Location/Region: Ann Arbor, MI
Industry: Remodeling services
Apps implemented: Accounting, CRM, Budgeting, Purchase, Inventory, Fleet Management, Helpdesk, Sign, Maintenance
Company size: 30
Software replaced: Google Sheets, Excel, Monday, FastField, and Zapier
Hosting type: Odoo Online
For DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen, delivering “efficient remodeling with exceptional service” is more than a motto: it’s a business model. But running complex remodeling projects with many moving parts requires strong systems, visibility, and integration. That’s where Odoo came in, helping DreamMaker streamline operations, cut administrative workload by 30%, and consolidate 18 years of data into a single source of truth.
DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen, based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, is the largest franchisee of the national DreamMaker network. Founded in 2004 by Lee & Brenda Willwerth, the company specializes in residential kitchen and bath remodeling for the middle-to-upper market. Beyond kitchens and baths, the business also takes on other residential renovation projects, focusing on speed, precision, and client satisfaction.
Lee Willwerth’s path into construction was unconventional. With a background in engineering and IT, he brought a process-driven mindset to remodeling. This perspective set DreamMaker of Ann Arbor apart, prioritizing systems and analytics where many in the industry rely on tradition. “We pride ourselves on being able to do in a couple weeks what takes many contractors months to do,” Willwerth explained. “But that means there’s a lot of moving parts that have to be figured out exactly right, and there’s not really a lot of room for error.”
"Efficient remodeling with exceptional service is our niche. That efficiency doesn’t mean moving fast. It means making sure everything has been thought of ahead of time so once we’re on site, we can just move through it and get it done."
The Roadblocks Before Odoo
For years, DreamMaker relied heavily on paper-based systems. Checklists ensured projects moved step by step, but when COVID-19 hit, operations were forced remote almost overnight. “In 12 weeks, we had to go from paper and spreadsheets to a completely electronic company,” recalled Willwerth.
The temporary solution became what he called a “Frankenstein ERP.” The company patched together Google Sheets, Excel, Monday, FastField, and Zapier integrations. While this allowed distributed work to continue, it quickly became unmanageable. Willwerth was the only person who understood how the systems were connected. “Anything went wrong, it was on me to fix it,” he said.
"We just didn’t have the visibility. Honestly, my view of what was going on was worse than when it was on a spreadsheet on my desktop."
Why Odoo Made the Difference
Willwerth first heard about Odoo from a colleague in the industry. After researching, he was struck by its flexibility and fair pricing.
“I liked Odoo’s pricing model. Once you buy into the system, it’s one price per user, and you’re not getting nickeled and dimed every time you want to turn on a new module.”
In late 2023, DreamMaker began its Odoo journey with a consultant. Accounting was implemented first, while Willwerth himself focused on business process customization. Now the company runs its operations on Odoo through a highly customized Project module, tailored to fit its unique processes, CRM, Budgeting, Purchase, Inventory, Fleet Management, Helpdesk, Sign, Maintenance, and extensively used Dashboards for visibility.
In addition, custom modules such as a Perk Tracker (for employee allowances) and the KPI Calculator (which automatically generates weekly performance reports for leadership) further enhance efficiency and decision-making across the organization.
DreamMaker has already seen major results:
- 30% reduction in administrative workload across the company.
- Lower software costs, as Odoo eliminated the need for multiple tools.
- Increased visibility for management, with all data centralized in one database.
- 18 years of CRM history unified, enabling long-term trend and pattern analysis.
- Error reduction and clearer communication across teams, as everyone accesses the same system.
"For me as a manager, having all the data in one database is huge. I have infinitely more visibility of what’s actually going on in the company. Before, I felt blind, my gut told me what was happening, but I had no data to back it up.”
What’s Next for DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen
Looking forward, DreamMaker plans to focus more deeply on client care systems. “We do a very good job of exceptional service because everybody just cares about clients,” said Willwerth. “But we don’t have exceptional service systematized as much as we do the efficiency side. That’s something we really want to focus on.”
Future developments may include expanding into more service-oriented lines of business, leveraging modules such as Field Service, or creating new custom apps that connect clients more directly with DreamMaker. By staying top of mind and expanding services, the company aims to grow sustainably while keeping everything centralized within Odoo.
DreamMaker now sees Odoo as the platform to support long-term growth:
"We feel like we’ve got a platform that can grow and expand with all of those things, because everything’s in one place, whether it’s out-of-the-box functionality or functionality we develop."
DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen’s story shows how Odoo can transform even the most complex, process-driven industries like residential remodeling. Whether you’re in construction, remodeling, or any other sector juggling multiple moving parts, Odoo offers the flexibility and scalability to adapt to your unique processes. Discover now how Odoo can help your business achieve the same clarity, efficiency, and growth.
