Kimbel Mechanical Systems of Springdale moved into new digs at the start of this month.
CEO Brad Smith said in an Executive Q&A with Arkansas Business on Feb. 13 that if he could change one thing about his company, it would be that Kimbel Mechanical have a bigger office.
Smith, who bought the business in 2016 from Rob Kimbel, got his wish when he moved the firm into a spacious 76,000-SF building at 1936 N. Shiloh Drive in Fayetteville.
The company previously was located in 21,000 SF at 9310 Wagon Wheel Road in Springdale.
Here’s what’s more interesting: Kimbel is moving into a building formerly occupied by one-time e-commerce sensation Acumen Brands. Acumen Brands, now known as One Country, was put up for sale earlier this year after falling on hard times.
The building Kimbel moved into was Acumen Brands’ former office space. Acumen Brands used a larger, 200,000-SF warehouse facility across the street to fill what it said in 2014 was 7,500 weekly orders; it used high-tech robotics to fill the orders.
Both the office and warehouse facilities are owned by Magnum Properties LLC, which is led by Phil Phillips.
As for Acumen, former CEO John James — who in February said he was negotiating to buy it — said he heard the company had been sold, but he didn’t know any details.
Terry Turpin, who co-founded Acumen with James in 2009, did not return a phone message and the phone at the company’s former headquarters had been disconnected.
Acumen Brands’ had branded online stores such as Country Outfitter, which sold Western wear, and Scrub Shopper, which sold medical uniforms. It made news when it received a $83 million investment from General Atlantic in 2013.
James left Acumen in 2014 to focus on his startup support company, Hayseed Ventures. James bought Scrub Shopper in 2016 from Acumen, paying what James said was a seven-figure amount.
The news has been better for Kimbel Mechanical, obviously. Kimbel won the 2016 Arkansas Business of the Year for companies with 76-300 employees, and Smith was a finalist for Business Executive of the Year.
Kimbel does plumbing, electrical and HVAC installations in residential buildings in 22 states. Kimbel had revenue of $76 million in 2016 and approximately 400 full-time employees and third-party contractors, and Smith said his goal was to have Kimbel reach $100 million in revenue by 2019.