By Jeannie Reall
CORRESPONDENT
Published: March 19, 2014 2:01 pm ET
Updated: March 19, 2014 2:22 pm ET
Image By: B&B Molders LLC
B&B Molders LLC's CEO and President Britt Murphey
Like many companies, B&B Molders LLC struggled through dire times during the Great Recession. But the injection molder recently completed an expansion and celebrated its 50th anniversary at the top of its game, said CEO and President Britt Murphey.
“We lost 63 percent of our customers when the downturn hit” in 2008-09, he said. “You cannot survive on 30 percent of your business.”
The company eliminated every expense it could, which required sacrifices from everyone.
“My wife and I were doing the cleaning, sweeping and mopping. We did that for seven or eight months. And we were dog-tired. But my wife said, ‘You know, I feel really good about the hard work.’ ”
The work paid off for the Mishawaka, Ind., company, which ranked No. 6 in Plastics News’ Best Places to Work list.
“We’re as profitable now as we ever were,” Murphey said, adding that B&B has annual sales of more than $12 million.
Employees gave the company high marks when asked how they like working there, despite having recently endured some disruptive working conditions.
B&B expanded its plant to about 80,000 square feet by erecting a new factory over the old one, then hauling out the remains.
“It was a major, major undertaking,” Murphey said. “It was a nightmare for everyone.”
But the result is about 6,000 square feet of rebuilt office space and a customized — truly customized — Conair materials-handling system.
“Planning for that system took almost a year,” Murphey said. “[Conair officials] are the first to admit there was some creative thinking going on.”
But everything was ready in time for the company’s open house in September and anniversary in October.
Murphey said one reason he believes B&B workers like their jobs is, “We don’t want them to hang their brains at the door. … We want a person to be engaged throughout the day.”
B&B also offers a variety of wellness programs that Murphey said have far-reaching benefits.
“If people feel better because we’re encouraging them — if they feel better about what they’re doing, they’re going to get along with each other, and that has a domino effect. … We do not have a hostile department anywhere in the building. There’s no us-or-them attitude. It’s ‘we.’”
B&B makes an effort to help its 80 employees, their families and the community by holding food drives, supporting Toys for Tots and even by filling specific needs for families inside the company and out.
“We’re part of the community,” he said. “It’s a moral obligation, in my opinion, to do that.”
Having a happy staff is paying off in many ways — most importantly, Murphey said, in peace of mind.
“From a personal perspective, I feel extremely blessed to have the people around me that I’ve got. … I could die tomorrow and know that the place is going to succeed and get better,” Murphey said.
“I don’t know how life could be any better. It’s a lot of hard work, but the rewards are greater than I ever imagined.” | 
