Contract Furnishings Inc.
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.
Today, Contract Furnishings employs over 65 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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