Growth & Global Expansion
When Herb Kohler took the reins of his private family-owned company, it had 5,000 associates who made plumbing products, engines, and generators primarily for North American customers. Today, Kohler Co. makes products used on seven continents, has more than 60 manufacturing sites, employs a global workforce of more than 40,000 associates, and has more than 35 brands, including the number-one plumbing brand in North America and China, and number-one international brand in India and one of the world’s largest power and distributed energy companies. Over 43 years as CEO, Herb expanded the company’s offerings far beyond plumbing to have included decorative products and a host of world-class resorts, championship golf, and recreational opportunities. And with his unwavering focus on the company mission and guiding principles, Herb ensured that anyone who came in contact with a KOHLER product or service would find delight.
Growth & Global Expansion
When Herb Kohler took the reins of his private family-owned company, it had 5,000 associates who made plumbing products, engines, and generators primarily for North American customers. Today, Kohler Co. makes products used on seven continents, has more than 60 manufacturing sites, employs a global workforce of more than 40,000 associates, and has more than 35 brands, including the number-one plumbing brand in North America and China, and number-one international brand in India and one of the world’s largest power and distributed energy companies. Over 43 years as CEO, Herb expanded the company’s offerings far beyond plumbing to have included decorative products and a host of world-class resorts, championship golf, and recreational opportunities. And with his unwavering focus on the company mission and guiding principles, Herb ensured that anyone who came in contact with a KOHLER product or service would find delight.
Innovation
Herb was passionate about the creative process and encouraged his associates to discover and invent, free of boundaries, to develop products for customers who may not realize they want, but “the discovery of potential need is the expertise of marketing, industrial design and engineering working together,” he said. Herb himself received hundreds of design and utility patents. He often referenced the intersection of two guiding principles – maintaining a leading edge in design and technology, and always upholding a single level of quality. To the extent his product development teams could follow these principles successfully, Herb said, “there is nothing else that will establish and maintain our reputation.”
Innovation
Herb was passionate about the creative process and encouraged his associates to discover and invent, free of boundaries, to develop products for customers who may not realize they want, but “the discovery of potential need is the expertise of marketing, industrial design and engineering working together,” he said. Herb himself received hundreds of design and utility patents. He often referenced the intersection of two guiding principles – maintaining a leading edge in design and technology, and always upholding a single level of quality. To the extent his product development teams could follow these principles successfully, Herb said, “there is nothing else that will establish and maintain our reputation.”
To start a family business, to grow that business, and to have succeeding generations build upon earlier successes, you have to have at least a few mavericks in the bunch. You have to have those who go against the grain. Those who are willing to take risks. Those who dare to work on the frontier of ideas, technology and innovation.”
– Herb Kohler
Brand Builder
Connecting with the customer in a meaningful, positive and sometimes curious way is one of the most important measures of success. As Herb often referenced, if a person who remembers an instance with the KOHLER brand years after the fact and it causes that individual to smile, then mission accomplished. Beginning in the early 1970s, he created a force with “THE BOLD LOOK OF KOHLER” that forever changed the American bathroom, transforming what was a utilitarian space into a statement of design, style, sophistication and craftsmanship. He, along with Natalie Black Kohler, saw two primary drivers of the success of the KOHLER brand. One is the imaginative concept and design of the products. The other is the very imaginative brand communication and content that allows the company to communicate directly with the consumer. A Look at 100 Years of Advertising.
Brand Builder
Connecting with the customer in a meaningful, positive and sometimes curious way is one of the most important measures of success. As Herb often referenced, if a person who remembers an instance with the KOHLER brand years after the fact and it causes that individual to smile, then mission accomplished. Beginning in the early 1970s, he created a force with “THE BOLD LOOK OF KOHLER” that forever changed the American bathroom, transforming what was a utilitarian space into a statement of design, style, sophistication and craftsmanship. He, along with Natalie Black Kohler, saw two primary drivers of the success of the KOHLER brand. One is the imaginative concept and design of the products. The other is the very imaginative brand communication and content that allows the company to communicate directly with the consumer. A Look at 100 Years of Advertising.
Leadership & Tradition
Herb’s leadership, Kohler Co. grew from a U.S.-centric company to a global leader today with more than 40,000 associates working on six continents. He led the development of the company’s Gracious Living Mission Statement in 1974 followed by its foundational Guiding Principles.
He was proud of the Quarter Century Club – one of the oldest in the U.S. – which now includes more than 12,500 associates who have achieved 25 years or more of service. Herb enjoyed standing in front of the annual class addressing the new inductees – often imparting insights, expressing his gratitude, and sharing memories. In 2021, Herb became Kohler’s third associate with 60 years of service.
Herb participated in the yearly Kohler Leadership Forums speaking to associates about developing their skills, and conveying his expectations of what constituted strong leadership.
Leadership & Tradition
Herb’s leadership, Kohler Co. grew from a U.S.-centric company to a global leader today with more than 40,000 associates working on six continents. He led the development of the company’s Gracious Living Mission Statement in 1974 followed by its foundational Guiding Principles.
He was proud of the Quarter Century Club – one of the oldest in the U.S. – which now includes more than 12,500 associates who have achieved 25 years or more of service. Herb enjoyed standing in front of the annual class addressing the new inductees – often imparting insights, expressing his gratitude, and sharing memories. In 2021, Herb became Kohler’s third associate with 60 years of service.
Herb participated in the yearly Kohler Leadership Forums speaking to associates about developing their skills, and conveying his expectations of what constituted strong leadership.