CEO John Gabbert (1980–) Founded 1980 | Founder John Gabbert | |
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Headquarters Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States Profiles | ||
Room & Board is an American modern furniture and home furnishings retailer based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
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John Gabbert founded Room & Board as a subsidiary of his parents' successful furniture store company (Gabberts), of which he served as president. Unlike the other stores, Room & Board specialized in stylish and modern furniture and soon spun off to become an independent company with Gabbert at the helm. It presently has 715 employees and operates 14 stores in eight states plus six delivery/distribution centers around the country, and has plans to open a new location in Boston, Massachusetts, in the spring of 2014.
According to the company's website, 90% of Room & Board products are American-made and 95% are exclusive to Room & Board. The company partners with small, family-owned businesses to produce its sofas, chairs, tables, office, bedroom, and outdoor furniture. Room & Board's Shop From Home business, which consists of a print catalog and website, is the fastest-growing segment of its business. Room & Board's Business Interiors division provides floor planning services, product suggestions, and commercial rating information.
Hoover's lists IKEA, Pier 1 Imports, and Euromarket's Crate & Barrel as competitors. Room & Board returns are all sent to the company's Golden Valley, Minnesota, distribution center, attracting local buyers as well as shoppers from surrounding states.
Locations
Major designers
Publicity
Room & Board was named one of the "100 Best Companies to Work For" by Minnesota Business in 2013. The University of Virginia Darden Graduate School of Business professor Edward D. Hess profiled Room & Board's growth strategy in his book Grow to Greatness: Smart Growth for Entrepreneurial Businesses." In 2011, Internet Retailer mentioned Room & Board's online furniture shopping system in their "The Hot 100" article.
The Wall Street Journal profiled Room & Board's policy giving customers a two-hour delivery window as an example of companies working to decrease wait windows and improve customer communication. Interior designer Christine Edmonds recommended Room & Board for their consistent pricing on "well-built, good-value, timeless pieces that mesh with just about any décor" in Money magazine.
Room & Board's products are often featured in The New York Times. Vladimir Kagan, designer of a 1950s Serpentine sofa that sold at Christie's for $190,000, made a copy called Hahn, configured with the back on the left or right, that the Room & Board website sells for $2,299. Room & Board's Evans table is highlighted as a handcrafted domestic design within Dwell's "Made in the USA" issue. Real Simple featured the company's Murray sofa, Evans table, and Bond table as classic pieces at affordable prices. CBS-LA online included Room & Board in their list of Best Furniture Shops in OC in 2014.
In June 2015, Room & Board's Boston location won a Best of Boston award in the category of Best Furniture, Classic. In July 2015, Room & Board's Denver location won a 2015 5280 Magazine Editor's Choice Top of the Town award in the Home Furnishings category. In November 2015, Room & Board's Atlanta location won a Best of Atlanta award in the category of Best Made in the USA Home Design.
Philanthropy
Room & Board supports organizations dedicated to supporting those living with HIV/AIDS and institutions celebrating art and design. In August 2012, the company joined the Minnesotans United for All Families coalition to stand against the state's amendment to ban marriage for same-sex couples. Since 2002, Room & Board has sponsored a design competition for the Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD) to develop modern furniture design.