Kwik and Crafty Contracting works ‘accurate, affordable, always’

Layoffs have been a common theme of the U.S. economic calamity, but in the case of Kris Groszer, a layoff turned into an opportunity.

Groszer formerly worked for Ocean Atlantic, but when he was laid off in November, he decided to sink his full attention into Kwik and Crafty Contracting, which he had started as a side contracting/deck business five years ago.

“I wanted to really start something good. A lot of customers really couldn’t find a good, smart, comparable, hard-working, reliable – that was the big thing – a reliable contractor. So, I said, ‘You know what, I’m not going to go out and look for another job. I’m going to take my side business and make it a full-time business,’” Groszer said.

Kwik and Crafty, which specializes in roofing, siding, decks, renovations and other services, has recently opened its new office on Rehoboth Avenue in Rehoboth Beach.

One of the company’s first big projects was the two new apartment units at the Celebration Mall on Baltimore Avenue in the former Epworth United Methodist Church.

“We just completed those, and that was a large project,” Groszer said. “That was also a good starting project. I got to thank Gene [Lankford, owner of Celebration Mall] for giving me that opportunity to do that project, and I thought it went very well.”

Groszer said the project was given a four-month timeline and finished on time.

The latest project Kwik and Crafty is working on is the new Child’s Play By The Bay day-care facility, which will be moving from Kings Highway to Savannah Road, across from the WSFS Bank. Groszer said the project should be finished in two to three weeks.

“We’ve been working on the day-care for about a month. We’re going to get all our inspections done and then start dry-walling by the end of the week. So that will be good news for the owners,” Groszer said. “I just wanted to start my business on the right foot with the right people.”

Kwik and Crafty’s slogan is “accurate, affordable, always,” and for Groszer, it isn’t just a slogan.

“I always want to give the best service possible and the best communication possible,” he said.

Groszer’s assistant, Aaron Langley, said, “We don’t work for the money, we work for the customers. If they’re happy, then we’re happy.”

“We want to make an impression. The important thing is not that they remember Kwik and Crafty, but that they remember us personally,” Groszer said.

While Groszer is out front, Kwik and Crafty truly is a family affair. Besides Langley, Groszer’s wife Colleen, who helped come up with the name, also provides support.

“We used to be KC Contracting, and she wanted to make a catchy name. I was always here, there and everywhere, and I was racing and doing a lot of the work myself, working long hours and always busting my butt. And she’s like, ‘You got to quit it, you are just too quick at getting what you need done.’ She came up with ‘Kwik’ and ‘Crafty’ because obviously, she’s the crafty part of the name. She’s very creative,” Groszer said.

In addition to family ties, Kwik and Crafty has 10 subcontractors it uses consistently. Among those Kwik and Crafty has worked with are Delmarva Insulation, C&C Drywall, Eagle General Contracting, Shoreline Electrical and Crystal Clear Mechanical, among others.

“It’s like a big family unit, and we want all the customers to be part of that unit,” Langley said.

Groszer said the next major job would be at Paynter’s Mill, where Kwik and Crafty will be doing two additions as a service contractor.

As if one business weren’t enough, Groszer will also be starting up a new flooring business on Aug. 1 called Coastal Flooring, which will be an extension of Kwik and Crafty.

Kwik and Crafty Contracting

The Kwik and Crafty Contracting office is located at 37251 Rehoboth Ave. Call Kris at 302-242-6134 or Aaron at 443-623-0656 for more information.