Started out of a pushcart in the early 1900s, today fabric brand Maharam is a giant of the industry, sending out over 2 million samples a year. It hasn’t all been steady growth—the company underwent a major reinvention in the 1990s that saw employee turnover surge and profits drop. But it paid off, and Maharam was acquired in 2013 by Herman Miller for 156 million dollars. In this episode of the show, president Tony Manzari tells host Dennis Scully about how COVID is causing another reinvention at Maharam, the future of sampling, and what the residential design industry can learn from the contract side of the business.
This episode is sponsored by Serena & Lily and Baker+Hesseldenz.
LINKS
Maharam
Business of Home
Dennis Scully
Business of Home Podcast