New office construction levels plummeted throughout the nation. At the same time, cost-conscious companies began looking for ways to reduce costs, including those related to furnishings. With sales dropping, General Felt began looking for a buyer for Knoll. The consolidation boosted Knoll's status from fourth to third largest contract office furniture manufacturer in the United States behind Steelcase and Herman Miller.
Given the industry downturn, the operations of Knoll Group were bloated. To whip the new company into shape and to combat proliferating competition, Westinghouse initiated a reorganization of all of Knoll's operations. The effort was designed to cut costs, improve efficiency, and conform to evolving market demands for cost-efficient office systems. Sardi, immediately began laying off workers and shifting production.
Two Pennsylvania manufacturing facilities were shuttered and about 20 percent of Knoll's work force was eliminated between and That brought the total number of employees to about 4,, roughly 1, of whom worked at the East Greenville facility.
Lagging furniture markets in effect canceled Westinghouse's efforts to streamline its furniture operations. Frustrated and seeking a narrower definition of its own operations, parent company Westinghouse decided early in to sell off Knoll Group.
However, Westinghouse had trouble finding a willing buyer and by late was still trying to dump the division. Sardi took early retirement late in and was replaced by year-old Burton B. Under Staniar's leadership, Knoll continued to pursue two goals reflective of the new office furniture environment: developing products aimed at the value segment of the market and intensifying effort to reach the small business and individual consumer. To that end, Knoll revamped its offerings during the early s and converted its contract showrooms into more visible, consumer-oriented sales centers.
It also introduced several new products geared for ergonomically conscious buyers and for disabled users. It also beefed up offerings in its core office environments furniture lines with, for example, more convenient and comfortable desks and storage units. Knoll continued to lose money in , although its losses were considerably less than those suffered in Westinghouse was also on the rebound and had even temporarily decided, early in , not to sell Knoll Group.
Significant new products being marketed in and included the Gehry Collection, which was composed of bentwood tables and chairs, and the propeller Table, a line of innovative conference and training tables designed with modern electronic technology in mind. In mid Knoll Group was employing about 4, people worldwide and supporting approximately locations. Knoll's main goal, as it had been since Hans Knoll founded the company in , was to be a leader in the production and sale of innovative, functional, affordable office furnishings.
Westinghouse's reputation as an electrical company was not regarded as the best fit for Knoll. Knoll's disappointing sales for also prompted the sale. By the time the sale was completed with Warburg Pincus in early , the furniture industry had improved and Knoll was posting higher earnings.
Funds raised by the offering helped Knoll's sales in leap Knoll also released a successful line of furniture designed by Maya Lin, the architect of both the Civil Rights Memorial in Montgomery, Alabama, and the Vietnam memorial in Washington, D. When Knoll announced plans to return to private ownership, its shareholders filed a lawsuit that was eventually settled in Knoll was once again a privately owned company.
Even though the employment for office jobs was strong in , the office furniture industry had slumped. Industry analysts blamed the plummeting Asian economies, corporate mergers, and even the widespread trepidation concerning the Y2K problem.
It was assumed that electronic devices would not be able to handle the dating algorithms for the new millennium. Businesses, fearing that they would soon be replacing all of their electronic equipment, were sheepish about upgrading their office furniture. In the office furniture industry finally caught up with America's inflated economy, but soon after the U. The office furniture industry's upswing was short-lived; in shipments were down 16 percent from the previous year.
Knoll began layoffs at several of its manufacturing facilities to cut costs and weather what many were calling a recession. In the new CEO oversaw the spending of millions on manufacturing upgrades. Knoll also introduced its award-winning LIFE chair, a high-end office chair that bolstered overall sales for the company.
Knoll quadrupled its storage product offering by launching the Knoll Essentials collection, a line of chairs, desks, tables, file cabinets, and other office furniture. In the collection and an improved economy had helped Knoll post net profits that were There was also a nationwide increase in new commercial construction and decrease in overall business space vacancies.
Executives at Knoll began reducing the release of new textiles such as upholstery, panel fabrics, wall coverings, and drapery. They began focusing more on a furniture collection called KnollStudio, a throwback to mid-century styling that was partially pioneered by Hans Knoll and Florence Schust. Employees will receive severance packages, with some offered the opportunity to relocate to other Knoll facilities, the company said. Knoll said it will also be providing information to employers in the area to explore job opportunities and match skill sets.
Have something to say? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below. Karen M. Koenig has more than 30 years of experience in the woodworking industry, including visits to wood products manufacturing facilities throughout North America, Europe and Asia. Giant Food Corporate Office.
Us Coast Guard Headquarters Location. Idea Headquarters Weslaco. Sanderson Farms Corporate Office Address. Viacom Corporate Office New York. Senior Corporate Governance Officer. Ubs Zurich Headquarters. Where Is Apeman Headquarters. Capella University Corporate Headquarters. Inbev Usa Headquarters.
0コメント