1986: A unique approach to selling cabinets.

Four years ago, Design Plus Inc. was created and billed as a computer-aided kitchen design service. On Aug. 15, 1985, when the company was sold to Formica Corp., it became a subsidiary of the new parent company. The Design Plus package is a complete decorating and marketing service for the cabinet industry. A company can subscribe to the service for a flat subscription rate and then the service may be used anytime and only when it is needed. Charges are incurred only when the service is used.

Kenneth Krengel, president of Design Plus, said he realizes many computer cabinet design software packages are available to cabinet manufacturers and dealers. He also realizes that looking at floor plans and elevations is not enough for the average consumer to generate "a desire to own a kitchen."

"Most consumers still have a difficult time visualizing what the finished product will look like," he said. Therefore, Design Plus goes beyond computer print-outs. Based on these print-outs, an artist's pencil or color perspective illustration of the completed room can be requested. This gives the consumer a clear image of what he is purchasing.