2008 Upholsterer of the Year

Upholstery Journal | February 2008

The nominations for the Upholsterer of the Year Award reveal the diversity of backgrounds, work experiences, areas of expertise, business sizes, industry views and personalities present in today’s upholstery shops.

Information and photos traveled to Upholstery Journal from across the United States and Canada. Nominations were submitted by peers, shop owners, employees and customers. Of note are the numerous nominations sent by employees who also happen to be the sons of the nominees. These nominations demonstrate the love and respect of a child/employee for his or her parent/boss, and, perhaps, ensure the delivery to the industry of a new generation of upholsterers that is confident in its future.

Industry professionals reviewed the nominations. Recommendations were based on factors that exist within the day-to-day operations of the upholstery shop, the influence the upholsterer has on the market, and the involvement the upholsterer has in the community. Specifically, nominees were judged on respect of peers, excellence in work and attention to detail, professional integrity, community involvement, trendsetting abilities, customer satisfaction, and financial success.

Please congratulate 2008 Upholsterer of the Year Glenn McAllister, president of Fortner Upholstering Inc., Columbus, Ohio.

“These are all great qualities of an effective leader,” said Justin McAllister, son of Glenn. “I had to nominate Glenn because he truly exemplifies these attributes.”

In 1929, David Fortner Sr. began restoring and recovering furniture in a small garage in downtown Columbus, Ohio. Today, Fortner Inc. is a third-generation owned and operated, successful family business.

Family businesses comprise almost 90 percent of all business enterprises in North America, but, according to a report in the Boston Globe, only 40 percent of family-owned businesses survive to the second generation, 12 percent to the third and just three percent to the fourth generation.

Glenn McAllister represents the third generation of Fortner upholsterers (his son, Justin, will be the fourth). That longevity—over seven decades—is testament to the quality of the products produced by Fortner Inc., as well as to the quality of the company’s employees and management.

Ironically, McAllister got his start in the business without really knowing what he was getting in to.

“While I was in high school, my girlfriend asked if I would help her dad deliver some furniture, which turned into a part-time job,” says McAllister, 58, who has more than 35 years of experience in the industry. “I continued to work there after I started college, and I married that girlfriend.

“I realized that I really liked what I was doing at the shop, and I continued to learn the trade. My grandfather-in-law (David Fortner Sr.) continued to work patiently with me to pass on his skills and knowledge.”

McAllister is a good learner. He now oversees the day-to-day operations of a 10,000-square-foot production facility, seven full-time upholsterers and five support staff.

According to the Fortner staff, which includes founder Dave Fortner Jr., who built the business to what McAllister is expanding today, his daughter Diana and her two sons, McAllister directs business with a diplomatic and stoic style, addressing individual pieces on the floor, prioritizing and preparing for deadlines, dealing with customers and managing the remainder of the staff, including showroom sales, accounting and the silk floral division. McAllister has created an environment that is flexible to allow employees to work 40 hours each week and still meet the demands of their everyday lives.

Like all great leaders, McAllister credits those around him for the success of the business.

“The people help shape and guide the business decisions,” he says. “We have a great accountant, our office manager brings valuable skills and ideas to the table, my sister-in-law has experience and perspective from her sphere of the business, and my son has the energy, excitement and drive to continue to move the business forward. If you want to sustain and grow your business, surround yourself with good people.”

During the five years that McAllister has led Fortner Inc., he’s transformed it from a shop that was treading water to one that is poised for significant growth. Utilizing an established and respected reputation forged through years of hard work and dedication from his father-in-law and company founder Dave Fortner Jr., McAllister repositioned the assets of the business by expanding the retail showroom and diversifying the shop’s services to include over 60,000 fabric samples, new furniture sales, a custom silk floral and tree manufacturing entity, drapery, wall and window treatments, design services, and increased marketing for the shop’s custom-built furniture capabilities. Fortner deals with residential and commercial clients, both large and small. Showroom consultations are complimentary.

“Custom work has become more and more a substantial part of the business,” McAllister says. “It started because our designer clients wanted something special for their clients. It has evolved into some very challenging and unusual pieces. If your shop has skilled, creative personnel, offering custom upholstering is an option you must consider.”

McAllister commands an extensive knowledge and mastery of antique upholstery and restoration, along with an aptitude for multiple skills and techniques. The Fortner staff agrees that his craftsmanship is probably best articulated through his execution of custom-built furniture. McAllister’s ability to marry his knowledge and creativity shows in a product he designed, constructed, licensed and marketed called the Buckeye Toughit. It’s no surprise that the item is quite popular in Columbus, the home of the Ohio State Buckeyes.

While much of Fortner’s success depends on carrying out the traditions and craftsmanship of the past, McAllister realizes that to grow the business he must take advantage of technology. In support of that, the company launched a customer-oriented web site this year.

“The importance of our web site grows all of the time,” says McAllister, who believes customers want to know about a place before they visit or call. “The web site allows us to show the breadth of what we offer, and lets our customers see our showroom online. They don’t have to spend time on anything but what interests them. It also gives us a platform to educate consumers about the value of good furniture.”

McAllister’s commitment to the community is most clearly shown through his involvement with his church, where he sits on several boards and leads the stewardship committee. His volunteer duties include cooking breakfast for elderly church members, helping with church finances, and working to update, remodel and clean homes that shelter those in need. And when the Buckeye football team isn’t on the field, McAllister gets his sports fix by coaching the local, state-champion high school soccer team, which he has done for more than 10 years.

“I don’t think I’ve ever heard Glenn say no to a request for help,” says McAllister’s son, Justin, 31, who has worked with his father for seven years. “His optimism and diligence permeates all of those he lives and works with.”

An interesting and unique aspect of McAllister’s business that shows his desire to grow his shop and sustain the upholstery market is his collaboration with other upholsterers. He’s reached out to share ideas and trends, which has created trust and respect among his peers, and developed into a business network that includes several shops in the area.

Fortner Inc.’s business model, along with its unique array of services, has put it on a path for future success. But McAllister is too smart a businessman to think he can just sit back and watch profits continue to roll in.

“There are challenges,” he says. “The short term challenge is to find ways to present our trade in a positive way that explains its quality and value to the consumer. The next challenge is to find, train and adequately compensate good upholsterers. The trade has a long, long learning curve before a craftsperson becomes productive.

“I worry about the upholstery industry and if it will continue to get lost in the abundance of consumer choices for furniture,” he says. “Upholstery may be in danger of becoming a novelty. I’m convinced there will always be a need for what we do. How best to benefit from that need is our biggest challenge.”

McAllister is as passionate about creating furniture as he is about working with his employees, pleasing his customers and running a business. Doing these things well is what makes him happy and is what will keep Fortner Inc. in business for subsequent generations.

“I think that each generation not only wants to carry on, but to put something in place for the next generation to embrace and improve upon,” McAllister says. “When I tell someone that Fortner is a fourth-generation business, I often get an astonished look. I am proud because we have continued to grow and persevere in spite of market changes and the challenging dynamics that are unique to a family business. That is quite rewarding.”

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