Entrepreneurial spirit pays off big for Abby Binder ’04

Abby Windows & Exteriors, a business created by Abby Binder ‘04 of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, began as a sole proprietorship — and it has since evolved into a multimillion-dollar company with several employees.

Before creating her company, Binder worked with her stepfather for a few years selling windows and siding. While her stepfather did not see a demand in the market for high-end windows and exteriors, Binder did. “He dared me to start my own company, so I did,” she says.

In 2010, she launched Abby Windows & Exteriors. “It started with just me doing everything,” she says, adding that her once-sole proprietorship now has more than 30 employees and is estimated to generate more than $10 million in sales this year.

Abby Windows & Exteriors is a full-service exterior remodeling contractor specializing in windows, doors, siding and roofing located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Binder says the company’s weatherproofed, energy-efficient, maintenance-free products set it apart from other companies that tend to value sales over quality. More details about the company can be found here.

Being a female business owner in a predominantly male industry, Binder says, also has been a unique aspect in starting her business. “Women make up about 10% of our entire industry and roughly 1% of owners without a male co-owner,” she says.

At Ripon College, Binder studied exercise science and education. She says that her liberal arts education at the College gave her the “vast knowledge” to succeed in a career unrelated to her areas of study. “Ripon College gave me critical-thinking skills and the ability to troubleshoot,” she says. “It also helped me in sales as I could have a wide array of conversations with customers about their interests.”

Amanda Barlow ’23
Appleton, Wisconsin