Client Spotlight: Morris Black & Sons Inc

Client Spotlight:  Morris Black & Sons Inc

Interview with Jonathan Black, Vice President & General Manager

For over a century Morris Black & Sons Inc. has been serving the Lehigh Valley as a thriving building supplies and services company.  Founded in 1908 by namesake Morris Black, the business began with a wagon and team of white horses used to supply building products to local contractors.  Now Morris Black & Sons is a multi-dimensional business that specializes in kitchen and bath design and installation, residential insulation, air sealing, architectural millwork and more.  To learn more about their success and challenges HMK interviewed Vice President/General Manager, Jonathan Black.

Morris Black & Sons has an incredibly long history as a thriving business in the Lehigh Valley. To what do you attribute your ongoing success? 

At the core of our mission is a “customer-centric” culture.   Everyone, from top down, understands – by continuous reinforcement – that we all work for our customers; and that philosophy drives everything we do.   Examples of positive customer-oriented behaviors or efforts are recognized, and performance reviews are based, in part, on how well associates strive to satisfy customers.  The result has been loyal, long-standing relationships and repeat business with customers over many years.

Also, we’ve been fortunate to grow to that right size where we have been able to pursue business opportunities when they have presented themselves, and yet have the flexibility to “turn on a dime” when we’ve had to—without excessive corporate bureaucracy to weigh us down.

Finally, and most importantly, any success we’ve had, and our longevity for certain, is a direct result of our team of special, caring, quality co-workers who are committed to our mission, to our customers, and to preserving and furthering the reputation of the company.

What is the full scope of products and services of Morris Black & Sons Inc.?

Morris Black & Sons is actually several distinct businesses under one roof:

• The public face of our company is our kitchen and bath remodeling business; we offer complete design-thru-installation of beautiful custom interiors for satisfied homeowners.
• We are also a manufacturer of commercial casework, millwork, and countertops.  Specializing in healthcare, industrial, and Class-A offices.
• We are a distributor of construction specialty products such as toilet partitions, washroom accessories, lockers, corner guards, railings, and wall protections.
• Finally, we are an insulation contractor, specializing in residential new construction.

What do you feel sets Morris Black & Sons apart from its competitors?

Quality and Service.  We are committed to “first time quality,” getting it right the first time—manufacturing, delivery, installation—to our own high standards for excellence.  We are also committed to doing whatever it takes to complete projects on time and solving problems in the best interests of our customers—every time!

What are the biggest challenges you are facing right now?

Without question, our biggest challenge right now is recruiting and retaining talent – high quality, skilled co-workers who fit our culture, share our standards, and possess the work ethic needed in this fast-paced environment.   We are only as good as our people, so we devote significant effort to searching for the best in their fields.   We use many recruiting platforms – e.g. Indeed, ZipRecruiter, LinkedIn, etc. – as well as local employment agencies, national recruiters, social media, CareerLink, our website, and word-of mouth.  One of our most successful methods is referrals from our own employees.

How are you mitigating delays and supply shortage with your clients and construction partners?

Navigating the aftermath of the Covid-19 supply-chain issues and shortages has been a challenge. Communication with clients and suppliers is the most important thing you can do to limit delays. Due to extended lead times and unexpected price increases, it has been of utmost importance to make sure our clients are aware of the costs associated with delays in final selections. In many cases we ask them to have back-up selections ready just in case original selections cause delays or price increases.

What has been a favorite/memorable project your team has worked on over the years?

Two favorite projects come to mind:  We have manufactured and installed a number of health care facilities in recent years, but the St. Luke’s University Health Network Andersen campus stands out.  We did all the casework and millwork on the campus, including their beautiful reception areas, patient rooms, exam rooms, nurses’ stations, etc.  We were very proud of our work.  The other memorable project was the new PBS39 in-studio movable working kitchen.   Morris Black designed, manufactured, installed – and donated – this beautiful kitchen for PBS39, which has been used for many shows and events, including the popular Chef’s Kitchen syndicated TV program.

What is it about HMK Insurance that allows us to retain you as a client? 

We have been HMK clients for decades. They understand our business model and our people. They are pro-active when changes are needed. They treat us like family.