Augusta-based KAMO Facility Solutions & Supplies has expanded its footprint in Columbia with the acquisition of the Columbia-based janitorial company, Waper Inc.
“Waper has been part of this community for more than 50 years, and that legacy matters,” said Harris Weinstein, President of KAMO, in a prepared statement. “We are honored to welcome Waper into the KAMO family and approach this partnership with humility, care, and genuine excitement. Our focus is on continuity—the same people, the same relationships, and the same commitment to service—now supported by a stronger regional network.”
Weinstein’s grandfather, Willie Moog, started KAMO with Ben Kaplan in 1947. The name KAMO is derived from the first two letters of each of the founders’ last names. Harris Weinstein’s father, Jack Weinstein, married Moog’s daughter, Sharon. Jack Weinstein joined the business in 1969, serving as its CEO.
Harris Weinstein has had expansion on his mind since the company turned 75 in 2022. At the time, KAMO’s truck were already serving Macon, Savannah, Atlanta, Charleston, Greenville and Athens.
“The original plan was to open a new location per year for five years,” said Weinstein, in a December 2023 Augusta Good News article.
The company, which specializes in cleaning products and equipment, is headquartered at 1326 Reynolds St. It opened a location in Aiken in 2022 and then moved into Columbia in 2023.
Waper is another family-owned business.
“This decision was about protecting what we’ve built and ensuring it continues to thrive,” said Skip Skipper, Owner of Waper.,whose father founded the company in 1973 “KAMO shares our values of service, integrity, and long-term relationships. By joining forces, we gain access to expanded product lines and additional resources while preserving the personal service, culture, and reliability our customers and partners expect. I will remain actively involved in the business, and I’m excited about what this next chapter brings.”
Charmain Z. Brackett, the publisher of Augusta Good News and Inspiring: Women of Augusta, has covered Augusta’s news for more than 35 years. She’s won multiple Georgia Press Association awards and is the recipient of the 2018 Greater Augusta Arts Council’s media award. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the newsletter here.
