Crescent Parts and Equipment Company History

Crescent Parts and Equipment has a long history of quality service in the HVACR industry in Missouri and Illinois. This successful history is attributed to finding, hiring and then developing the best people in the industry. We differentiate ourselves from our competitors with these people, we provide the best in class products and our excellent and unequaled customer service. We are active in industry organizations because we believe that we must be involved, not just a part of our industry. Our involvement in these organizations helps us understand our customers' businesses and needs. By understanding our customers, we can develop programs that benefit them and their businesses.

25th Anniversary (1969) George & Theresa Giudici

Crescent Parts and Equipment was founded in August of 1944. Cosmo Giudici and his 3 partners sold parts for coal stokers from their first location at 6327 Clayton Avenue, in St. Louis, Missouri. The business grew quickly and within two years they had to move to a larger facility at 825 Boyle. Here they added service station contracts for the oil burner heating equipment. Keeping pace with the changes of the heating business in the 1950's, Crescent added gas burners and parts to its expanding inventory to service the heating needs of their valued customers. They could now service their customers with a wide range of heating products.

Just as the product line was expanding, so was the number of branch locations. The second location was established in East St. Louis, Illinois on May 1, 1953. In June of 1961 a branch opened at 4729 Goodfellow. With three locations Crescent had the opportunity to increase its customer base and its level of service. The market continued to grow and Crescent built a new main branch at 2100 South 59th street in October of 1961.

25th Anniversary 1969 Grandpa Cosmo (wheelchair) Grandma Giudici (left center), Chrissy & Joey (left background)

By the early 1960's Cosmo Giudici and his son George bought out their partner. Soon after this, in 1964, they expanded to include the air conditioning business. The product offering was growing as quickly as their customers. In 1975 they added the Whirlpool line of equipment, which would later change its name to Tempstar.

The expansion of products and markets continued and in 1972 they added Copeland and Sporlan. The company now had two of the most important vendors in the refrigeration market. Crescent worked hard to take a leading position in the refrigeration market.

In the late 1980's Crescent had 7 locations with branches in the St. Louis Area in Arnold, Natural Bridge, South St. Louis, Popular Bluff, Belleville, East St. Louis, and a large warehouse. Their focus continued to be on their customers. The number of locations added a new complexity to the business, but over time the branches proved to be successful.

In 1989, George Giudici retired, turning the future of Crescent over to his children. George's six children currently share in the ownership of the company. Three of the six are active in the management and day-to-day operations. This third generation management team includes George Giudici, President; Guy Giudici, Director of Branch Operations; and Barb Beffa, Office Manager. Their vision for growth and success is the same as it had been the previous two generations. However, their management approach to achieving this success is significantly different and focuses on a team approach rather than the traditional boss/employee relationship. This management style has proven beneficial to the company not only in financial success, but also in employee longevity. More than 40% of Crescent's employees have been with the company for over 10 years

1971

In the next 18 months they added the West St. Louis County and Cape Girardeau branches, in Missouri, and Pontoon Beach branch in Illinois, they now had 9 locations. At that time, Crescent also started putting together marketing plans. These plans have evolved into a process that continues to help them each year to focus on every Market and Customer type that they service. This planning process includes a section that identifies weaknesses in each customer and market segment. It also looks at the future and the new trends that are coming. Using all of these tools, they put together plans that help them service their customers and markets at the highest-level possible.

They then turned their focus to a new computer and information system. This system would need to have not only a better inventory system, but would also require better pricing, customer information, and marketing tools. In 1992 they made the purchase. The system transition was painful at first, but proved to be a valued tool for the future.

1989

With the new plans and branches in place, they quickly out grew their warehouse and in 1994 they moved into their current location. The new warehouse and offices have 55,000 square feet of warehouse space and 10,000 square feet of office and training space. Crescent currently has a 4,500 square foot training room that can hold over 70 people seated in classroom style.

Crescent continued to look to the future and changed to become better. In 1998 they introduced an open book management program for the company. The program identified critical numbers that would help employees focus on a common goal. The program then taught every person in the company so that they had some understanding of the financial part of the business. By holding a series of classes and then reinforcing them with tests, all of the employees went to Accounting 101. As a result people understood what effect they had on the company. It helped identify areas for improvement and then helped employees find more effective ways to accomplish things. Overall, fewer mistakes were made, and there was more profit for the company. A new bonus plan was put into place to reinforce the employees' improvements with improved bonuses.

1991 Guy Giudici

Between 1998 and 2001 Crescent continues to expand. The Marion and Quincy, Illinois were acquired and a new location in Columbia, Missouri was added. These locations brought the total to 12 locations. During this time new Regional Managers were also added to ensure that Crescent would be able to keep their focus and be proactive in each area. Customers needs continued to be the most important factor in the business.

2003 brought the biggest challenged the company has ever had to face. Crescent decided to change their equipment line and their largest vendor. It was decided that the Tempstar equipment line would be phased out and American Standard line of equipment would be added. Through hard work and good customer relationships we were able to keep over 95% of our customers. This was a tribute to our people. We added a number of new accounts and the results exceeded our wildest expectations and sales goals.

1996 Copeland Tear Down School

Between 2003 and 2006 Crescent had an opportunity to add a branches in St. Peters Missouri, the 14th branch in Sedalia Missouri and the 15th location in the Springfield Missouri area. This location was added because we were awarded the Southern Missouri area for American Standard Heating and Air Conditioning. The continued growth also required that three of the branch locations had to be moved into larger buildings. They were Arnold, Columbia and soon it's Marion Illinois branch will move.

Crescent has and will continue to change with the times. We know that over time we must change in order to offer our customers the best service and products in the market. Our vision is "to help a selected group of vendors and customers become more effective and profitable." By achieving this vision, we will continue to have very satisfied customers and that will lead to the growth that all of us want and need to be successful.

Crescent Parts and Equipment is entering its sixty second year as a leading supplier of heating and air conditioning parts in the Midwest. From its beginnings in 1944, until the present day, the company has experienced extraordinary growth, diversity, and success. What has stayed constant, and what attributes to the uniqueness of this company, is the family ownership and commitment to its employees. Cosmo Giudici had a vision in 1944 when he and three partners founded Crescent, and his son, George Sr. continued that vision when he came to the firm in the 1950's.

Crescent Parts & Equipment Company has grown from supplying coal furnaces to homes to a constantly growing company distributing parts and equipment for the commercial and residential heating, air conditioning and refrigeration industries throughout the Midwest. They stock more than 10,000 parts and service over 3,800 customers. Sales and revenues continue to grow and inventory accuracy of products on hand is better than 97%. Ask anyone in this company what has attributed to its success, and they will sum it up in one word: EMPLOYEES. The wisdom of the strong management team at Crescent has tapped its most valuable resource, its people, and it has proven most effective. Today Crescent is looking forward to the future in terms of regional growth. And, naturally, it is looking towards their empowered employees to lead them there.