Texas is home to 3 million businesses with 99.8% of those being small businesses, and 1.25 million are women-owned (Texas Governor’s Commission for Women). Recent statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau highlight veteran-owned businesses made up about 5.9% (337,934) of all businesses, with an estimated $947.7 billion in receipts, approximately 3.9 million employees, and about $177.7 billion in annual payroll.
New to Houston, but Not New to the Industry
Though we can celebrate the rise in women-owned businesses and female entrepreneurship, the gender gap remains palpable. Karen Scott, an accomplished female entrepreneur and proud veteran continues to break glass ceilings in this male-dominated construction industry as the owner, founder, and CEO of KNS Industrial Supply (KNS). Founded in California in 2016, KNS is a Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) and Woman/Minority Business Enterprise (WMBE) with a new location in Houston, Texas.
Karen is an accomplished expert and industry leader with documented success in program management and procuring materials and equipment over the span of her career. She is a retired LTC after a 27-year stellar career in the US Army and is a lifelong logistician. Karen is a senior management executive with expert developmental, analytical, and communication skills and a proven record of building successful partnerships with internal and external business leaders and stakeholders. The knowledge she possesses of business and management principles; developing and delivering strategic planning, resource allocation, and proposal development are certainly key factors in the success of KNS since its inception. Under her leadership, KNS remains strategically positioned in California, and now in Texas, to compete and win contracts for local, state, and federal government.
A certified, award-winning, and leading supply company that successfully serves California, Karen has brought the KNS standard of exceptional customer service and their premier quality products to Texas, with an office here in the heart of our city, serving Houston, the surrounding areas, and the entire state. “I want Houston and Texas to know that KNS is new to the area, but we are not new to the industry. Since founding KNS in 2016, our earned and sustained track record in several industries speaks for itself. We want Houston, Texas, to know that they can depend on our company. Just like we meet supply expectations and demands in California, we will do the same for Texas,” Karen says.
KNS sources pipes, valves, fittings, metal, high-density polyethylene (HDPE) electrical and industrial supplies needed for oil, water and gas companies, construction and shipbuilding industries, corporations, colleges and universities, as well as local, state, and federal government. The company also provides personal protective equipment and safety products for several entities.
The company has a diverse and impressive customer base, finding cost savings in record time for city and county municipalities as well as local utility companies. Under Karen’s leadership, the KNS team’s experience and knowledge are some of the foundational elements and main tools that reduce time and costs to exceed customer expectations.
Q&A With KNS Industrial Supply
As a minority, woman, and veteran owner in this competitive market, are you seeing a more level playing field for women, veteran- and minority-owned companies to secure lucrative contracts? There are talks of opening doors for minority- and veteran-owned businesses, but we need to truly receive the benefits. While yes, we’re earning and receiving contracts, they are not the ones given to the big boys. We want a bigger and more equal piece of the pie. We are seeking real opportunities that are lucrative. It’s not about agencies meeting their quotas but they should want to exceed them.
Your corporate office and warehouse are located in California but talk about how KNS serves Texas. The office in Houston has been open for one year, with a warehouse coming soon. And with this being a new office in Houston, KNS is looking to hire locally, also bringing jobs to this city and the surrounding areas. We know that we can bring the resources from California to Texas. We’re established in CA, but if companies in Houston and Texas do their research, they will see that we have the same capabilities to serve this area and state. This expansion is just one of many ways we are posturing KNS for growth. Our supply can meet the demands of Houston and Texas.
Please talk about the importance of minority-owned businesses being certified. Some aren’t certified because of a lack of information, not knowing how to do research, and cost. These businesses should be certified because it presents opportunities and opens doors. But though certifications do open doors, they don’t drive your business. So it’s important that you have the work ethic, tenacity, knowledge, and business model for robust business growth.
Please talk about how KNS reduces time and cost for clients and how you outperform your competitors in customer service and pricing. How we continue to achieve this is by increasing our on-hand products. We have priority shipping and partner with other suppliers. Our delivery time exceeds expectations. Clients have projects and need to meet deadlines, and we understand that so we offer next-day delivery or same-day in some instances.
Exceptional customer service and high-quality products are what KNS has become known for. We pride ourselves on the BEST best customer service. We communicate on a continuous basis from order to delivery, with regular follow-up until they receive their order. We like the personal touch. In this fast-moving world where updates are done via email and text messaging, our customers appreciate hearing a voice over the phone. This has also helped build trust with our customers as well. And even in the instances where we are not awarded the contract, KNS will remain in contact with that company. You never know when that company may need your services down the line.
Please talk about the quality and standard of your products. KNS customers return because they value good quality. We don’t buy from every supplier, and we don’t buy from the suppliers providing the least expensive products. We buy from suppliers with good customer service. We try to make sure we have quality, branded products with the best pricing. This helps our suppliers reduce inventory and cost which in turn helps KNS customers pay less. Also, at KNS, we do diligent research on the front-end when it comes to the suppliers and pricing.
How does KNS open doors for other minority-owned businesses to succeed in this industry and give back to the community? KNS gives back to the areas where we do business. Recently KNS was a sponsor for a Houston Minority Supplier Development Council (HMSDC) event and contributed to a local chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. for their scholarship initiative. Those are just some of our efforts pouring into our community. Also, I am in some respects a mentor, providing insight and knowledge to businesses owned by veterans, women, and minorities. I’ve been where they are, so it’s my duty to provide as much support as I can to help other small businesses maneuver this industry and succeed. And when I solicit, I’m intentional about doing business with qualified, but overlooked businesses owned by women, veterans, and minorities. I want small businesses to know that they can start a business, and more importantly, succeed in business. There are so many resources available to help small businesses prosper, like grants and workshops. Nothing can stop you when you are determined.
How is KNS supporting veterans and providing them with employment opportunities? Being a veteran myself, I still carry around that discipline from my 20+ years in the military, never leaving a fallen soldier behind. I hire veterans and also use veteran-owned companies. I am proud that KNS has a diverse and qualified team made up of veterans, women, and minorities.
“KNS gets it right the first time. We only have one time to make a first impression. KNS is established as the go-to company. We do it right the first time so we can do it again, with repeat business and a renewed contract,” says Karen.
For more information about KNS Industrial Supply, please visit knsindustrial.com and knsindustrialsupply.com.
