Kathy Ireland Office by Martin Furniture Buying Guide
Kathy Ireland Office by Martin Furniture is a manufacturer of top quality, factory assembled wood home office and home entertainment furniture with matching accent tables. Their furniture is crafted using only the best quality wood products, including a variety of genuine hardwoods such as oak, alder, poplar, ash and cherry.
Why Buy Martin Furniture?
Style: Intricate detailing and coordinated artistic elements such as dentil moulding and ringed pilasters combine to create the styles that enrich homes and offices.
Construction: From precision channel and dovetail drawers to full suspension ball bearing glides on all file drawers, Martin Furniture is built to withstand the test of time.
Materials: Genuine hardwood veneers and hardwood solids are the standard at Martin Furniture. Their finishing process uses up to 18 steps to produce clear, durable finishes that enhance the beauty of natural wood grain.
Craftsmanship: Intricate, hand-laid veneers and attention to detail allow Martin Furniture to consistently produce beautiful products. Craftsmanship and artistry skills combine to produce details such as hand-rubbed patina finishes and elaborate patterns.
Company History
In 1980, company founder Gil Martin resigned from his position at General Dynamics and started a furniture company in his home garage with $400 in startup capital and a simple table saw. Thirty-one years later, he is still running the daily business of Kathy Ireland™ Office by Martin, a thriving company with an annual sales goal of more than $100 million.
Martin Furniture has grown by leaps and bounds over the last twenty-five years, with a steady increase in sales and an estimated 26 percent increase for the 2006 fiscal year. In 1983, Martin expanded from producing solely office furniture to home entertainment furniture as well. Ten years later they acquired a friendly competitor, Artistic Creations. Many of the factory workers from Artistic are still a part of their current team.
By 1998, Martin was operating out of three buildings in the El Cajon, CA area. Later that year they moved to a new 250,000 square-foot facility in southern San Diego.
Martin Furniture began importing furniture from Taiwan in 2000, and they now import both office and entertainment furniture from China. Approximately 70 percent of their products are produced in China with the remainder manufactured in their Mexico facility. Both the Mexican and Asian teams have grown into a very professional and proficient staff that meets the highest of standards.
In April 2003, Martin Furniture became a brand partner of Kathy Ireland Worldwide (KIWW), where Ms. Ireland serves as CEO and Chief Designer. She began her business over 10 years ago with a commitment to “finding solutions for families, especially busy moms.” Ms. Ireland’s Home Collection, which Martin contributes to, has received “Best of Market” honors and the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval. For more information on KIWW, please visit www.kathyireland.com.
In April of 2004, Martin Furniture expanded their North American operation by building a manufacturing facility in Mexico which currently employs more than 500 people.
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