You don’t stay in business for 44 years without learning to adapt to changing times. Mark Bitter at Kustom Floor Designs in Great Bend has seen his business grow over the decades but customer service and quality products have remained a constant.

Kustom Floor Designs got its start as Kustom Builders in 1979, when Bitter and a partner started building new homes. The business was located on North U.S. 281 and later moved to K-96 where True Value is now. They moved to the current location at 1515 Main Street in 1996.

“We started out building custom homes and doing remodeling. And then after the flood in 1981 we added the floor-covering side and grew that into commercial flooring all over the state. We’ve continued to grow both sides of it,” he said.

Kustom Floor Designs still has construction crews and new construction projects, along with cabinetry for kitchens and baths. There are sales people scattered all over Kansas, from Topeka to western and northern Kansas.

With the move to Main Street they added home decor items. Those with a flair for holiday decorating will find something of interest this time of year.

“People enjoy coming in and walking around,” he said. “That creates a fun atmosphere that people enjoy.”

A community-owned business is, by its very nature, a community-oriented business, Bitter noted.

“Since we moved downtown, I feel like we’ve gotten very involved in our community. I’m one of the founders of the MyTown group, and that’s still carrying on. The Zarah loft apartments are going to be a fun project.”

He also likes the Fridays on Forest events that Great Bend Economic Development hosts downtown on Forest Ave., and he’s looking forward to the Home for the Holidays Parade and all of the activities that go on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

“That’s part of the Great Bend spirit. Like the free trolley rides for Christmas light tours. Last year, a couple thousand people were able to enjoy that. The tours are free for people to come and enjoy because a group of businesses across the community help support that.”

Kustom Floor Designs is part of that. The store sponsors the Dog Shack, where they will give away 1,500 hot dogs after the Home for the Holidays parade. They aren’t the only downtown business involved.

“Chris Warren, three years ago, built a hot chocolate machine that can serve about 1,800 cups per hour,” he said. “There are other groups; one of the clubs comes down and they give away funnel cakes. It just promotes this family atmosphere that I think sets our small community apart.”

The community spirit extends to people supporting local business and enjoying the benefits of shopping locally.

“When I think back, I think of how fortunate we are to have the customers that we’ve got. We have a very loyal community, and we wouldn’t exist without them,” he said.

“We’ve got a great customer base and a great team. Great Bend is a great place to grow a business. The employees are really the heart of it. They’re the people that folks see on a daily basis and we’ve been fortunate to have great people, long-term employees. It is a group of dedicated people that work every day to deliver services. I am fortunate to be able to work alongside of them,” he said.

“We are a family business; my wife Chris has worked in the store since we moved downtown, my oldest daughter Cori has been working with us for more than 20 years, my father Elmer began working in the business in the mid ’80s and continued until just a few years ago. Chad, who feels like family but isn’t, has been part of us for more than 30 years. Everyone who works here plays an important role each day in the success of the projects we do. The longevity and success we have had is a tribute to all of those guys and gals. I would accomplish nothing without them; I am so thankful for each of them.”

Business Insight is a regular feature of the Great Bend Tribune, showcasing locally owned businesses and encouraging folks to shop local as we near the Christmas holidays. Contact news@gbtribune.com for more information.