Under the ownership of Chris Tietz since 1987, Kirtz Shutters is located in Stillwater, Oklahoma, and specializes in square and architecturally shaped plantation shutters with movable louvers for windows and doors. Commerce sat down with Chris as well as Pat Crane, Business Consultant with Meridian and Central Technology Centers, to discuss how the Oklahoma Department of Commerce alongside partners like Meridian Technology Center and Oklahoma State University have helped create a safe and efficient working environment to bring economic growth to the community of Stillwater.
Q: Tell us about Kirtz Shutters.
Chris Tietz, Owner of Kirtz Shutters: Fifty-three years ago when I graduated high school, I knew I wanted to be a woodworker. Our principal business is to make plantation shutters. The last few years, we’ve expanded into making custom conference tables, dining tables and unique pieces of furniture for people. We work within about a 200-mile radius of here and we’re able to go to the home, determine what the customer’s needs are. We make all the components. We build the shutters to fit each individual window, finish them to match their decor, and then use our precision installers to make sure they look as perfect as they need to, and match the interior look that the customer has requested.
Q: What benefits do you have by being located in Oklahoma?
Chris Tietz: We’re kind of centrally located between Wichita, Oklahoma City and Tulsa. But we’re also centrally located in the United States. Today we shipped an order to Florida. Next week we ship one that will initially go to California, but then will be transported by boat to Hawaii.
Q: How has Kirtz Shutters contributed to the Stillwater community & economy?
Pat Crane, Business Consultant with Meridian and Central Technology Centers: They’ve been a standard here in Stillwater for a long time and they’re craftsmen. He employs a lot of people and that’s good for our economy.
Q: How have partnerships with Commerce and other local entities been throughout the years?
Chris Tietz: The Oklahoma Department of Commerce has been very helpful because they’re associated with many of the programs that we have benefited from through the years. Meridian Tech Center here in Stillwater has been helpful to us. Different programs that they offer, even safety training. And even something as simple as having some of the individuals with Oklahoma State University come out and assist us with how we lay out the factory so that we were more efficient means of product movement.
