By Michelle Williams |
Sometimes, a person knows early on exactly what they are called to do. Shamrock Custom Cabinetry founder, William “Bill“ Price, was such a person. The foundation was laid when at 13 years old Price received hands-on construction site experience helping his father, William Price Sr., build houses in the Raytown area. After graduating from Raytown High School in 1963, and marrying his high school sweetheart in 1965, Price started Shamrock Cabinets out of his garage.
Price saw a need for cabinetry in the Raytown area and made it his goal to meet that need. In 1976, the company moved to its current location at 10201 East 65th Street in Raytown, and in 1968 Shamrock Cabinets was incorporated. According to Erik Blaney, CEO/President of Shamrock Custom Cabinetry, “Raytown provides a central location for a showroom accessible to the entire Kansas City Metro area.“ Blaney continues the familial bond with Raytown as his family moved to Raytown in 1976 and Erik graduated from Raytown South High School in 1983. In 1993, Blaney married Price‘s daughter, Christy, and in 1996, Erik came to work for Price; the legacy continues as Erik and Christy‘s son, Tyler, now works at Shamrock. The family‘s love of both the Raytown community and the company‘s location has been a blessing to the business.
The 1980s would prove of great growth for Shamrock, and the company became a strong presence in the Kansas City Metro area. The 1990s more growth and success for the Raytown-based company, Price receiving “Small Business of the Year“ in 1998 and, in 2005, Bill was named “Person of the Year“ by the Raytown Area Chamber of Commerce. In 2002, Price served as President of the Raytown Area Chamber of Commerce, strengthening the bonds between Shamrock and the Raytown community.
Now approaching 60 years in business, Shamrock is known as one of the Midwest‘s most renowned makers of award-winning, handcrafted custom cabinets and fixtures. Shamrock sources sheet goods, hardwood, functional and decorative hardware and everything needed to produce their products, from local vendors in the Kansas City area. Shamrock‘s “unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction“ and their focus on creating custom made to fit products with “unparalleled attention to detail“ is linchpin of Shamrock‘s continuing growth and success. While they mostly work with residential home builders, Shamrock does engage in a small amount of remodel work with individuals as well.
So, what‘s next for Shamrock Custom Cabinetry? According to Erik Blaney, quite a bit! Shamrock is currently investing in their finishing department; their plant already utilizes 100,000 total square feet of floor space. The investment and expansion of the finishing department will allow Shamrock to offer prefinished cabinets to a handful of local volume residential builders. Shamrock is now able to offer a 100% custom cabinet that is installed with paint or stain, entering the company into what has been traditionally a “modular or box“ cabinet market.
Shamrock Custom Cabinetry continues to be not only a well-respected builder/maker within the Midwest but within the Raytown community. While the death of Bill Price in July 2024 left a large void within the family, the company is proud to continue Price‘s vision and committed to building a lasting legacy within Raytown. If you or someone you know is building or remodeling, you might want to contact Shamrock Custom Cabinetry and become part of their legacy work.
