Business Information
Richard Grove is the COO of Wall Control, a family owned and operated brand of Wall Storage and Organization Systems ranging from Garage Tool Storage to Kitchen Wall Organizers and even Industrial Tool Organizational Systems for industry leading Fortune 100 companies across the global.
Richard’s background is in engineering but what he enjoys most is brand building through relationships and creative marketing. Richard began his career with the Department of Defense as an engineer on the C-5 Galaxy Engineering Team based out of Warner Robins. While Richard found this experience both rewarding and fulfilling, he always knew deep down that he wanted to return to the small family business that originally triggered his interest in engineering.
Richard came to work for the family business, Dekalb Tool & Die, in 2008 as a Mechanical Engineer. At the time Wall Control was little more than a small ‘side hustle’ for Dekalb Tool & Die to try to produce some incremental income. There were no “Wall Control” employees, just a small warehouse with a single tool and die maker that would double as an “order fulfillment associate” on the occasion that the original WallControl.com website, which Richard’s grandmother built, pulled in an order.
Shortly after Richard arrived in 2008 the economy took a turn for the worse. Much of the work Dekalb Tool & Die was holding on to was leaving the shop to go to Mexico, China, or some other offshore source. Seemingly overnight it became apparent that in order for the family business to survive they were going to have to produce their own branded product at scale to ensure jobs remained in house and for the business to continue to move forward. Richard then turned his attention from tool and die to Wall Control to attempt this necessary pivot and his story with Wall Control began. Since that time, Richard has led Wall Control to significant growth while navigating two recessions.
Today Wall Control is responsible for the employment of 50+ employees and occupies a 60,000+ square foot physical footprint of its own while still growing rapidly. Wall Control is also proud to say that they are now Dekalb Tool & Die’s biggest customer by volume sold through their shop.
