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Little did David S. Colton know that his decision to leave the coal mines would result in a company still going strong more than 50 years later.
In the early 1950s, David moved his family to Salt Lake City and became an awning installer. Shortly afterwards, he began also installing storm doors, fireplace screens and, eventually, draperies, which came at the request of numerous designer and department stores throughout the Salt Lake Valley. The company, Colton, Inc., flourished, and David's two sons, Dave and Bryan, joined the business. In 1967, the Coltons moved the store into a larger new facility.
Over the next 30 years, the company saw ups and downs and underwent many changes including a switch to emphasize direct sales. By 1992, David, the original founder, had died and the company was in financial trouble and in danger of going under. Dave took over the business and created a five-year recovery plan to get the business back on track. Not only did he succeed, but he accomplished it in three years.
Today, Colton, Inc. provides various window coverings for the institutional market, which includes schools, churches and hospitals. Chain-operated roller shades for large office buildings and hospitals are an in-demand product, but cubicle curtains for hospital rooms and IV racks are the top-selling items. Dave says Colton, Inc. provides draperies and stage curtains for the LDS Church so it sends installers all over the United States. Its other products are commonly found in Utah, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado and Idaho.
Where many companies have laid employees off during the recession, Colton, Inc. has been growing. Dave hopes his West Valley City company can eventually manufacture its own mini-blinds instead of just installing them. He would also like to open branch offices in the Mid-West and South to extend the company's footprint into those areas.
