Bush Industries creates new office furniture division

Office World News, Dec 1998

JAMESTOWN, NY-Bush Industries, the 11th largest U.S. furniture manufacturer and a leader in surface technologies, today announced the formation of a new division aimed at the commercial office furniture segment.

The new division, Bush Business Furniture, will complement the company's core furniture business for the home and small office by providing small business to medium corporate consumers with modular, flexible, commercial office furniture. The company will also provide the support necessary to effectively sell and install the products.

"We see the business furniture market as an opportunity to reinvent truly practical, functional and flexible solutions for businesses that are rapidly changing-what we've termed as 'business on the move,"' commented Paul Bush, CEO and president of Bush Industries, "Our resources and expertise in furniture design and manufacturing position us to excel in the commercial office category and become a key player."

The company, whose home and small office/home furniture is marketed under the name Bush Furniture, entered the commercial office segment in 1995 with the industry's first commercial grade of ready-to-assemble (RTA) office furniture, the OfficePro Collection.

"The success of our first and subsequent commercial office lines, as well as corporate demand for affordable solutions to changing needs, have fueled the creation of this new division, " Bush added.

Bush Business Furniture is designed to eliminate the gap many businesses find between their work environment needs today and their needs tomorrow, at an affordable price. Flexible, modular systems enable businesses to fill their needs today, and easily reconfigure or expand for their changing needs in the future. It also gives office managers and workers the ability to design office systems themselves, eliminating the costly expense of office contractors. The value of the product is also realized in its manufacturing technology; since it is packed flat and assembled in the designated office space, the consumer does not pay for deluxing, high shipping or inventory costs.

Bush Business Furniture will utilize resources that Bush has been strategically developing over the last few years. Rohr-Bush, Germany's second largest office furniture manufacturer, in which Bush acquired a majority interest last year, will be instrumental in the development of Bush Business Furniture products. Rohr-Bush has also designed for major office furniture brands in the U.S.

"The design talent of Rohr-Bush, combined with Bush's expertise in flat-pack manufacturing technology and merchandising programs blends the best of two leading companies into one simple solution," commented Dave Messinger, senior vice president of sales and marketing. "Bush Business Furniture gives businesses all the quality, style and function in commercial office furniture without the high costs."

Messinger continued, "We have already allocated resources across all levels so that we can aggressively pursue this segment while maintaining our commitment to our core furniture business."

The company has constructed a 23,000 sq. ft. training center and showroom in its Erie, PA facility dedicated exclusively to business furniture to showcase its complete product offerings to small business and medium corporate customers. At the "Bush University" training center, sales and merchandising personnel will receive comprehensive training on the strategies and tactics of Bush furniture sales and service.

The recently constructed Erie facility is a one-million-square-foot manufacturing and distribution center. The majority of Bush business furniture will be manufactured there, in addition to advanced surface technologies that will be utilized on the business furniture to provide high level, high grade surfaces. Bush announced the formation of Bush-Vio Technik last year, a research and processing division that specializes in surface technology for decorating complex shapes and enhancing the durability of the surface.

Currently, Bush Business Furniture offers a broad range of commercial office furniture, consisting of new designs, exclusive Rohr lines that will now be sold in the U.S., as well as the commercial office systems that Bush has marketed under the Bush Furniture brand since its entrance into this market three years ago.

"The Bush Business Furniture division is built on the same pillars that established Bush Industries as a leader," commented Bush. "Bush's quality, service, innovation and value, combined with advanced technology for durability and the flexibility to meet changing needs, offer businesses a fresh and simple approach to managing office space."

Additionally, Bush will provide comprehensive sales, merchandising and service programs to fulfill the needs of its channel partners and their business customers. "In order to be effective and efficient in today's business world, the retailer and the consumer need to be armed with the information and support which will provide a solution for each of their needs," said Bush.