranging selection of door styles, colors, wood types, and so on!

Caroline: The website is full of gorgeous kitchens!  Everyone must check out the Inspiration Gallery!  What is the best way to find retail locations?  Are your products mostly in big box stores or smaller retailers?

Jenna: We are proud of the beautiful cabinets we produce and work hard to ensure the upmost quality for our customers. You can purchase our cabinets at large retailers like Lowes or small, local retailers based on your design and budget needs. You can find your nearest MasterBrand Cabinet retailer by visiting this link!

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Caroline: That’s so great! I searched my zip code, and I had no idea so many smaller retailers carried your cabinets.  I know you two are in the Kinston facility, and we also work with the Lexington, NC facility.  What are some quick stats about the Kinston location?  It is so cool to know such beautiful kitchen cabinets are made so close to home!

Jenna: Our location currently manufactures 1,550 cabinets a day – that’s 7,750 cabinets a week! We are in the process of ramping production up even more. Our facility has nearly 750 employees, many of which have been employees since our doors opened in 2001. We ship cabinets to all 50 states and there are over 600 styles and combinations of cabinets we build on site.  My favorite fun fact about us, though, is that we did manufacture Snoop Dogg’s cabinets here at the Kinston facility!

Caroline: That could be the best fun fact yet!  I’m sure Snoop’s kitchen looks incredible!  Ok, now for a little promo spin on things.  What is your most-used or favorite promotional product, and what is the logo/organization on it? (Whether it’s a product you purchased from us or not, or whether it has the MasterBrand logo on it or not.)

Lauren: It’s hard to choose just one.  Some of our most used and loved products are the writing pens and the face masks! There is something magic about those pens – our staff constantly comes looking for more! The masks have also been a huge hit over the last year with COVID – they are lightweight and reusable, so our team definitely likes to sport those around the plant! Our leadership team also really love the polos. They are comfortable, light weight, and professional looking – which makes them a staple item for many of our staff members.

 

 

Caroline: What stands out as being the most popular promotional product you have used since working with CCM, and how did you use it?

Lauren: Our people LOVE a t-shirt and sweatshirt. We order some nice, salmon colored t-shirts last year and they flew off of our “Swag Room” shelves!

Caroline: How do you use promotional products?  I know recruiting has changed quite a bit since Covid, but do you use items for recruiting?  I know we do things for new hires, and I know we’ve done some things for safety incentives.  How about retention?

Lauren: We use a lot of our promotional items for New Hires! We like to use them as a reward for getting through their first week of training. We also use them for staff when they do something “above and beyond” or accomplish something that deserves more than just a “good job!” Our associates love getting “swag cards” that get them a trip to the swag room!

Caroline:  What are you looking forward to the most as we enter Q4 of 2021?  Professionally and/or personally.

Jenna: We are super excited about ramping up our production and hiring nearly 150 new associates! We are also really excited to be launching a 4 day, 10 hour work week by the end of Q4. There’s been a lot of hard work and effort put in by our leadership team and associates to work towards these goals, despite adversity primarily relating to COVID. I am extremely proud of the team and to be a MasterBrand employee.

Caroline:  That’s so great! I love how you are constantly listening to your employees and working as a team.  I can even see it from the “outside”, so I imagine the level of collaboration internally is so rewarding.  Anything else you would like to include?!  Promo-related or otherwise?

Lauren: We’re hiring!  Interested individuals can apply online using this link. We are also always looking to get involved in the community and contribute where we can! If there are community events that MasterBrand could be a part of – we would love to open that conversation!

Caroline: A lot of folks are hiring right now, so tell me what sets MasterBrand apart from the rest.

Jenna: As a company, we base all of our operations on the “MasterBrand Way” – which entails safety, quality, on-time delivery, and fashionable products at a fair price. Our customers are front of mind in every step of the building and manufacturing process. As an employer, we are constantly striving to be the employer of choice in Kinston. Our associates are of upmost importance and we constantly seek to make their workplace feel like home. Associate engagement is something we take very seriously and we hope our employees leave at the end of the day feeling like they’ve accomplished something of meaning.

If you think we gush over our clients, it’s because we do because our clients are amazing!  We are so honored to work with the HR team at MasterBrand Cabinets Kinston.  Lauren and Jenna are true professionals.  We brainstorm, execute projects, and have fun at the same time.

They stay on the pulse of their employees needs and wants, and all of our projects are based on those needs and wants.

For more information on MasterBrand, go to https://www.masterbrand.com/.

For information on careers at MasterBrand, go to https://careers.smartrecruiters.com/fortunebrands/mbci?search=kinston.

And, for some drool-worthy cabinet inspiration, go to https://www.masterbrand.com/inspiration-gallery.

For more information on how you can use promotional products for recruitment and retention in your HR department, email us at info@coastal-connections.com!