Business in Allamakee County: Kitchen Krafts

by Brianne Eilers

Note: In a recent study conducted by CNBC, the state of Iowa ranked fourth overall in the Top States For Business in 2009. Each of the 50 states were judged using a points system in 10 categories: cost of doing business; workforce; quality of life; economy; transportation and infrastructure; technology and innovation; education; business friendliness; access to capital; and cost of living. Iowa ranked in the top 25 in all categories, except the transportation and access to capital areas. Iowa’s economy ranked fourth overall in the category, and the state ranked first in the cost of doing business category.
This is the fourth and final installment in a series of articles highlighting several area businesses. This series will look at why these area business owners chose to relocate specifically to Allamakee County to run their businesses.

There are many reasons that companies choose to relocate to the Midwest, including one of the character traits attributed to Midwesterners: a good work ethic. That was one of the things that Dean and Lynn Sorensen, owners of Kitchen Krafts, say attracted them to the area.
Kitchen Krafts began as a part-time business venture for the Sorensens in New Jersey 20 years ago. When the time came for the Sorensens to expand their company, which specializes in the sales of kitchen items like tools and other equipment for cooking and baking, as well as cooking and baking ingredients and instructional media like books and videos, they began looking at locations in the Midwest to relocate. The Sorensens were familiar with this area through visits to some of their family and friends who lived here.
Dean and Lynn are both natives of Illinois and say the main reasons they decided to move their business here were because of the dependability of employees and the Midwestern work ethics and values. Location also played a part in their decision. “We ship all over the U.S. and world-wide,” Lynn explained.
Local customers also have the advantage of being able to stop out and pick up orders. Having Kitchen Krafts located in the center of the country allows for equal ship times to both coasts, and even though this location is more rural than, say, New Jersey, the Sorensens have not had any trouble getting major shipping companies to pick up or make deliveries. “We have never had to be closed due to bad weather.” Dean said, further adding, “We have access to high-speed internet, reliable electricity, and modern amenities." The Sorensens also noted that when problems do arise, people are very attentive and willing to work with them to solve problems.
The Kitchen Krafts team consists of 12 team members, and they also hire an additional two to three employees during their “peak” seasons, which Lynn says is their “flex force.”
The Sorensens have found Allamakee County to be a very good location for Kitchen Krafts. “This part of the state is a great place to have a business,” Lynn noted. “You can develop your business, and you don’t have to rely on just the local customer base.” She says that Allamakee County is an ideal location for people who have a cottage-type industry business, because you don’t have to rely solely on the local customer base, especially if that business is able to process Internet and phone sales.
The Sorensens like the fact that they can experience the small-town environment, but still do business across the nation and internationally. “There are a lot of great resources here, too,” Dean said, citing the Economic Development Office as an important resource for anyone who is interested in starting their own business in Allamakee County. They can help with resources and networking.
The Sorensens also noted that business owners around this area are a little more willing to share information about what works and what doesn’t. “More so than they might do on the East or West Coast,” Lynn added.
For those who are looking at starting their own business, the Sorensens had some advice on what to expect. They say that it is wise to plan on using the first two to three years to get your business up and running. “It isn’t going to happen overnight,” Dean said.
The Sorensens also recommend that prospective business owners should plan financially for a slower first few years, as it takes time to develop a customer base. Dean also noted that most businesses have three main areas of focus: the technical or operational knowledge, sales and marketing, and financial. To have a successful business, all three of those areas need to be covered. If a business has a weak area, the business owner should be able to recognize that weakness and find a way to fill it, whether that means finding someone to help or outsourcing that particular aspect. “You need to get good people to move you forward, and those people are here,” Dean said.