When Michael Sloan founded John Michael Studio in 2016, his vision was simple: to manufacture some of the finest cabinetry in the world — right from South Carolina.
The company started with outdoor kitchens and quickly expanded to full-home cabinetry, including indoor kitchens, vanities, pantries, and closet systems. Every piece is handcrafted, precision-built, and customized to fit the client’s space and style.
But as the company grew, so did its challenges.
The Early Struggles: A Costly Learning Curve
Their first large order — a beautiful kitchen bound for California — was an exciting milestone. But one question loomed: how do we ship it safely?
Michael remembers those early days clearly.
“We slapped together some pallets, put a box over the cabinets, strapped it all down, and thought we were good. The boxes looked great — but inside, they were full of air.”
Each shipment traveled over 2,000 miles, enduring multiple freight transfers and rough handling. Forklifts, midnight stops, and minimal protection meant frequent damage on arrival — a costly problem for a luxury brand.
“We realized really early on that we had to take packaging and logistics seriously. We were losing money — and reputation — with every damaged cabinet.”
The Turning Point: Partnering with Morrisette Packaging
That’s when Morrisette Packaging stepped in.
Gray, a Morrisette representative, met with Michael to understand the problem firsthand. Recognizing the complexity of John Michael Studio’s products — various cabinet sizes, materials, and finishes — he assembled Morrisette’s design engineering team to create a custom solution.
Together, they held a series of collaborative design sessions, analyzing existing packaging and testing new protective systems.
The team introduced:
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Custom corner protection for impact-prone areas
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Reinforced honeycomb structures for shock absorption
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Floating packaging design with a 2-inch air gap to prevent forklift damage
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Flexible components that worked across multiple cabinet sizes
“They engineered a system that cushions our products,” Michael explains. “If a box gets bumped, the force hits the cushioning — not the cabinet.”
The Results: Damage Down, Customer Satisfaction Up
Since implementing Morrisette’s packaging system, John Michael Studio has seen a dramatic drop in shipping damage.
“Our damage rate has gone down significantly over the last four years,” says Michael. “We’re spending a bit more on packaging, but it pays for itself over and over again.”
The benefits go beyond cost savings. For John Michael Studio’s high-end clients, time and perfection matter. Fewer damages mean faster installations, happier customers, and fewer costly remakes.
“Our customers don’t have time for mistakes. With the new packaging, everything arrives intact, on time, and ready to install.”
A Partnership That Protects More Than Products
What began as a search for better packaging evolved into a true partnership built on trust and innovation.
“We’re incredibly grateful for everything Morrisette has done for us,” Michael says. “They’ve helped us protect our products — and our brand.”
Today, John Michael Studio continues to ship luxury cabinetry across the U.S., Europe, and South America with confidence, knowing every shipment reflects the craftsmanship they’re known for.
The Takeaway
For John Michael Studio, better packaging wasn’t just about reducing damage — it was about preserving quality, reputation, and customer trust.
Morrisette Packaging delivered the engineering expertise and collaboration to make that possible.
“The math checks out,” Michael concludes. “Better packaging equals better business.”
