Supplier opens division focused on renovations

John and Alesha Gonzales opened JAG Architectural Products nearly six and a half years ago.

Their latest venture, Renovations by JAG, operates out of their company’s original showroom in the Ozark Galleria d’Italia Plaza, 6003 N. 21st St.

JAG Architectural Products sells and installs windows, doors, interior and exterior mouldings and other home products.

Renovations by JAG will offer similar product lines geared toward the retrofit remodeling market, which includes more custom, specialized installation services, such as those for sunrooms or decks.

“What we hope to do is increase the overall business by going after other market customers,” said Pete Purvis, who has been hired to lead Renovations by JAG.

For example, he noted that the company will be able to serve clients who might not be interested in spending $900 on specialized windows and are looking for less expensive replacement windows.

According to a press release about the new division, all products are available only to contractors or completely installed for individual customers.

“We are trying to add a source for (architectural products) that works with some elevated level of integrity,” said John Gonzales. “Unfortunately, that is a side of this industry that is often associated with less-than-savory characters, both in terms of the material that you ultimately get, as well as the people you deal with. We are trying to put a different face on that in Springfield.”

JAG Architectural Products has about 10 employees. While Purvis is the key sales representative for Renovations by JAG, and so far, the only employee, he said more employees will be added as the division grows.

JAG Architectural Products was named Supplier of the Year by the Home Builders Association of Greater Springfield in September.

Gonzalez said JAG Architecture Products plans on closing in on nearly $4 million in revenue for 2007 and projects revenues for Renovations by JAG to be in the $1.2 to $1.75 million range for 2008.

As new home construction slows down, the remodeling sector is expected to pick up, said Shannon Lee, owner of Rock Solid Construction and chairman of the HBA Remodelors Council.

“People like the house that they’re in, and they don’t necessarily want to leave the neigborhood, maybe, but they want to do something,” Lee said. “I know that we’ve been contacted, and a lot of people have looked around, and they just don’t want to try to sell their house … they’ll go ahead and upgrade or update, or do a few projects that they’ve been meaning to do.”

Lee added that the renovations will help boost the home’s value in the long run, which will help the homeowners if they decide to sell later.

Features Editor Maria Hoover contributed to this story.