- National Business Furniture
-
National Business Furniture Type Subsidiary of TAKKT AG, Stuttgart, Germany, a public company (ETR:TTK) Industry Retail Founded 1975 Founder(s) George and Julie Mosher Headquarters Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States Key people President Kent Anderson Products Office furniture and accessories Subsidiaries - Alfax Wholesale Inc.
- Dallas Midwest
- National Business Furniture Ltd. (Canada)
- OfficeFurniture.com
- OfficeChairs.com
- OfficeDeal.com
- TheOfficeFurnitureExperts.com
National Business Furniture LLC is one of North America's largest catalog and online retailers of office furniture and office accessory items.[1] The company, with corporate headquarters in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S., is a subsidiary of K + K America Corp.,[2] a holding company for TAKKT AG, a German mail order retailer of office, business and warehouse equipment.
National Business Furniture (NBF) markets thousands of furniture products and other office products from hundreds of manufacturers. The company has several subsidiaries. Alfax Wholesale Inc. based in Farmer's Branch, TX, and Dallas Midwest, based in Dallas, TX, address the furniture needs of schools, churches and institutions. National Business Furniture Ltd. in Richmond Hill, Ontario, is NBF's presence in the Canadian market.
Although NBF began as a catalog retailer, in the 21st century it has focused on expanding its Internet presence. In addition to its own online storefront, www.NationalBusinessFurniture.com, NBF operates three other online retail companies:
- OfficeFurniture.com, which caters to small businesses and home offices;
- OfficeChairs.com, which provides chairs in multiple categories including office chairs, stacking chairs, folding chairs and chair accessories;
- OfficeDeal.com, a "daily deal" site offering discounts on office furniture, office chairs and accessories.
NBF ranked No. 231 on Internet Retailer’s 2011 "Top 500 Guide," [3] a list of America’s 500 largest retail websites ranked by annual sales. Internet Retailer reports NBF online sales of approximately $55 million in 2010.
For many years NBF was consistently listed on the "Wisconsin 100" (which later became the “Wisconsin 75”), a list of the largest privately held companies in Wisconsin ranked by sales. NBF was listed at No. 59 in 2005.[4] NBF became ineligible for the list after its acquisition by TAKKT AG in 2006.
Contents
History
National Business Furniture was started in 1975 by George and Julie Mosher.[5] George Mosher earned a bachelor's degree in economics from Harvard University in 1961 and a master's degree in business administration from Harvard Business School in 1963 before moving to Milwaukee in 1965 to become president of Business and Institutional Furniture.[6]
The Moshers launched NBF in 1975. The company, which began as a catalog retailer, grew steadily through increased sales as well as strategic acquisitions. NBF acquired Alfax Wholesale Inc. in 1982 and Dallas Midwest in 1990. In 2001 NBF entered the online market through the acquisition of OfficeFurniture.com.[7]
In January 2006, the Moshers sold NBF to K + K America Corp. for $82 million.[8] National Business Furniture has continued to grow under TAKKT AG's oversight. It has expanded its online presence by launching OfficeChairs.com, TheOfficeFurnitureExperts.com, OfficeAccessoryExperts.com and OfficeDeal.com. In December 2010, NBF opened National Business Furniture Ltd. in Ontario.
Products and Markets
NBF distributes more than 50,000 products for the office, including office desks, chairs, reception furniture, tables, file cabinets, bookcases and accessories. The vast selection features products from hundreds of manufacturers, including furniture products in a host of materials, styles, shapes and colors.
NBF carries thousands of other office products in addition to furniture, such as partitions, coat racks, lamps, floor mats, paper shredders and trash cans. NBF offers furniture and equipment to supply every space of an office building, including the lobby, reception area, conference room, break room and executive office. NBF has furniture, equipment and accessories designed specifically for government, schools, doctor's offices and hospitals.
Marketing
NBF's original advertising slogan was, "Beautiful Offices at Affordable Prices." Its current slogan, "Furniture that Works. People who Care," identifies the two themes that are emphasized throughout NBF's marketing: quality products accompanied by excellent customer service. NBF products come with a lifetime guarantee.
References
- ^ [1] "National Business Furniture, LLC," Hoover's, Inc.
- ^ "K + K American Corporation," Bloomberg Businessweek. K + K America Corp., also based in Milwaukee, is a holding company subsidiary of Takkt AG, Stuttgart, Germany. In addition to NBF, K+K America owns The Hubert Company, Harrison, OH, which distributes food service equipment, and C&H Distributors, LLC, Milwaukee, WI, which distributes industrial supplies such as material handling equipment and storage products. Like NBF, Hubert and C&H Distributors are mail-order retailers.
- ^ "Top 500 Guide", Internet Retailer, 2011.
- ^ [2] "Wisconsin 75," Deloitte LLP, 2005.
- ^ [3] "Investment Team," TelStar Capital LLC.
- ^ [4]"Bio Mid-America Venture Forum," Biotechnology Industry Organization, September 24, 2007, p. 27.
- ^ "Furniture firm buys Internet company," Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, June 27, 2001.
- ^ "Acquisition of furniture company builds hopes K + K wants to expand into Canada, Mexico with National Business deal," Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, November 26, 2005.
External links
Categories:- Furniture companies of the United States
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
