Beck returning to factory where she began career
By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, February 1, 2004
CARSON, Calif. — Mary Beck is returning to the solid-wood furniture manufacturing business, back in the same Southern California factory where she started a decade ago.
Mary Beck Inc.'s first product is a bedroom set of solid Eastern white pine, with crisp, clean lines, a "hint of Old World distressing" and a light finish.
Other bedroom, dining and occasional pieces are in development and will be ready to ship this quarter. Price points are medium to high.
Beck first made her mark in the mid-1990s as designer and owner of The Wexford Collection, a case goods maker she sold to Rowe Furniture in 1998. She remained with Rowe as executive vice president until 2000, when she launched the Simplicity by Mary Beck line in conjunction with Schnadig. She left Schnadig in April of last year and the company has dropped the line.
Beck, president and CEO of her namesake company, is operating in the 100,000-square-foot factory and 4,000-square-foot showroom where she started Wexford. The building is owned by Good Cos.
She said she has been able to reassemble key elements of her old manufacturing team in Carson. She said the line will be entirely U.S.-made and will start with about 25 SKUs.
"The opportunity arose to re-enter the solid-wood furniture manufacturing business on my own, and I couldn't pass it up," said Beck. "I'm really pleased to be back in the furniture manufacturing business in Southern California."
She said she plans national distribution through quality furniture retailers and already has placed her first bedroom group with Crate & Barrel.
Beck said she initially will invite retailers to the factory showroom, but may show at furniture markets in the future.
