CLOSETS BY DESIGN

Closets by Design

Scaling Success Through CNC Automation with DES

Closets by Design – Charlotte has spent over 20 years helping homeowners across the Carolinas get beautifully organized. From custom closets to garage systems and home offices, their local production model has kept quality high and customers happy. But when demand started pushing the limits of manual production, owner Eric Van Sickle made a move that would reshape the shop’s future: CNC automation.

“We hit a point where the bottlenecks were becoming clear. And finding good labor is tough right now,” Eric said. “It was time to invest in something that could help us produce more with better accuracy."

Bridging the Gap Between Custom and Efficient

Eric had seen CNC technology in action at other franchise locations and knew it could make a difference—but he wanted a solution that matched his specific shop layout and workflow. That’s where Diversified Equipment and Supply stepped in.

“They weren’t just trying to sell a machine. They were asking the right questions about how we work and what we needed,” Eric said.

With DES’s help, Closets by Design Charlotte integrated a CNC system that complemented their existing software and helped them maintain their custom-built quality while improving production speed.

From Backlog to Flow

Since adding the CNC, the team has:

Accelerated production with more accurate and consistent cuts
Reduced overtime and labor strain
Improved workflow across the shop floor

“What used to be the hardest part of the day—cutting—is now something we barely think about. It just flows,” Eric noted.

“You can’t scale the old way. The CNC let us leap ahead in both quality and volume—without having to triple our headcount.”

Eric Van Sickle

Better Use of Space, Time & Talent

For a growing company, physical space is always at a premium. With CNC capabilities, they’ve reduced inventory storage, cut waste, and freed up staff to focus on install and customer service.

“We didn’t want to grow just for the sake of growing,” Eric said. “We wanted to be smarter. DES helped us do that.”

Support That Doesn’t Stop at the Sale

Eric emphasized that the value DES brings goes beyond the equipment.

“They trained us, followed up, answered questions—it's clear they’ve done this for shops like ours before,” he said. “That ongoing support gave us confidence.”

Download this case study

Download Now

Thinking About CNC for Your Shop?

If your team is juggling growth and labor challenges, CNC automation might be the missing piece. Closets by Design Charlotte took the leap—and with DES as a partner, they’re running more efficiently and profitably than ever.

Talk to the DES team today to explore how CNC technology can transform your shop.