Achieving 25 years in the office furniture market is a true blessing. We have reached this milestone because of great clients, fantastic employees, and supportive vendors. Each factor is an indispensable element to our success and for whom we are ever grateful.
Great customers know that success is a two-way street. They most certainly need our help, but we need them too. Trust and respect have to be earned and maintained, and all of our long-term relationships start with this simple attitude. In every project, we see our role as being the trusted advisor rather than a vendor or supplier. Companies are our customers, but the human beings within the companies are the end-users. We value their relationships and take the time to understand the unique needs of each project and adjust our solutions accordingly. We are proud of our company's agility. We thrive off that diversity.
Another key to our success is great employees. We love and support our team like family. We value experience and have fun together. It's no wonder our employee tenure is above 11 years on average. One of the quotes we live by in the office is, "What got you here… won't get you there". We challenge ourselves to find better ways of doing things and continually learn as we all can wear many hats.
Since our beginning, we have always been three companies in one: furniture sales, service provider, and custom application manufacturer. We are a self-contained shop from start to finish. It is interesting to reflect on how our divisions have ebbed and flowed in conjunction with the economic trends. I feel what our long-term customers value the most is that we can pivot along with their business trends. We keep up with interior trends, can re-use what you have (downsize or expansion), or even provide full-service storage or decommission unused space due to COVID restrictions.
As part of our continual search for improvement, we have been implementing technology to help us streamline information and expand communication channels. In 2019, we bought a dedicated employee to manage and develop this expansion. The most popular enhancements have been live web chats, virtual design consultations, 3D visualizations, and our physical showroom.
Timing is everything. In early 2020, the global pandemic mandated that we all cut in-person interaction. We were well-positioned to support our existing customers. We saw an increase in demand from new clients as well, searching for a partner who was able to help them adapt to the changing environment. We had the infrastructure in place to continue providing the critical support required by our front-line customers only in a less face-to-face way.
As the world caught up and adjusted, supply chains became our most significant challenge. We are by no means immune to delays and inflation, however, we can maintain our trusted advisor status by being open and honest about delays. We find that our approach to each project is valued more than ever. We find that the steadiness that comes with our team is comforting during the "great resignation." Also, tribal knowledge is lost, while experience and familiarity are now valued commodities.
Years ago, we mainly worked with regionally headquartered and Fortune 500 companies. At the time, it seemed like they were the ones who appreciated the value of trusted vendors because they knew the risks and costs associated with delays or mistakes. But for the last year, more and more mid to small companies, CEOs and CFOs are reaching out to us. It seems like they realize the value of reliability and experience. We are only happy to help as one thing has not changed in the past 25 years: no job is ever too big or too small for Workplace Solutions.
We have great things in store for the next few years. Our commitment to quality will continue to be our top priority. We expect increased demand for our valued engineering solutions while maintaining inventories and manufacturing capabilities to provide our in-house solutions. We are also looking to expand our physical presence beyond our central Anaheim location.
At last, thank you for joining us on this journey. We appreciate your time and support as we continue to thrive in today's market. Cheers to 25 years and counting!
Scott Wilson, President
