Contract magazine’s December 2000 issue featured seven building services companies with a high level of innovation, design quality and substance as “The Ones to Watch” in 2001. They included three furniture suppliers, two textiles suppliers, and two online services that have distinguished themselves by creating viable new options for the Architecture & Design (A&D) community.
FURNITURE
Epic Furniture Group. Introduced at NeoCon 2000, Epic was formed to distribute high-end, European-designed seating,tables, and accessories to the American contract market.
Humanscale. The companys most celebrated product, the Freedom Chair designed by industrial design master Niels Diffrient, has won eight design awards since its introduction in 1999, and $150 million in sales predicted by the company for 2001.
DatesWeiser. This high-quality office furniture company has installed custom furniture for such clients as Aetna and Travelers Insurance. The companys xo brand is said to bridge the gap between standard offerings and custom pieces.
TEXTILES
HBF Textiles. HBF has begun expanding its offerings beyond upholstery. Barbara Barry’s Sheer Atmosphere collection of sheer and drapery patterns will be introduced in March 2001. HBF plans to continue redesigning its showrooms to put a greater emphasis on textiles.
Steelcase Textiles. In November 2000, Steelcase launched a new brand in order to create a more progressive and design-driven offering. The new patterns, with “understated and elegant design,” work on all Steelcase furniture products, but now they will also be offered for sale separately, a first for Steelcase.
e-BUSINESS
BlueBolt Networks. This online planning and specification resource service focuses solely on the interior finishes segment of the A&D market. It has automated the process of product selection/ordering and creating sample boards.
Worldo. Another online planning and specification resource service, Worldo features a database of WorkTools that allow specifiers to research products via a comprehensive, unbiased product library; compare products, create custom online presentation boards and forward them to clients and collaborators, and calculate project budgets.
