Marge Carson Celebrates 20th Anniversary under LaBarge Ownership
Furniture World News Desk on
6/19/2015
Furniture manufacturer Marge Carson reported that Donald Trump’s stretch limousine parked outside the Marge Carson Showroom in April 1995 caused quite a stir, and rumors were flying. When Jim LaBarge, then an executive with Masco, walked into the showroom, a colleague pulled him aside and asked, “Is it true that Marge Carson was sold, and do you think Donald Trump has bought it?”
LaBarge replied, “I guarantee you that Donald Trump did not buy Marge Carson.” Although Trump was in fact purchasing furniture at Marge Carson that day, LaBarge was quite certain Trump had not purchased the company, because LaBarge himself had just signed an agreement to acquire the company from Masco a few hours earlier.
A seasoned furniture industry insider, LaBarge was drawn to the iconic luxury brand credited with developing and defining the “California look” of generous scale and casual elegance, and considered by many to be furniture’s version of Haute Couture fashion. In the 20 years under LaBarge’s ownership, the scope of Marge Carson’s product line and operations has expanded dramatically, and the company grew to four times its original size by 2007, he said.
The look of Marge Carson over the last 20 years: Clockwise, shown are: The Vouvray dining room from 2005; the Segovia Collection, 2007; the Haute Provence bedroom, 1995; the Avery sofa and Cross Channel Collection tables, April 2015.
Over the last 20 years, Marge Carson has expanded from primarily an upholstery and occasional source to a full-line furniture company, including bedroom, dining room, occasional and upholstery; it has diversified its product line beyond European traditional to include transitional and contemporary styles; it has added smaller and lighter-scaled furnishings along with the generously-scaled pieces it is known for, and it has greatly expanded its corporate footprint.
Known decades ago for customization, Marge Carson has enhanced its custom capabilities in recent years, offering over 60 finishes and 20-plus decorative trims, along with the capability and willingness to make furniture of virtually any size. “We’ll make everything from a dining table for 40 people to a sectional that would seat almost as many,” LaBarge said.
Marge Carson is “essentially a bench-made artisan product line distributed nationally,” LaBarge said.
Adding to its size customization capabilities, the company offers a broad color palette of multi-step finishes and trims whose range complements or contrasts with the colors in fabrics. The fabric/finish/trim combinations allow a room to be dressed up or dressed down, fabric and finishes to blend harmoniously or to make a bold statement. Other accents available include silver and gold leaf or hand painted finishes, along with elaborate decorative upholstery trims. These, combined with mixed materials ranging from iron, brass, stainless steel, shell, stone and lost wax cast hardware, make Marge Carson a “playground for designers,” LaBarge said.
In the last 20 years, the company relocated its headquarters from Rosemead to Pomona, Calif.; opened a 50,000-square-foot upholstery factory and finish facility in Mexico; established a 60,000-square-foot dehumidified warehouse and 50,000 sq. ft. artisan finishing facility in the Philippines; opened designer showrooms in Los Angeles and Dallas, and renovated its High Point showroom. Worldwide, the company has approximately 650 employees.
Instrumental in these expansions have been the veteran executives LaBarge added to the team, including President Will Sharp, a former senior exec with Drexel Heritage who joined in 2002, COO Kevin Sazi, who has vast experience with such brands as Krause’s Sofa Factory, Expressions and Nancy Corzine. Shaping the product line since 2002 has been Director of Design Christine Rendino, who stays in touch with Haute Couture, travels the world purchasing and designing exclusive fabrics and directs the layout and design of the company’s showrooms. LaBarge himself came to Marge Carson with years of experience in product development, sales and marketing at accent furniture and mirror specialist LaBarge, founded by his father. After Masco purchased LaBarge and sister company Maitland-Smith, LaBarge served as president of LaBarge from 1987-1994.
Donald Trump’s visit to the Marge Carson showroom is just part of the company’s heritage of celebrity clients including such luminaries as Frank Sinatra, Larry King and numerous NBA and other sports stars.
Part of the appeal to designers and celebrities is Marge Carson’s distinct look. “When so much furniture looks alike, we truly stand out on a retail or showroom floor,” LaBarge said. “It’s a look defined by soothing neutral fabrics and tone-on-tone textures with pillows giving a pop of color, then adding the defining characteristics of unique finishes, jewelry-like hardware and designer trim details. It all comes together to create a look no one else has.”
About Marge Carson: Headquartered in Pomona, California, Marge Carson was founded in 1947 by interior designer Marge Carson of Pasadena. One of the world’s leading privately owned furniture companies, Marge Carson is a resource for high-end residential upholstery, bedroom, dining and occasional furniture. Known for generously scaled furniture and exquisite details, Marge Carson enjoys a reputation for fine craftsmanship and quality. Marge Carson furnishings are made in America as well as in Mexico and the Philippines, and are available nationally through high-end home furnishings retailers, design center showrooms and interior designers.