Long-term employees buy National Home Products

Chris Torrisi, who founded the company in 1978, sold National Home Products to employees Monica and Andy Jenisch. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“We’re a subcontractor for builders in the product lines of mirrors, shower doors, towel bars, door locks, cabinet hardware and closet and garage organization systems,” Monica Jenisch said. “We are open to the public, so we will work with homeowners.”

The company sells, services and installs its products, she added.

Monica Jenisch joined the company, located at 1605 W. Skyline Ave., as a bookkeeper in 1992 after graduating from Missouri State University with an accounting degree.

She was later promoted to showroom sales and inventory control, production manager, general manager, and most recently, corporate vice president two years ago. As co-owner, she is now

president.

Her husband, Andy, has experience as an apprentice electrician and in custom cabinet making and sales. He joined National Home Products in 2003 as an estimator and in outside sales. He will continue those duties as co-owner and vice president.

“Chris was a great employer,” Monica Jenisch said, adding that he made employees feel like they had ownership of the company.

In addition to the Jenisches, there are five employees at National Home Products.

Looking ahead

Monica Jenisch said Torrisi is serving as a consultant during the transition, but the couple plans to stay in the same location and doesn’t intend to implement sweeping changes.

“Really, the only thing we talked about is expanding our showroom,” she said. “Right now, we have about 2,000 square feet of showroom (space). We’d probably like to double that.”

She noted that the company will serve remodeling projects as well as new construction.

Work outside of individual homes is fairly limited to apartment complexes, Jenisch said, though she noted that National Home Products has installed closet systems and mirrors for exercise facilities.

She added that National Home Products is seeing a small shift toward remodeling projects.

“One of the phrases we like to use instead of remodel is refresh,” she said, noting that the word remodeling often makes people think of expensive projects that require things to be torn out and replaced.

“We see a lot of people who are just wanting to refresh their home with things they can do themselves,” she said, such as new cabinet hardware or closet shelving.

According to a company news release, Torrisi plans to enjoy retirement by traveling to Alaska, the Grand Canyon and St. Louis with his family.