Founder + CEO | Window Monsters, Provo
When it comes to windows, Kiffon Douglas is an expert. She started Window Monsters in 2005 after holding various roles (from receptionist to saleswoman) for a construction company. Now, almost 20 years in business, Kiffon brings woman’s wisdom to a male-dominated industry. Window Monsters has done so well by word of mouth, that the company hasn’t ever paid for advertising. As some of her contractors say, Kiffon is truly the “Window Goddess.”
SHOULDERING THE LOAD
“You think that as you get older life slows down, but you just get more responsibility. Once you’re a mom, you’re always a mom. I’m also a grandma. The beauty of having my own business is flexibility — my first granddaughter was born the year after I started my company, and I had her every day for a while. I ran my business and had a baby with me all day long. Later, I had her little brother with me too. My son lives next door and I get to be with his baby all the time. I also have two rescue dogs that take up a lot of my time, and I love them.”
A STEP AT A TIME
“I started working in construction in 1989 as a receptionist for a window business and hated that position — I wanted to try sales. When I approached my boss and said I wanted to do outside sales, I was told, ‘No, you’re a girl.’ But I didn’t take no for an answer. I said, ‘I can do it. I can handle myself.’ That’s how I became a saleswoman.
“When I started Window Monsters, initially I struggled putting my systems together because I went from scratch even though I had already worked with contractors. I didn’t understand the ins and outs of deliveries, or how hard it was to give a proper time frame. I give a bigger cushion of time now for our installers. It’s been fun to figure out.”
BRAINSTORM
“I was working for another window company as a sales rep when I needed to have open heart surgery. They said the recovery would be about six weeks, but when my boss called me around that time frame asking if I was ready to come back to work, I was not healed and I had a lot of anxiety about going back. I turned in my work truck and quit. I already had all the contacts and knowledge base, so I decided to start my own company in 2005.”
GIVE HER A HAND
“I have a great team. I am so proud of them. One of my team members is my best friend’s son, and he and my son (that he’s partnered up with) complement each other really well. They’ve come a long way since they’ve started. I’ve watched them grow so much.
“Most of my installation crew I’ve known for a long time. I’ve known my Utah County installer since the 1990s. I know all about his family and have watched his kids grow up. I feel very blessed to work with most of my contractors. It’s like a family outside of my family.”