Quality Filters, Inc. (QFI) Success Story of the Year
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QFI was incorporated in 1981 as a manufacturer of a “new” (at the time) HVAC air filter called pleated filters.
Prior to purchasing Quality Filters, Inc. (QFI) my Dad (Horace Spottswood) had retired as President of National Butane Company / Theodore, Al. and I was a Sales Rep. in Chicago followed by Milwaukee for Stockham Valves and Fittings. Dad and I had talked for several months of going into business together and when Dad located QFI and we made the plunge together in 1984 when we purchased QFI.
When we purchased QFI … it employed approximately 8 employees and operated in an 8,000 sq. ft facility in Gulf Shores, Al.
My father handled administration and I handled plant operations and sales. Dad was a great businessman whose experience was invaluable. Working together was a wonderful experience for both of us. We rarely disagreed, worked hard with a razor focus on succeeding. He was… in my eyes… the ultimate mentor / business-partner.
The first couple of years after purchasing this “insolvent” business was to put it mildly … a struggle. We were both faced with learning a new business in a new industry with new products in a struggling start-up business with very large and aggressive competitors.
1985 was a tipping point when we created ODOR-BAN … the 1st carbon impregnated pleated filters for use with HVAC fume control. The product caught on quickly and helped finance the “re-boot” of the business. Later successes built upon this early foundation.
Biggest success has been in the arena of hiring, growing and keeping great talent! Past awards, recognition, etc… are all due to this success.
Another success I’m also proud of … the offshoot businesses that have been “spun-off” of QFI ‘mother ship” creating new entrepreneurial opportunities for many.
Through the years extremely skilled and enormously experienced SCORE representatives assisted us with very important projects such as…
a) Totaling revising our manufactured product costing model (Dick Kwapil)
b) Many hours of extremely insightful 1 on 1 corporate fiscal council w/ me (John Carden)
c) Several day Business Entrepreneurial training to group of QFI Mgrs.
SCORE’s Eastern Shore talent pool is incredible!
Fairhope, Alabama. ---George Kirchoff, President of Baldwin County SCORE Chapter 630 announced that Quality Filters, Inc. (QFI) of Robertsdale has been named SCORE Client of Year in connection with the national Small Business Week –May21 to May 26.
Kirchoff noted that QFI is an Alabama and American success story. QFI incorporated in 1981 and was purchased in 1983 with a dream and the ingenuity of the Spottswood father and son team. With a dedicated team of 100 QFI has grown to be a major Baldwin County employer and a respected, award-winning international innovator and manufacturer of HVAC air filtering systems. The company recently completed a 20,000 square foot facility expansion and announced a four-year agreement with Reckitt Benckiser, parent company of Lysol®, to be the exclusive manufacturer and distributor for air conditioner and furnace filters carrying the well-recognized and highly-respected Lysol® brand in the U.S. and Canada.
Kirchoff indicated the pride of the SCORE organization’s association with this growth.
BBA from Auburn.