Top Notch Distributors (TND) has come a long way from its roots as a small door hardware company. It began on a tight budget from a barn near its current headquarters in Honesdale, Pennsylvania, on April 23, 1975.
The company now has more than 225 employees with distribution centers in multiple states.
“We started like most companies do, on a shoestring,” say Chuck and Wanda Jurgensen, TND co-founders. Chuck is also the chair of the board of directors, while Wanda is the vice chair of the board. “When we saw a need in the marketplace, we took the opportunity to start TND as a couple. We relied on one another to navigate something we had never done before. Our goal was simple: to stay in business for one more day. On April 23, 1975, we received our first sales call, and the phones are still ringing today. The core values were established in that barn; it was a team effort from day one.”
Initially, TND offered door hardware solutions, including Schlage commercial and residential products. The company expanded to supply more than 100 door hardware brands spanning commercial, residential and electronic access control systems. Dave Prouty, TND’s president and CEO, says the biggest additions have been to the company’s commercial product portfolio and its incorporation of electronic access control systems.
“People may not realize that we are not just a residential door hardware distributor; we have a substantial inventory of commercial door hardware, and it’s growing,” he says.
Chuck Jurgensen says TND added distribution centers in key geographic areas of the United States to meet growing demands.
In 1987, TND opened its first remote distribution center in Nevada. Eight years later, it expanded into Missouri. In 2015, it acquired Boyle & Chase Inc., allowing it to establish a presence in New England with a distribution center in Massachusetts. In 2020, it integrated robotics into its Missouri warehouse and, in the years since, has integrated robotic fulfillment into each of its warehouses.
Along with continued growth, the Jurgensens say the key to success was establishing a core team that shares the company’s vision.
“Each individual has contributed to the success of the business, and as we celebrate our 50th year, the people we work with remain our best-kept secret,” they note. “Their dedication and commitment have built the business for five decades. Without our co-workers, there is no TND. It is now about honoring our past and being intentional about our future.”
Overcoming hurdles is a time-honored tradition for established companies, including TND. The COVID-19 pandemic was a critical junction for the company. Prouty explains that TND had to adapt, shifting workers into hybrid roles in certain locations and job roles.
The evolution of customer demands and needs has also forced TND to adjust operations, especially regarding digitalization.
“The biggest changes we’ve seen from our customers are their advancements toward technology,” says Prouty. “How they purchase, how they communicate and what they purchase, along with more women in decision-making roles in the industry.”
Wanda Jurgensen says that since day one, TND’s core values have centered on integrity, knowledge and drive, enabling the company to build a loyal customer base regardless of external challenges.
“We were founded on a commitment to service excellence and knowledge; we have employees with us for 30 years who are passing along their knowledge about our customers, the industry and our products to the newer employees,” says Chuck Jurgensen. “And most importantly, it’s finding a way to say yes to the customer.”