Custom Distributors

What Custom Distributors does

Custom Distributors (legal entity: Rieman & Arszman Custom Distributors) is a family-owned, private U.S. retailer and distributor of luxury and premium kitchen and home appliances, founded in 1985 and headquartered in Fairfield, Ohio. The company operates four appointment-based showrooms — Fairfield (corporate office), Dayton, Columbus/Worthington, and Tampa, Florida — and carries a portfolio of more than 70 domestic and international brands across 13 product categories, including Sub-Zero, Wolf, Miele, Thermador, Bosch, Gaggenau, La Cornue, Viking, and GE Appliances. Its stated differentiator is that it is the only local appliance company employing its own delivery and installation teams, enabling vertical control of the purchase-to-install experience.

The go-to-market is sales-led and showroom-anchored, with no e-commerce channel. Revenue is generated from one-time appliance sales (quote-based pricing through trained sales associates) and from in-house delivery and professional installation services. Customer segments split between individual consumers and trade professionals — home builders, remodeling companies, kitchen and interior designers, and real estate agents — with trade channels flagged as primary. The company also operates the Custom Cafe cooking school at its Fairfield showroom, led by corporate chef Kathy Damm, functioning as both a customer-engagement asset and a content-marketing engine supported by an extensive recipe library.

Ownership is closely held under the Rieman & Arszman partnership structure, with Ken Rieman serving as President, CEO, and Principal. There are no disclosed funding rounds, no institutional investors, and no M&A activity. Recent strategic activity has focused on deepening the existing model rather than reinventing it: the 2020s Tampa expansion into Florida, multiple 2025-dated premium brand additions (outdoor, ventilation, and Italian cooking lines), and the renovation and reopening of the Custom Cafe cooking-class program.

Name

Custom Distributors

Legal name

Rieman & Arszman Custom Distributors

Website

https://customdistributors.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Custom Distributors is a family-owned U.S. retailer and distributor of luxury kitchen and home appliances, operating four appointment-based showrooms in Ohio and Tampa, Florida. It serves both consumers and trade professionals (builders, remodelers, designers) with in-house delivery and installation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Luxury Kitchen & Home Appliance Retail

NAICS

Electronics and Appliance Retailers (4492), Furniture, Home Furnishings, Electronics, and Appliance Retailers (449)

SIC

Wholesale-Electrical Appliances, Tv & Radio Sets (5064)

akta.pro primary industry

Built-In & Integrated Appliance Retail (Built-In, Panel-Ready, Compact) (CRACACAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Refrigeration & Freezer Retail (Refrigerators, Freezers, Wine/Beverage Coolers) (CRACACAB)

Keywords

• Luxury appliance retail
• Kitchen appliance sales
• Showroom appliance distribution
• Appliance delivery installation
• Home appliance dealer

Headquarters

HQ city

Fairfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Appliance Sales: One-time sales of major kitchen appliances through showroom locations. The company carries an extensive portfolio of luxury and premium appliance brands across multiple categories including refrigeration, cooking, ventilation, and outdoor grilling.
2. Delivery and Installation Services: The company employs its own delivery and installation teams, providing in-house service for appliances sold. This vertical integration supports their customer experience focus.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Custom Distributors retails luxury kitchen and home appliances from 70+ brands through multi-location showrooms in Ohio and Florida, with separate consumer and trade-professional sales channels. The company complements product sales with in-house delivery and installation services and an in-store cooking class program led by its corporate chef, positioning itself as a full-service, white-glove appliance specialist for both homeowners and design/build professionals.

Product overview

Custom Distributors is a luxury kitchen appliance retailer offering a diversified portfolio of major home appliances across 13 product categories (Refrigeration, Cooking, Kitchen Cleanup, Clothing Care, Grills/Outdoor, Ventilation, Bar Area/Wine Storage, Air Conditioners, Small Appliances, Coffee Systems, Garage, Specialty, and Water Heaters/Conditioners) from over 70 international and domestic brands including Sub-Zero, Wolf, Miele, Thermador, Bosch, Gaggenau, Viking, and others. The company operates as a single unified retail business rather than a modular software platform. Their product portfolio is organized around physical appliance categories for retail sales and includes complementary services such as in-person showroom experiences with live appliance demonstrations, company-owned delivery and professional installation teams, and cooking classes taught by corporate chef Kathy Damm at the Custom Cafe showroom kitchen. They serve both residential consumers and trade professionals (builders, remodelers, designers) across four showroom locations in Ohio (Cincinnati/Fairfield, Dayton, Columbus) and Tampa, Florida.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Custom Cafe: Cooking class facility operated by corporate chef Kathy Damm at the Fairfield showroom
• Chef Kathy

Products and services

• Refrigeration appliances (built-in refrigerators, freezers, columns)
• Cooking appliances (ranges, cooktops, wall ovens, microwaves) Premium cooking appliances including ranges, cooktops, wall ovens, and microwaves, sold to homeowners and trade buyers specifying kitchens.
• Dishwashers Premium dishwashers from luxury brands, sold and installed as part of full-kitchen specifications.
• Ventilation (range hoods) Premium range hoods and ventilation products for residential kitchens, typically specified alongside cooking appliances.
• Wine storage Built-in and freestanding wine storage units from premium brands for residential kitchens, dining areas, and wine rooms.
• Outdoor living appliances Outdoor-rated cooking and entertaining appliances for residential outdoor kitchens and living spaces.
• Smart home appliances Connected and smart home appliances with Wi-Fi and app-based control features, sold as part of premium kitchen packages.
• Small appliances Countertop and small appliances from premium brands complementing the major built-in appliance packages.
• Air purification Premium residential air purification products from luxury appliance brands.
• Plumbing fixtures (faucets, sinks) Premium kitchen faucets and sinks from luxury brands, typically specified alongside appliance packages for full-kitchen projects.
• In-house delivery and white-glove installation service Company-owned delivery and installation crews that transport, place, and install purchased appliances, including built-in units, for both consumer and trade-professional buyers.
• Cooking classes and product demonstrations In-store cooking classes, product demonstrations, and culinary events led by the Corporate Chef in the showroom Cafe, supporting both consumer retail sales and trade-professional engagement.

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Lowe's: National home improvement retailer with dedicated appliance showrooms and a strong builder/Pro segment. Competes on appliance selection and kitchen project packages from a mass-market position.
• Home Depot: Mass-market home improvement retailer carrying major appliances across premium, mid-tier, and value brands. Competes for trade-account volume and consumer foot traffic with vastly larger scale and marketing budget.
• Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery: National plumbing, appliances, and lighting distributor with showrooms serving builders, designers, and consumers. Broader portfolio but overlaps significantly in kitchen appliance distribution to the trade channel.
• Sub-Zero, Wolf and Cove Showrooms: Manufacturer-owned and partner showrooms for Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Cove. A broader incumbent in the luxury appliance category that both supplies Custom Distributors and competes for end customers through brand experience centers.

Direct peers

• AJ Madison: Large online luxury and premium appliance retailer carrying the same premium brands (Sub-Zero, Wolf, Miele, Thermador, Bosch). Closest direct competitor in product category, though operating through e-commerce rather than appointment showrooms.
• Albert Lee Appliance: Seattle-based luxury appliance retailer with multi-location showrooms and dedicated builder/designer programs. Comparable in custom-trade approach and exclusive premium brand partnerships.
• Plessers Appliance: Long Island, NY family-owned luxury appliance retailer with in-house delivery and installation teams serving builders and consumers. Closely mirrors Custom Distributors' regional showroom + trade-channel model.
• Builders Appliance Center: Long Island and NY metro appliance retailer combining builder/designer B2B accounts with retail showrooms. Similar brand portfolio and trade/consumer dual-channel strategy.
• Yale Appliance: Northeast U.S. luxury appliance retailer with showrooms and same brand portfolio (Sub-Zero, Wolf, Miele, Thermador, Bosch). Comparable in its trade-channel focus, in-house delivery, and premium-brand positioning.
• Friel Appliances: Mid-Atlantic luxury appliance retailer serving builders, designers, and consumers with similar brand mix. Direct comparable in B2B trade-channel sales model and high-end showroom experience.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=jq6JgY6MBv0
• Facebookfacebook.com/CustomDistributors
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/custom-distributors
• Instagraminstagram.com/customdistributors
• Pinterestpinterest.com/CustomDistributors
• Xx.com/cd_appliances

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Custom Distributors