Simultaneously, it is aggressively increasing the segment of its business that sells directly to professional interior designers. It's a natural fit. Are you giving your customers what they really want, or are you giving them what you want them to want? Just because you are in love with your own products and services doesn't mean the customer will be. Do continuous market research. Ask the customer what he or she wants. Keep an eye on trends that are revealing themselves and be mindful of how your company might leverage opportunities that arise from them.
This is no guarantee of success, of course, but it does make success more likely. We just have to convince that woman to spend her money on us. How do we do that? By providing not just a luxury product but a luxury experience. To lead in an environment of ambiguity, you must defeat anxiety in yourself so that you don't risk infecting the people around you.
Strive to manage your moods. Employees will follow your lead. The people who comprised that 10 percent were 'victim types' who could no longer effect change and drive the business forward.
Jack was right — victims and other low performers bring everyone else down with them. The message is clear: Even as the world transforms itself, old-fashioned strong leadership, superb quality and uncompromising service still count.
In the '80s, everyone thought Japan would take over the world. Well, clearly, it hasn't. China is the emerging powerhouse right now in manufacturing, but the key phrase is 'right now.
We as an industry and as a nation will always face challenges, so we always need to be in fighting shape. Robert J. Maricich understands the unprecedented challenges and rewards of leading a company through the changes necessary to thrive in a rapidly globalizing world.
Appointed president and CEO of Century Furniture Industries in , he has presided over its successful and ongoing transformation. He began his career as an engineer with Texaco in , where he was promoted through the ranks of plant management, and moved into sales prior to excelling in the general management arena.
Located in Hickory, N. Its broad product line of both wood and upholstered furniture consists of bedroom, dining room, and occasional collections in traditional, transitional, and contemporary styling. Century is recognized in the industry as a design leader, ranked in the forefront for its expertise in finishing and the details of fine craftsmanship. For more information, visit www. We encourage you to read our updated Privacy Policy Hide. Toggle navigation Toggle search. Subscribe Today Reliable Plant Newsletters.
Principle 2: Take Action. Principle 3: Get Comfortable with Ambiguity. Century is differentiating itself via a three-pronged approach: 1 It provides a luxury experience to consumers by offering top-of-the-line quality and mass customization; 2 It innovates relentlessly, in products, in design partnerships, in sales strategies; 3 In an industry known for moving at a snail's pace, Century gets furniture to its customers on an average of three short weeks after the order is placed.
Leave the Muscle. Get LEAN! A culture of trust centers on authenticity, says Maricich. Related Articles. Preventive Maintenance. Work Management. Condition Monitoring—Inspections. Now a third generation family owned company, Century is located in Hickory, North Carolina with over nine hundred associates. The commitment and dedication of each of our employees can be seen in every piece of furniture we make.
When you choose Century Furniture, our ability to customize whatever you desire is much like commissioning an artist to create a fine work of art. The possibilities are truly infinite. The Heirloom Division produced high-end custom upholstery, and later wood items as well, for the professional design trade.
The former Chaircraft Company, maker of mid-priced chairs for the hospitality industry, was acquired as Century's new Contract Division and was merged into Chair plant production.
After the decision was made to focus only on the upper end of the contract business, the brand name was dropped. It was the largest ESOP implemented in the nation that year. On January 1, Century underwent a major transformation for doing business in the 21st century. SAP provides rapid, comprehensive, up-to-the-minute information for management analysis and action plus customer visibility of product availability and order tracking.
Also at that time, Robert J. For the next seven years, Maricich and the CV Industries Board steered the company through a downturn when much manufacturing moved overseas and many U.
Meanwhile, Century capitalized on its strengths and expanded its efforts in the professional design market while increasing their customers' options for customizing the product. In January , Maricich left Century and the manufacturing sector. In , the Board named Eric S. Schenk to the leadership post at Century. Shuford who was a huge supporter and contributor to many of the civic projects in Hickory, NC and surrounding areas.
Lead by VP of Global Logistics, Roger Jones, Century implemented a responsible purchasing policy, which certifies that the wood Century buys comes from sustainably managed forests. The company continues to lead the industry in their efforts to develop processes for ensuring good stewardship of our natural resources.
The acquisition positions the company as the largest manufacturer in the high-end segment of the furniture market. The company also purchased a key building in Longview, NC in which they have consolidated all of their shipping allowing for better service and delivery to their retail and designer partners.
Today the Rock House Farm family of brands consists of over 1, associates with a management team conditioned for growth. Continually investing in product design, customer service, technology, and its people, the company is meeting the challenges of today while planning for the opportunities of the future.
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