John and Greg Kuelbs were inspired to launch Container Builder in 1999. The brother’s passion for the success of the independent retailer originated two generations ago…

In 1919 Grandfather Gustav Knapp open his blacksmith shop on main-street in Arlington, Minnesota. Over the next forty years he raised his family and grew his business hammering out products for the local town folks and farmers. He became known for his handmade truck boxes, silo chutes and lawn swings.

When in the war ended in 1945 Leo Kuelbs went home to Minnesota to find his future.  He dreamed of a family and a business of his own. A pretty girl named Kathleen Knapp caught his eye and a few years later with three hundred dollars of capital, six children and one on the way they boldly opened their very own retail lawn and garden store.

The Kuelbs brothers grew up helping their parents in the family retail store. They learned their Dad Leo’s ‘Three Lessons of Customer Service’: Treat your customers like you would a friend; know your product; and give ‘em a good value.

In the early 1980’s it was clear to the Kuelbs brothers that to successfully compete overseas manufacturing was key. In 1983 they set up shop in Taiwan where they manufactured over 6,000 products that supplied independently owned motorcycle retailers. That business, now merged into Custom Chrome still thrives today.

By 2000 with 17 years experience in Asia manufacturing they understood why only the biggest retailers imported and exactly how to do it right. “We understood how we could make it possible and easy for the independent retailer to buy like the big boxes”, said John Kuelbs. Container Builder was born.  

This All-American family believes in the Main Street values of personal service, community, hard-work and independence. Greg Kuelbs says, “Container Builder is the solution for independent retailers to revitalize their profitability. Our passion is for the independent retailer way of life to continue.”  Container Builder lives up to it’s reputation as “big enough to deliver, small enough to care”.