As KAMO moved into its 75th year in 2022, Harris Weinstein had a plan for its continued growth.
“The original plan was to open a new location per year for five years,” said Weinstein, the company’s president whose grandfather, Willie Moog, started the company with Ben Kaplan in 1947. His father, Jack Weinstein, married Moog’s daughter, Sharon. Jack Weinstein joined the business in 1969 and serves as its CEO.
The company, which specializes in cleaning products and equipment, opened a location in Aiken in 2022, and then leapt into Columbia in 2023.
Harris Weinstein said the company already services several additional cities in Georgia and South Carolina.
“We send trucks to Macon, Savannah, Atlanta, Charleston, Greenville, Athens,” he said.
Establishing the company in another city means more than just opening a storefront. Weinstein said KAMO Is still on track for that next location opening around July 2024. The exact spot hasn’t been determined yet, but he said it will likely be one of the cities where the company already has a presence.
“When we’re just running trucks, we don’t have a chance to get involved,” said Weinstein, who has served on boards of Augusta organizations such as the Golden Harvest Food Bank and the Family YMCA of Greater Augusta.
The company also has an initiative to give back to the community through volunteerism and in-kind and cash donations.
Its employees participated in the United Way of the CSRA’s volunteer service day in August. Also, KAMO has donated more than $50,000 of cleaning supplies to local charities. On Dec. 4, GAP Ministries opened its laundry ministry and KAMO has pledged a year’s worth of supplies for that organization.
In 2023, KAMO donated $30,000 to Piedmont Augusta Foundation’s Community Board for Augusta Technical College nurse scholarships and donated $50,000 to the Family YMCA in 2022 for upgrades to its Camp Lakeside.
When KAMO moved into Columbia, the company donated $5,000 to two charities there.
“We’re super involved with several nonprofits there. I’m getting ready to join a board. We’re not just going to be a supplier. Our success here we want to use to model as a success in other communities.”
And KAMO has seen major success even through the pandemic when others closed their doors. COVID caused the company to shift some, but its products and services were in high demand. The company adjusted its hours to assist businesses and had products businesses needed such as prepackaged utensils for restaurants opting for takeout only service early on.
“We’ve seen double-digit growth every year,” he said.
On Dec. 12, KAMO thanked its customers for that growth at its annual trade show at the James Brown Arena. More than 500 people attended, he said.
With the support of its customers, Weinstein said he and his father want to continue to be a locally-operated, family-run business as KAMO approaches its 77th anniversary.
“In the next five years, we should have a fourth generation coming into the business,” he said.
In the industry overall, many smaller companies are selling out to three or four major companies, but he doesn’t see that happening for KAMO.
“As long as I’ve got family that want to continue to grow the business and do it, I don’t want to (sell)” he said. “Dad told me, ‘If you like doing this business, there’s no reason to sell…I’ve been here – next year is my 28th year. I really enjoyed growing up around the business and continuing to help the business thrive. I’m just hoping it will continue to do the same with the next generation.”
Charmain Z. Brackett, the publisher of Augusta Good News and Inspiring: Women of Augusta, has covered Augusta’s news for 35 years. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the newsletter here.
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