About Contract Furnishings
MISSION
To assist all of the businesses within our broad reach,
by offering the widest available selection of office
furniture solutions, including the sale and rental of
new, used, and custom furniture, from over 200 of the
industry's best manufacturers. To provide the best customer
service by employing experts in office interior design
and space planning, by training sales and sales support
to be proficient in product knowledge and customer relations.
In addition, the company desires to apply these same
values of excellence and quality to the ethics of management,
especially as they relate to employees and the community
at large. We wish to prove that you can manufacture
and market the finest possible product, be profitable
and share that success with your staff. We wish to serve
as an example to other companies that real success comes
only with a dedication to the people who made it possible.
HISTORY
Contract Furnishings, Inc. opened its doors in Kansas
City, MO. in 1989. Operating out of the old Kansas City
Public Library Building at 811 Locust, in downtown Kansas
City, MO., founder, Steve Stroade, seized an opportunity
to fill a void in the market, and immediately began
carving his own niche.
Sitting behind a borrowed desk, Steve began by buying
and selling pre-owned office furniture, and by representing
high-quality custom private-office casegoods. With these
niche products, Steve started calling everyone he knew
in Kansas City, and before he knew it, he began making
a name for Contract Furnishings with local law firms.
One-by-one, additional employees were added to service
the growing demand for good quality custom furniture,
and pre-owned systems furniture.
In short-time, Steve realized that Contract Furnishings
could be more. Many new furniture products and services
were added to the mix. Eventually, Contract Furnishings
would represent over 200 different furniture manufacturers,
offer rental and leasing options, and employ professionals
to provide an array of design and labor services.
In 1996, Steve purchased and rehabbed a dilapidated
building in the city core to house his growing business.
Contract Furnishings expanded into their current offices
at 3129 Main St., KCMO, and with 18,000sf of new office
and showroom, the ball really started rolling. Additional
employees were hired, and the business grew at an alarming
rate.
Two years later, additional improvements were made
to the infrastructure with the purchase of a 60,000sf
warehouse at 3039 Harrison, KCMO. In recognition of
his real estate purchases and improvements, Steve was
honored with a prestigious Kansas City Cornerstone Award
for each of his two property renovations.
In 1999, 2000, and 2001, Contract Furnishings made
Inc. Magazine's list of the top 100 fastest growing
privately held inner-city businesses. In 2000, Contract
Furnishings was also featured on Ingram's Corporate
Report 100.
Just when you thought things couldn't get better, in
1999, Contract Furnishings acquired the equipment of
a local custom furniture manufacturer, and began making
and selling its own custom conference furniture, private
office furniture, work surfaces, and cabinetry.
In 2001, Contract Furnishings opened offices in Overland
Park, Kansas, and Denver, Colorado. Today, Contract
Furnishings employs over 35 full time people in sales,
administration, design services, labor, and/or manufacturing.
This tremendous growth is attributable to a strong vision
by the owners, the employment and retention of only
the best sales people in the business, and the hard
work and professionalism from all of the individuals
who make up the backbone of the business; the designers,
the warehouse staff, the office administration, and
the wood shop craftsmen (and of course, craftswomen).
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