THE REGAL STORY
KUCK FAMILY HISTORY
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Regal has been a family business for nearly 40 years. Throughout that time the one thing that has remained a constant in our business has been integrity. "Be honest and do what's right" that's the way we were taught growing up in the family boat business. Who are we? We are the second generation of Kuck (pronounced "cook") kids Duane, Tim, and Pamela.
Our journey really began in western Ohio and from there to Evansville, Wisconsin. It was there that Dad sharpened his skills in business while under the mentorship of Clark Prudhon and Gene Kandel. After working for Pruden Products, a steel building firm, for nearly 8 years Mom and Dad moved our family to Orlando. When we moved to Florida, Mom and Dad did not know what they wanted to do other than start their own business. After much thought, consideration and prayer, they took their life savings along with additional investments from partners Clark Prudhon and Gene Kandel, and decided to start a boat company.
Though Dad never had any experience building boats, he had experience with business, and with people. Mom and Dad researched names and chose the name Regal a name that would reflect the essence of quality and royalty. The first Regal boat was a 21-ft. cuddy, followed by a 16-ft. tri-hull and 14-ft. runabout. They were produced out of a small, run-down, leased production facility in Orlando in 1969. Ever so slowly we began to produce and sell product.
From the beginning Regal was a family business. Mom did payroll, a job she kept for 20 years. In 1973, just as our fledgling company began to hit its stride, an energy crisis hit the country, and the stock market went into a free fall. Although things looked bleak, Dad just did not know how to quit. A year later most orders for boats were canceled, and much of the original investment was gone. It looked as though the beginning of our boat business would actually be the end.
Weathering The Storm
There are not many things in life that are as painful as failure. Mom and Dad drew their strength and hope from their faith. It was during this season that Dad released the business to God. "Whatever happens from this time forward," he prayed, "is because of You, not me." You might say that his prayer was just an act of desperation, and that it was. As a matter of fact, Dad joked that it was easy to give it all to God when you don't have anything to give! But, truth be told, there is not one rational reason why we are still in business today. Our entire family recognizes that it was God's grace and handiwork more than our hard work and commitment that brought Regal success.By 1975 the storm had passed, and Dad emerged with more focus, confidence, and faith. Regal had not only survived, but had achieved sales of $800,000. Mom and Dad, now optimistic about the future, purchased the assets of another boat manufacturer named Scat Craft and moved into that company's facility in south Orlando. It was more than twice the size of our previous factory. It was then that Duane and Tim made a decision to stay in the family business.
In 1976 we packed a 24-ft. cuddy cabin for our Austrian importer. It was our first international order. Not long after that we received an order over the Telex machine from a German importer for 39 boats at a very critical time in our business. This was without a doubt one of the most significant orders we have ever received in our 30-plus year history. Today over 35% of our annual sales are international shipments to over 45 countries.
Looking Forward
For the next 15 years Regal enjoyed compounded growth of 25% per year and at times even more. In 1988 we broke ground on a second manufacturing plant in Smithville, Tennessee, a new $4 million facility. The timing of our January 1989 opening could not have been worse. The boating industry was on the verge of one of the hardest recessions it had ever experienced since the oil embargo of 1973. We found ourselves with so much debt that we had to sell the Smithville plant to give us immediate relief.It was a difficult season, but one that taught us a great deal. Because of that experience, we committed to control our growth and to maintain a position of being debt-free. In an industry that has seen its share of consolidations and private companies being sold to larger public companies, our family business gives us a position of continuity and strength. It allows us to focus on our long-term goals of achieving our mission statement rather than reacting to external pressures of attaining quarterly results. Bigger does not always mean better.
In 1996 we proved to be a formidable competitor in the fiercely competitive marine industry by capturing the market by storm with our new FastTrac® Hull design. Winning the 1996 Industry Marine Innovation Award, Regal raised the level of performance in power-boating in the pleasure boat market. We continued to sharpen our focus to produce "Luxury Performance" powerboats. In an effort to produce higher quality products we achieved ISO 9001:2000 certification and continue to garner recognition for our customer satisfaction. By 2008 we had won over a dozen CSI awards from the NMMA and 5 coveted awards from J.D. Power and Associates for Small Boat Runabout and Express Cruiser categories. These awards validated that we were on course to accomplish our mission and we have always been grateful to be the recipient.
Regal is now one of the largest family-owned-and-operated boat manufacturing companies in the world, with factories in Orlando, Florida, and Valdosta, Georgia. With 650,000 sq. ft. of manufacturing space and as many as 700 plus people, we are well equipped to build some of the best boats in the world. Sometimes we say we are in the people business and we build great boats. Everything begins and ends with people. That is why we included the word "relationship" in our mission statement. We have some of the best boat builders in the world. Their commitment and craftsmanship makes our product truly Regal.
Today our parents are no longer with us, but we are blessed to have worked with them for over 30 years, and were mentored by them throughout our lives. They invested in all of us family, friends, and colleagues; and today we are reaping the benefits of their investment. Since their address change to their heavenly home (Mom on July 17, 2005 and Dad on September 5, 2006) we continue to focus on the mission they set for us and carry on the tradition of giving to God through the family and community, and always reaching to those in need around the world.
Mom and Dad taught us we are stewards of the life and business that God has blessed us with. We have the privilege to do our best to honor God in all that we do and to experience and exercise the principles of "faith" in life and at work. Daily we strive to build some of the best boats in the world and to provide exceptional customer satisfaction to our customers around the world.
We hope you enjoyed our story, and we hope you enjoy boating. It is one of the greatest ways to have fun as family.
The Kuck Kids
Duane, Tim, and Pam
