Kingston-based Pacific Netting Products Inc. is a company that doesn't like to be in the spotlight much. Its two owners, Dave Erickson and Glenn Kramer, like to keep their successes mostly private. Since they founded their company in 1997, they have seen a steady but conservative growth - and that's the way they like it.

“The key word is sustainable growth,” Kramer says. After working for large companies before and seeing the risks involved along with the huge payroll and overhead, the two partners wanted to keep their company's growth under control. “We can grow it faster than we have…(but) we're both fairly conservative,” Erickson says.

The company custom designs and manufactures nets used for sports fields, various industrial applications and fish farming. Each net is designed based on the customer's specific application and requirements, and the company manufactures the finished product at its Kingston warehouse using purchased netting.

L-R: Glenn Kramer and Dave Erickson, owners of Pacific Netting Products at their manufacturing facility in Kingston

Erickson and Kramer are both former commercial fishermen who met while working for a local company that manufactures fish nets. They founded their business with the idea of providing products that were not fishing-oriented. Feeling confident in each other and sharing many similar values (like the idea of conservative growth), they decided one day to take the risk and invested their savings into the “American dream” of being entrepreneurs.

“When you start a business, you know you're putting everything on the line,” Kramer says. “It's your money, your risk and you can't pass the buck to anyone else. I don't think it's ever an easy decision to make.”

Since the two of them took that leap of faith, they say they've seen a 15 percent to 20 percent growth each year - a figure with which they feel content. Starting out with two other employees, they have steadily added to their staff numbers and now employ about 10. They consider their employees their biggest asset - thus they try to treat them well and provide medical benefits, a 401(K) plan, and bonuses. “It's hard to afford it, but it's hard not to have it as well,” Erickson says. “The reason we're successful is our employees.”

Kramer says watching their employees grow along with the company is part of the fulfillment of that American dream, and he gets a lot of satisfaction knowing their company supports several local families.

As part of their growth, the company moved from a small Poulsbo warehouse about a year ago to their Kingston complex. After an unsuccessful search for a lease facility in North Kitsap, where they wanted to remain, they decided to build their own, and created Chinook Partners LLC for that purpose. The two partners became their own contractors for the project that included three buildings. Although they lease part of the space (currently available), they also have the capability to expand into it should they outgrow their new home again.

Pacific Netting Products stays competitive by focusing on its customer service. The two owners describe their methods similar to old-fashion, small-town ethics: They try to provide personal customer service to every client. In fact, when a person calls the company they will always talk to one of the two owners, who will ask a variety of questions to find out what kind of net may suit the customer's needs. “Every net can be very unique,” Erickson says. “As soon as the phone rings, the design process starts.”

Pacific Netting Products' customers range from individuals to large corporations, and the criteria used for the products are just as varied: some nets may require low visibility, others may need to be resistant in extreme weather. For Kramer and Erickson, the creativity is ever-present. Although between the two of them they have more than 50 years combined in the netting industry, unique orders constantly bring unique challenges.

“You get better and better at it…but a lot of it is still seat of the pants — asking customers questions,” “Kramer says. “That's what's so interesting about it… people call us and tell us, 'This is what I'm trying to do.'”.