Kickstart: Momentum toward growth for public, private companies

Turns out 2020 was a good year for Azek Co. Inc. to go public.

The maker of plastic composite decking and railing reported its first quarterly results as a public company on Aug. 13 and said net sales for its residential business was up 5.5 percent compared to the same time in 2019, with sales in June alone up 15 percent.

"As the quarter progressed, we saw momentum improve within our residential segment as channels reopened, new construction restarted, stay-at-home orders were eased in certain regions and homeowners continued to invest in home improvement and their outdoor living spaces," CEO Jesse Singh said in written comments.

While the costs related to Azek's initial public offering led to a net loss of $52.1 million for the quarter, sales were strong and look even stronger going forward, the company said. Azek's outlook for the fourth quarter expects sales growth of 12-17 percent.

Azek's stock prices, which debuted at $27.15 on June 12 when public trading began, were at $35.11 on Aug. 13.

Azek's sales growth echoes that of competitor Trex Co. Inc., which reported 7 percent sales growth in its second quarter as consumers invested in home improvement projects.

Growth can come from a range of companies. Inc. magazine just released its list of the 5,000 fastest-growing private companies in the U.S. While there are the expected tech-heavy firms in the list, there are also manufacturers that may surprise you.

At No. 2,763, with a growth rate of 145 percent over the past three years, is vinyl window and patio door maker Coeur d'Alene Window Co. of Spokane, Wash. The company has been in business since 2010 and says it is one of the "few remaining independent window and door manufacturers" in the Western U.S.

And coming in at 3,267 is Cutting Board Co. of Norcross, Ga., which makes, as you probably already guessed, cutting boards of high density polyethylene. The business, with fewer than 50 employees, has staked out a niche by using CNC machining to produce custom cutting boards. Founded in 2006, Cutting Board has seen sales growth of 116 percent during the past three years.

You may not be able to go to a ballgame, but if you want a bobblehead that can truly represent 2020, how about one of Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases?

The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum in Milwaukee introduced its first Fauci figure in March, with $5 from every Fauci bobblehead sold going to support the American Hospital Association's Protect the Heroes campaign and its 100 Million Mask Challenge.

That figure has sold out while also raising $200,000 for the project.

Now the museum is taking preorders on two more Fauci figures: one in which he's wearing a red tie rather than a blue one and one commemorating a "face palm" moment from earlier this year. (You know the one.)

Is Fauci not your style? The Hall of Fame also is offering one of Dr. Deborah Birx, the coronavirus response coordinator for the White House Coronavirus Task Force who has also been at the forefront of the COVID-19 response. Purchases of the Dr. Birx figure also will support the Protect the Heroes project.