![\"Pease-pedestals2\"](\"http:\/\/decormagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Pease-pedestals2.png\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
During recent trips to my favorite art gallery and an amazing museum exhibition, I was reminded of how important an artwork\u2019s display is to the overall effect of the art. As I viewed the sculpture collections at this gallery and museum, I noticed how the pedestals on which the artwork rested enhanced my experience of each piece.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019ve had a similar experience and wondered how you can achieve the same display and appreciation for your treasured sculpture pieces, look no further than Pease Pedestals. Celebrating 20 years of creating beautiful acrylic fabrication, Pease Pedestals has established itself as a premier U.S. manufacturer of high-end acrylic furniture, fixtures, and accessories.<\/p>\n
Founder Patrick Pease and new owner Scott Gordon reveal how the company started, what drives its development, where it is headed today with Gordon at the helm, and\u2014perhaps most important\u2014what Pease Pedestals can do to inspire success in your business.<\/p>\n
DECOR Magazine<\/strong>: How was Pease Pedestals founded? DM<\/strong>: How did you develop your careers and come into this business? DM<\/strong>: What is your vision for the company and the motivation and inspiration behind your product lines? DM<\/strong>: What materials and components do you use in your products? What innovations and product features differentiate you from competitors? DM<\/strong>: What are your customers like? Do you have any great customer stories? DM<\/strong>: How many people do you employ?
\nPease Pedestals<\/strong>: Patrick Pease began working with acrylic in 1979 as co-owner of Carmichael Designs in Palm Springs, California. Carmichael specialized in acrylic furniture design and fabrication. Patrick sold that business in 1995 and returned to his hometown in the Chicago area to raise his family. There, he opened Pease Plastics, again focusing on acrylic fabrication and creating a variety of furniture, display fixtures, accessories, and artwork.
\nIn 1997, Patrick exhibited his spectacular colored acrylic sculptures at Artexpo New York, and he realized that his pedestals were generating as much interest as his artwork. As a result, he created a full line of pedestals, and Pease Pedestals was born.<\/p>\n
\nPP<\/strong>: With a background in art, Patrick was drawn to the techniques and creative possibilities of acrylic fabrication. His first and most celebrated pieces were layers of laminated colored acrylic forming magical prismatic sculptures. Needing a way to display the sculptures he created, Patrick made coordinating display pedestals. Galleries began ordering the display pedestals for their artwork, and Patrick soon realized that he could expand beyond the sculptures. The addition of high-end furniture\u2014dining tables, side tables, chairs, barstools, benches, and more\u2014gave the company a full range of products to enhance any decor.
\nAfter 35 years of running a successful business, Patrick decided to scale back his involvement and find someone to buy into his business who would continue\u2014and, he hoped, expand on\u2014the legacy that he had built.
\nScott has always had a passion for working with his hands. By the age of 10, he had discovered Guillow\u2019s wooden airplane kits\u2014basically a set of plans with a couple of flat sheets of balsa wood from which he could build a fairly complex 3-D airplane that could actually fly. Over time, he expanded and refined his skills, building furniture and remodeling his home. A passion for art led him to open two art galleries in the 1990s, but, with a successful career in film and television, all of these remained merely hobbies\u2014that is, until 2013, when Scott decided to start a second career and do what he loved. He looked for a successful business to buy into that would allow him to be creative and make things with his own hands. Luckily, he found Pease Pedestals just as Patrick was looking to make a move in his career.
\nToday, Scott and Patrick work side by side, with Scott running all aspects of the business and Patrick advising when needed and occasionally working on a sculpture commission.<\/p>\n
\nPP<\/strong>: Our vision is to make Pease Pedestals and its sister company, Pease Plastics, the premier U.S. manufacturers of high-end acrylic furniture, fixtures, and accessories. Pease has developed a solid reputation over the years, focusing on innovative design, quality, and service for the most discerning customers. The company wants that legacy to continue. The challenge is to keep all of those attributes at the highest level while scaling up to meet the demand. Deploying the latest technology\u2014laser cutters, engravers, and computer-numerical-control (CNC) routers\u2014certainly helps, but it is our exceptional craftsmen who ultimately maintain our high quality and make innovation happen.
\nThe pedestals are intended to be functional and beautiful yet not overpowering. Because they were originally developed to showcase Patrick\u2019s acrylic art, many of them incorporated lighting, along with motors and turntables. The original designs have evolved over the years to our current line. We also create custom designs, and popular custom features often migrate to our standard line. We are continuing to develop new designs, inspired by the latest trends in art and architecture.<\/p>\n
\nPP<\/strong>: At Pease, we use a variety of methods in our construction. Many are common knowledge and similar to woodworking techniques, but we do have a few proprietary methods that set us apart from other acrylic fabricators. In particular, we are known for making beautiful, strong, crystal-clear joints in thick acrylic. Industry professionals constantly compliment us on our joinery, and we have even acted as subcontractors for other acrylic manufacturers to provide them with our high-quality joints. We\u2019ve also developed unique ways of using our laser to build jigs for cutting and shaping, allowing us to make items most acrylic fabricators would only tackle with a CNC.<\/p>\n
\nPP<\/strong>: Our customers vary quite a bit. Most are galleries or furniture retailers who are in turn dealing with their retail customers. We provide them with all of our resources so that they can offer custom, high-end pedestals as if they were the manufacturers themselves. We work very closely with galleries; they are actually our primary sales force. We also supply a variety of designers and decorators, as well as a few of our own retail customers. We cater to a high-end, discerning clientele, but we also provide a full range of pedestals, including simple boxes and display cases.
\nOne of our favorite stories involves a designer who was so pleased with the acrylic furniture and decorative items that we had made for her that she sent us a very generous gift. In most companies it works the other way around! Somehow, we\u2019ve managed to attract the most amazing, appreciative, and loyal clientele. Who could ask for more?<\/p>\n
\nPP<\/strong>: We have 27 employees, and every one of them counts. We believe in taking very good care of our staff; they are our most important asset. Each is an expert at what he or she does, and is valued by everyone within the company. We\u2019re very proud to provide them with good wages, paid vacation and sick time, a health plan, life insurance, and a 401(k) plan with matching funds.
\nIn addition, we support the community where we all live and work. Many of our regular customers are local, so their causes often become our causes. We donate money, goods, and services to local charities. We\u2019re also members of the local chamber of commerce and some neighboring towns\u2019 chambers of commerce. We think this completes a circle of taking care and giving back, and we have been rewarded with loyal employees and loyal customers.<\/p>\n
![\"Pease-pedestals\"](\"http:\/\/decormagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Pease-pedestals.png\")
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"