Hekman Company History

In 1922, the brothers Henry, John and Jelle Hekman were joined by their friend James Boonstra, an experienced furniture production engineer, in founding Hekman Furniture Company in Grand Rapids, Michigan, headquarters several times expanded and occupied by the company today.

Scaling upward from its initial line of 30 modestly priced tables, Hekman has established a reputation for quality craftsmanship, rooted largely in 18th and 19th century English design but including contemporary as well as traditional, metal as well as wood, dining and bedroom as well as accent pieces, and the huge new category of home office.

In 1974 Hekman, owned by Beatrice Foods since 1969, bought Alexis Manufacturing Company to produce chairs for their company.

From a single computer cabinet in 1982, Hekman's exploration of the work-at-home market led to a residential desk group in 1985, and in 1989 to the first in a series of Home/Office Systems -- flexible, handsome, functional, modular, and responsive to individual needs.

Hekman was acquired from Beatrice Foods in November 1983 by Howard Miller Company of Zeeland, Michigan, and is a subsidiary of the clock industry's largest producer of clocks. The Howard Miller acquisition invigorated Hekman and provided financing to expand into new market areas.  The first new market area, entertainment centers, showed Hekman's superior quality in design and function through the expertise of George Smith, director of design, and his creative team.  In 1985, the residential desk market was entered very heavily which provided our customers with beautiful yet functional furniture, a good value for their dollar.

Today the computer age of the 90's provides new alternatives to peoples' lifestyles and work. Thousands of people are working from their homes using the latest in computer and communications equipment, requiring specialized furniture. Hekman responded quickly to this need and introduced a beautiful line of home office furniture. Hekman's home office line quickly became an important part of its total business and one of Hekman's fastest growing market areas.

Hekman followed this strong line with a nostalgic turn to the past. With the introduction of the Charles Dickens Collection in 1991, Hekman reproduced Charles Dickens' sloped mahogany desk, smoke's bow chair and other pieces including fine wood chests. From computer home office furniture of the future to classic English furniture from the past, Hekman truly offers the consumer a timeless investment in today's plastic, disposable society.

In addition to Hekman's main facility in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Hekman has a modern contract furniture plant in Grand Rapids and a distribution facility in North Carolina.