Home entertainment and security installer opens showroom
The radios at Sam Hamby's home always ended up in pieces when he was growing up.
Hamby was the type of boy who enjoyed taking things apart to figure out how they worked. At the age of 7 he was hooking up speaker systems.
The Hoffman Estates man spent his career in the electronics industry, opening his own business seven years ago. He recently expanded his Elgin company, Custom Residential Systems Inc., by adding a South Barrington showroom.
The business focuses on home automation, home theaters, whole house audio systems, home security, intercom systems and structured wiring.
"I've always had a knack for electronics," said Hamby, 42. He started his business in Elgin where his primary focus was the custom installation of home electronics. His primary customers were new home builders.
As the housing market declined, Hamby looked to expand his focus. He launched a showroom at 39 S. Barrington Road to better reach the residential customer. Elgin continues to house the corporate offices.
The showroom, open by appointment only, is vital when buying a home theater. "As home automation becomes more popular, you have to experience it," Hamby said.
He said his business differs from the big box retailers in that he takes a hands-on approach with every job.
"It's all custom work. We design systems based on the individual's needs," Hamby added. He added for each job, they consult with the client, do the design and installation, then service what has been installed. The price for a home theater starts at $2,500 while shoppers can expect to spend $1,500 on an outdoor security system.
Hamby's wife, Laurie, assists in the business, which employs nine full-time employees. The couple has three daughters: Melissa, 14, Rebecca, 10 and Samantha, 7.
For more information, check out ww.customresidential.com.
Sports fun: Miller Industrial, a family-owned industrial supplier based in Elk Grove Village, will kick off a grand re-opening celebration to thank its customers, vendors and staff for 80 years of business growth.
Miller will thank its customers with a sports-themed celebration. On every Tuesday in May, the company will hold a customer lunch and ask customers to mimic an upcoming major sporting event.
In celebration of Cinco de Mayo, Miller Industrial will offer Mexican fare and have fun watching customers kick a soccer ball into a net for a chance to win Chicago Fire tickets.
Sam Miller, a 26-year-old Russian immigrant, founded the company he called Vincennes Hardware in 1928. His son, Bob, expanded the business and in 1996, Bob's son Jeff bought the company and renamed it to better reflect the family history.