Closets Magazine
From Corporate Stress to Closet Success

SpaceMan Home & Office owner David Linda left the boardroom behind to be his own boss...

By Lisa Whitcomb

David Linda did not follow the usual path into the custom closet business, as he was not a custom woodworker or professional organizer first. Instead, he holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering from Northwestern University, and an MBA from Northwestern's Kellogg Graduate School of Management.

This stylish home office is compact enough to fit into a spare bedroom, while still allowing for plenty of work area and storage. It hides a bed behind cabinet doors, allowing the room to be multi-functional.

After graduating, he was a management consultant with Deloitte Consulting and worked in strategic planning for a $20 billion retailer. Until, one day, he just decided to leave behind the corporate hustle-and-bustle in Boston, MA, to become his own boss.

“I was surrounded by brilliant people and making a great living consulting, but I saw a business opportunity [in closet and home organization systems] and felt there was money to be made,” he recalls. “I believe that the corporate world isn’t the only place a person can make their millions, there are other things people can do with their lives. Find something and work hard at it and your business will thrive.”

With that philosophy in mind, and his extensive background in engineering and management, Linda’s decision to leave the corporate world for the custom closet, home office and storage business proved to be a perfect fit.

In 1998, Linda moved to Texas where his wife’s family lives and launched the aptly named SpaceMan Home & Office Inc. in Houston, home to one of NASA’s ground control centers.

Getting the business off the ground

“I’d always done my own closets since I was out of college,” Linda recalls. “I liked being organized [and thought others would like to have their closets done as well.]”

He began a letter-writing campaign, sending dozens of letters to friends and family stating he was starting a closet business and asking if they would be interested in his services.

“I only got to the Ms when I had received enough phone calls to know that I didn’t need to mail any more letters,” Linda says.

Before he began SpaceMan — to prove market potential — Linda tested his business concept and sold closet systems on the side while still working for the retailer. At the time, he and his wife had just had a new baby, so he chose to limit his work hours in order to be available at home. He sold closet systems (which he purchased at Home Depot) during the week, after work, and installed them on weekends.

Orbiting a successful venture

This home office features a Wild Cherry finish with raised panel doors and drawer fronts. Crown moulding and a faux marble top give the room a luxurious look.

Linda’s shop, office and showroom space fill out a 4,200-square-foot building. The company has one part-time and 13 full-time employees. In the office, Linda works with builders and develops prospects and sales. He has turned the day-to-day management of the shop and office over to his top employees.

“Our product is good, but the people who work here are what make the company successful. I moved my office to the back of the building years ago, because I don’t want to be in the fast track. The managers are capable of figuring out solutions to problems that arise,” he says.

Laughing, he adds,”I am trying like hell to extricate myself. I don’t mind being here every day, but I don’t want to be involved with every aspect of the business. I don’t need to be. I have long-term employees who are perfectly capable. They are nice to the clients — and nice is what we need to show the client, not the fact that we offer a better drawer slide than our competitors.”

With the exception of the Siena line, the company fabricates its products in-house. The company makes its own drawer boxes and uses thermofoil doors from Northern Contours and Door Mark. Wall beds are purchased from Tilt-Away. Hinges and decorative hardware are purchased from Hardware Resources, slides from Top Slides.

Components for closet systems are fabricated in the shop using an SCMI K203 edgebander with corner rounding, a Homag Espana CH 12 panel saw from Stiles Machinery, and a Detel M2H line borer from Adwood.

This garage features floor-to-ceiling slatwall with various hooks and hanging accessories. Custom almond-color melamine cabinets of varying heights and shelves maximize storage space along the back wall.

Linda says SpaceMan stands apart from its competitors by using 1mm edgebanding from EdgeCo on its panels, rounded to a radiused edge. The company also makes its own tie and belt racks.

Landing new jobs

An average job for SpaceMan is $4,000, but projects can range anywhere from $200 to $50,000 depending on the size and materials used. The company fabricates home offices, entertainment centers, garages and mud rooms in addition to closets.

SpaceMan advertises in Houston House & Home magazine, a local publication, as well as the Yellow Pages. However, Linda notes that word-of-mouth is the best form of advertising. He says he also sees a lot of customers coming back to do other rooms in their homes, or returning when they buy a new home.

“We also get a good response to our Web site (www.spacemanager.com). People will see something on it they like and e-mail an inquiry. It has become a powerful tool. I have requests waiting for me every morning when I arrive,” he adds.