MARCH, 2021 ISSUE 13
Wanderlust BY BRAD CATES, CEO
Inside this Issue COMPANY NEWS DESIGNER SPOTLIGHT WANDERLUST
How do you predict the future? Well, according to Shakespeare, what’s past is prologue. These days, that turn of phrase from The Tempest stands for the idea that history sets the context for the present. And that may be why now, one year into the pandemic with the end of COVID blessedly in sight, news stories from CBS Sunday Morning to Bloomberg are reminding us that, historically at least, parties follow plagues. In other words, just like the twenties roared in after the Spanish Flu in 1918 and 1919, we may all be heading for many celebratory times ahead. Back when the ‘20s roared with prosperity, the most important consumer product of the decade was the car, and people took to the roads in record numbers in search of pleasure and adventure. In fact, history tells us that sunning on the beach was so popular back then, that being “pale” began to fade from fashion, spurred on by pictures of Coco Chanel with a healthy “glow.” If our orders for coastal décor are any indication, the beach is beckoning to many once again. We’ve been seeing an extraordinary amount of new, coastally inspired product heading for homes on the coastlines, but just as many orders destined for lake houses and entirely landlocked homes and hotels. Along with all the orders from our interior design and hospitality customers, we’re seeing increased demand for light and white finishes from many of our retail partners too, all of whom continue to report blue skies ahead and their customers’ penchant for airy looks that let the sunshine in. Will Americans crowd the beaches in the summer of 2021? Probably. But I suspect our longing for laid-back lifestyles will also continue to translate to our everyday surroundings. As we all prepare to head back out into the big, wide world again, we are doing so holding close to what home has meant and will mean in our lives, and likely cherishing every moment spent there with family and friends. Here’s to catching the wave!
COMPANY NEWS
From Left: Travis Coley, Karen Wheeler, Brad Cates, Larry Sandwick, Chris Barnes, Steadman Lanier
SPRING FORWARD Daffodils and Red Maple buds are among the first signs here in Wilson that a new season is upon us. Though the official start is still about a week away on the calendar page, we’re welcoming the change here at Sarreid with a spring in our steps (see what we did there?). Leading the way are three long-time employees, all of whom were elevated last month to help us spring forward for the balance of 2021 and beyond. Among the three: Karen Forbes Wheeler has been promoted to senior vice president of operations and corporate secretary; Travis Coley to vice president of finance and corporate treasurer; and Larry Sandwick to vice president of information technology. Brad Cates, named chief executive last fall, adds the responsibilities of company president to his role, while retired partners Alex Sarratt, Charles A. Hoffman Jr., and Charles W. Mauze, Jr., continue in their consultative roles as the company’s board of directors. We’re thrilled to report that none of these newly named corporate officers are new to Sarreid or to the areas of the company with which they are charged. Indeed, each has steadily risen through the ranks over the course of decades. Karen Wheeler, for example, joined the company in 1980, recruited by Charlie Mauze to work as a computer operator in the shipping department while she was still attending Wilson Community College. Forty-one years later, she has literally done every job in the building at one time or another and done them all well. Having Karen’s steady head and hand on the wheel is vital for how we operate and serve your needs in this fast-moving business environment. Travis, meanwhile, has absorbed and assimilated our tradition of fiscal control throughout his tenure over the past 20 years, and Larry has kept us at the forefront of technological changes challenging the entire industry for that same amount of time. This team of leaders have made it possible for Sarreid to turn over a whole lot of new leaves in the past year, and we know they will continue to ensure Sarreid remains both firmly rooted and prepared for what we believe will be explosive growth ahead. Congratulations to all. Now, back to our arriving containers. Ready, set, grow!
DESIGNER SPOTLIGHT
West Coast Style
Q&A
With
Lori Dennis
WHAT DOES COASTAL INTERIOR DESIGN MEAN TO YOU? Coastal is all about a casual, indoor-outdoor vibe. Even if you're in an apartment or condo without outdoor access, the decor brings the outdoors in with natural woven textures, worn woods, seaside colors (greens, blues, and sand), and light-filled spaces. WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE ELEMENTS TO BRING INTO A COASTAL PROJECT? High-performance white, large-scaled white upholstered pieces, natural woven shades, baskets and rugs, potted trees/plants, and super comfy cable knit or beach striped throws. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE COASTAL INSPIRED SARREID PIECE? I love the Pebble Bench in the tan. With its beach wood finish and shapes that remind me of surfboards or beach stones, it's the perfect entry bench for a warm welcome, that says, "sit down, take off your shoes, and relax for a while."
Bond at the Beach Project
About Lori Lori Dennis, ASID, LEED AP leads one of the top interior design firms in Los Angeles, is an HGTV celebrity, TED speaker, best selling author, and influencer in the design and organic lifestyle space who has been featured in a wide variety of publications around the world, from Wall Street Journal, Architectural Digest, New York Times, House Beautiful to Woman’s Day and Coastal Living. She has appeared on HGTV, OWN, Bravo, Food Network, NBC and Oxygen.
WHAT COASTAL PROJECT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF AND WHY? I love our Bond at the Beach project because even though it was a 10th-floor condo, we succeed in creating a beach retreat for our client and his family.
#40737 Pebble Bench
DESIGNER SPOTLIGHT
East Coast Style
Luciana Sideboard
Q&A
on Coastal Design with
Pineapples, Palms Etc.
WHAT DOES COASTAL INTERIOR DESIGN MEAN TO YOU? Coastal Interior design should give the client the feeling of living near the ocean. We like to incorporate crisp whites with ocean blues and greens, adding touches of texture in their area rugs and chandeliers. Clean and uncluttered, creating the feeling of calmness with a resort-like vibe. WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE ELEMENTS TO BRING INTO A COASTAL PROJECT? The best way to get the coastal feeling is to choose the color scheme that will mimic a beautiful coastal landscape. We use multiple blues and greens and fresh whites to capture this aesthetic. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE COASTAL INSPIRED SARREID PIECE? The Sarreid piece that has been our most popular has to be the Luciana sideboard. Due to its length and narrow depth, along with simple lines and great finish choices, it fits perfectly in our coastal designs, as well as many other design styles. We are particularly excited to see the new Cortina finish, which is whiter than your other finishes. WHAT COASTAL PROJECT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF AND WHY? The project that gives me the greatest personal pride is my own home in Hobe Sound, Florida. I’ve always wanted to create, design, and live in an “Old Florida” style cottage in a small town. I designed the project to suit my personal taste and was completely humbled by the unexpected national press and social media attention my “Cottage on Cabot” has and still receives.
About the team Sisters, Shelly Bascetta and Lisa Peterson combined their talents and passion for "all things beautiful" for the home, to create Pineapples, Palms, Etc. in 2001. They originally started with home accessories and gifts, but quickly realized the void in the market for a specialty home furnishings boutique. Their customers wanted the complete package. They decided to branch out and mix in larger furniture pieces, in addition to accessories and gifts. They are blessed with many wonderful customers, who have become great friends. "We've been honored to furnish their second homes, in such beautiful places as Southampton, Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, as well as the Bahamas and Canada."
#R045-14W Luciana Wood Buffet
HOME INSPIRATION YOUR DREAM DESTINATION: AT HOME
#52755 Columns Bowfront Sideboard
Travel abroad may still be delayed, but there are plenty of ways to satisfy your clients’ and customers’ wanderlust in the meantime. Global influences abound this season at Sarreid, and we’re bringing the best designs the world has to offer to Wilson with containers arriving on a near daily basis. But don’t sit still too long or you may miss the boat. Inventory is flying back out the door to its next destination almost as soon as it lands. Consider our website your passport and we promise there is plenty to unpack!
#40537 Vinton Bench
#52756 French Country Sideboard
#40704 Drum End Table #27125 Tuileries Side Chair
#40678 Bixby Dining Table
ON THE HORIZON The 2021 New Product Portfolio is ready to download. New products are being added daily.