Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams Home Furnishings: Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams

How I Built This · 28 Mar 2022 · 1h 06m

What this episode covers

Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams, the co-founders of Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams Home Furnishings, explain how they leveraged Gold's industry experience at Bloomingdale's and Lane Furniture to launch a bold, design-forward upholstered dining chair line in 1989. They describe the critical early decision to partner with an underutilized factory in Taylorsville, North Carolina, rather than building their own, and how they secured massive initial orders from JCPenney and Levitz by negotiating accelerated payment terms. The founders detail their evolution from a small design operation to a multi-million dollar brand, including the strategic pivot to opening their own retail stores and the personal journey of navigating their relationship and identity within the conservative furniture manufacturing hub of North Carolina.

Mentioned

Companies
Bloomingdale's, Lane Furniture, JCPenney, Levitz, Crate and Barrel, ABC Carpet & Home
Also
Parsons, 17 magazine, Metropolitan Home

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