Back in 1944, young Abram Albert DeFehr sold his car for $500, bought some woodworking tools, an instruction manual, gathered his family around him and began manufacturing step ladders and ironing boards in his north-end Winnipeg basement. Fifty years later, Palliser Furniture Ltd. employs over 2,000 people and is Canada's largest household furniture manufacturer (15th in North America).
Over the years Palliser has grown far beyond that tiny basement operation with factories, showrooms, plants, distribution centres and offices spread over 1.8 million sq. ft. across Canada and the United States. Its head office and major manufacturing divisions are located in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Other plants are located in Airdrie, Alberta, Canada, and Troutman, North Carolina, U.S.
"I have always told my employees that there are three important things: quality, service and price. If any of those are missing or wrong, people will not continue to support or buy from us."
A.A. DeFehr, Founder, Palliser Furniture Ltd.
During the last decade, Palliser has pursued marketing initiatives in the United States, Mexico, Europe, South America, Taiwan and Japan. The company, with annual sales exceeding $250 million (Cdn.), has established itself as an industry leader in worldwide sourcing, creating a World Trade Division which searches out foreign manufactured furniture to complement the company's own product lines. Palliser continues to explore global resources for state-of-the-art equipment and technology to enhance product development.
The president of today's Palliser Furniture is Art DeFehr. He heads up an innovative, growing company committed to excellence in production and service. Over the past 50 years furniture styles have changed, technologies have advanced, but the basic philosophy behind Palliser remains - commitment to the basic principles of integrity, quality and exceptional value.
Palliser confirms its emphasis on quality and service with the successful
registration of the casegood divisions quality systems with the international
standard of ISO 9001.