Lopi
When Kurt Rumens began delivering woodstoves in the 1970's to supplement his income as a rock 'n' roll musician, he never thought he'd end up where he is today: president of the largest wood, pellet and gas stove company in America.
In 1975 Rumens worked for a Massachusetts company "who had long-haired musicians like us distributing their stoves," he laughs. Rumens eventually ended up distributing the same stoves in Seattle, Washington, where it wasn't long before participating retailers told Rumens they thought the product could be improved. Rumens obliged by sketching a completely new stove design on a piece of cardboard and sending it back to the manufacturer in Massachusetts. It was instantly rejected and returned with a note telling Rumens he didn't know what he was doing. Convinced his design had the makings of a classic, Rumens decided to start his own company (LOPI) and with only a handful of people began building stoves in his backyard.
Twenty-five years later, that cardboard sketch is framed and hanging behind Rumens desk at the company's 215,000 square-foot manufacturing facility where 350 people work around the clock to keep up with demand. Rumens says he learned an invaluable lesson from what happened to him years ago, a lesson he applies to his business every day: "It doesn't matter what your background is, it's our job to listen." By taking that lesson to heart, LOPI has developed the cleanest-burning woodstoves in the country; its gas appliances are second to none in convenience and wood-like flames; and it offers the most advanced pellet appliances on the market. "Working together," says Rumens, "we craft home heating appliances that are efficient, convenient, safe and beautiful beyond compare. That's what makes LOPI the American Classic it is today."