America’s #1 Resource for the
Independent Closet & Storage Business Community
Educate • Connect • Grow Together
The Community Built for Independent Closet & Storage Businesses
Learn from people in the industry, build better systems, make better decisions, and connect with a community that understands your business.
Annual Membership: $349/year • less than a dollar a day.
Real People Real Experience
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Practical Education You Can Use
A Supportive Community
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A Stronger, More Profitable Future
THE CHALLENGE
Running an Independent Closet Business Can Feel Pretty Independent
Independent closet and storage business owners don’t always have the built-in support systems that franchises have. CIA exists to change that — by giving you education, a peer community, industry resources, and connections to partners who understand and support independent businesses.
Education
Practical training from industry experts
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Peer Community
Connect with owners who get it
Industry Resources
Tools, templates and proven strategies
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Vendor Connections
Tools, templates and proven strategies
YEAR-ROUND VALUE
Your CIA Membership Goes Far Beyond the Summit
Membership is a year-round investment in your business, your knowledge and your success.
Member Education
Live and on-demand webinars from industry experts.
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Summit Recordings
Revisit sessions, keynotes and panel discussions.
Ongoing Training
Reference materials, templates and best practices.
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Industry Discussions
Get answers, share ideas and learn from fellow members.
What You Missed
at the 2025 Summit in Nashville, TN
CIA SEALS
Real Conversations. Real Numbers. Real Insight.
SEALs (Strategic Executive Advisory Leadership groups) provides confidential, non-compete peer groups for benchmarking, financial comparison, best practices, and candid discussion with other independent closet business owners.
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Non-Compete Peer Groups
Benchmarking & Financial Insights
Best Practices & Real-World Solutions
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Confidential Conversations
“A safe place to talk openly, learn from others, and make better decisions.”
INDUSTRY PARTNERS
Meet the People and Companies Moving the Industry Forward
Our members connect with manufacturers, suppliers, outsourcers, consultants, and other partners that add real value to independent closet and storage businesses.
THE ANNUAL GATHERING
Then, Once a Year, We Get Everybody in the Same Place
The Closet Summit
The premier in-person event for the CIA community. Learn. Connect. Be inspired. Take your business to the next level.
Closet University
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SEALs Peer Groups
Vendorama
Tours &
Experiences
Keynotes &
Conversations
October 27–29, 2026
Grandover Resort & Spa
Greensboro, North Carolina
Membership is required to attend the Summit.
“If I had access to this type of resource, training, data and networking 40 years ago when I started my independent closet business, I would have saved myself millions of dollars in costly and avoidable mistakes. That’s why I created the CIA and the Closet Summit Conference.”
— Jeff Klein
CIA Director
CONTINUING VALUE
What You Learn at the Summit Doesn’t Have to Stay at the Summit
Members get access to recordings, transcripts, summaries and resources so you can revisit key lessons, share them with your team, and put ideas into action long after the event ends.
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Session Recordings
Watch on demand
Speaker Transcripts
Read key takeaways
Summit Summaries
Quick reference guides
Actionable Resources
Tools you can use
You Don’t Have to Build Your Business Alone
Join a community that’s invested in your success — all year long.
Less than a dollar a day. A stronger tomorrow.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Quick Answers
Have more questions?
We’re here to help.
Who can become a CIA member?
The Closet Institute of America is built primarily for independent closet and storage companies and the businesses that support them.
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Membership brings together owners and professionals from across the closet and storage industry who want to learn from one another, share ideas, improve their businesses, and strengthen the independent side of the industry.
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CIA also works with approved suppliers, manufacturers, vendors, and other industry partners who serve closet and storage companies.
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If you're not sure whether your company qualifies, reach out to us. We're happy to help determine the right fit.
What is the Closet Institute of America (CIA)?
The Closet Institute of America is a professional community created to support independent closet and storage businesses.
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Our goal is simple: help members run better businesses by giving them access to the experience, knowledge, resources, and relationships of other people in the industry.
CIA brings members together through programs including the Closet Summit, SEALs, Closet University, webinars, roundtables, industry benchmarking, supplier relationships, and year-round education.
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One of the ideas behind CIA is that no single company has all the answers. When independent businesses share what they've learned, everyone has the opportunity to get better.
Why do I need to be a member to attend the Summit?
The Closet Summit is designed as a member event for the independent closet and storage community, rather than a traditional trade show that anyone can walk into.
That creates a different kind of environment.
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Members can have more open conversations about what's actually happening inside their businesses — what's working, what's not, what things cost, how they operate, and what they're learning — because they're surrounded by other members of the same professional community.
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Membership also helps CIA provide education, benchmarking, networking, tours, supplier access, and other resources throughout the year — not just during the few days of the Summit.
If you want to attend the Summit and aren't currently a member, you can join CIA as part of the process.
What's the difference between the Summit and SEALs?
The Closet Summit is CIA's larger annual industry gathering.
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It brings members together for several days of education, networking, supplier interaction, Closet University sessions, facility tours, roundtables, special events, and conversations with other independent closet professionals from around the country.
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SEALs goes deeper into the business itself.
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SEALs is focused on owners sharing and comparing meaningful operating information — things like revenue, material costs, labor, staffing, margins, sales performance, production, and other business metrics. The goal is to give owners better benchmarks for understanding how their company compares with similar businesses and to create more candid conversations about running a successful closet company.
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A simple way to think about it is:
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The Summit is the larger experience. SEALs is the deeper business-benchmarking experience within the CIA community.
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