Tropitone Furniture Celebrates 50th Year As Leading Manufacturer And Recognized Innovator Of Casual Outdoor Furniture

Furniture World Magazine

Tropitone Furniture Co., a leading manufacturer of fine casual furniture, is celebrating its 50th anniversary, marking a half of century as a successful family-owned business recognized throughout the industry for its enduring commitment to stylish -- yet practical -- outdoor furniture as well as its pioneering innovations in materials and design. Douglas Baker, the current chairman of the board, follows in the footsteps of both his father, James Baker, who held that position from 1977 to 1991, and his grandfather, Bert M. Baker Sr., who founded the company in 1954. As the founder of Tropitone, Mr. Baker Sr., a former engineer at Lockheed Aircraft, had just retired from a chair manufacturing company in the Midwest when he moved to Sarasota, Florida. Shortly thereafter, he bought the Sarasota Redwood Furniture Co., a manufacturer of fine outdoor redwood furniture, which ultimately became Tropitone Furniture Co. – a name inspired by the phrase ‘tone of the tropics.’ With his experience working with aluminum at Lockheed, Mr. Baker quickly recognized the clear and numerous advantages of crafting outdoor furniture from aluminum rather than wood. According to Michael Echolds, chief executive officer of Tropitone, foremost among these advantages were the ‘weather-ability, form-ability and design-ability’ of aluminum. “Being able to withstand extreme weather conditions was a primary concern for leading hoteliers along the South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico,” Echolds said, “which were Tropitone’s largest customers in the early days of its operation. “And the ability to form aluminum into aesthetically appealing designs while also crafting more functional and durable furniture quickly set Tropitone apart as a pioneer in the use of innovative materials,” he said. Included among the company’s award winning designs over the years are: Pagoda, Tropi-Kai, Cantina, Brasilia, Boccaccio, Perception, Hollywood, Melrose, Bastille, and Opus. Reflecting on Tropitone’s past 50 years, Echolds, who has served the company in numerous roles since 1973 before being named chief executive officer in 1995, said that “the company’s most important success over the past five decades has been creating a credible reputation for manufacturing high quality, innovative casual furniture. “Our greatest success in the past 10 years has been to strengthen our reputation for design, innovation and quality with an equal level of unparalleled customer service and support. We go to extraordinary lengths to deliver on our promises. “Looking forward to the future, our No. 1 challenge will be to create greater levels of ‘value’ and better ‘design solutions’ that focus on people’s changing homes and lifestyles,” Echolds said. According to Douglas Baker, several contrasting areas of expertise between his grandfather, Bert M. Baker, Sr. , and his father, James Baker, had a significant and positive impact on the evolution of the company over the years – strategically and operationally. “Because of his background in the commercial aircraft industry, my grandfather had exceptional technical expertise and established the Tropitone tradition of manufacturing a structurally sound and durable product. On the other hand, my father had an eye for design and a flair for marketing. The combination of this engineering, manufacturing and marketing expertise created a strong foundation for Tropitone that has endured over the years. “As the third generation involved in the family business,” Baker said, “I grew up with Tropitone around the breakfast table and in the boardroom. I’ve spent many hours both on the factory floor and in the market talking with customers. This has made it possible for me to view the business from the perspective of our employees, our sales force and the market, and to stay grounded with each of them. “As we go forward, being even more focused on our customers -- both in the retail and hospitality markets -- and flexible about how we respond to their needs will be important to our future success in today’s exciting and dynamic market,” Baker said. Founded in 1954, Tropitone is based in Irvine, California, and is recognized throughout the casual furniture marketplace for its design leadership as well as its commitment to service and value. The company sells its products to retailers, designers and the hospitality trade under the Tropitone and Basta Sole trademarks. In addition to its headquarters and manufacturing plant in Irvine, the company operates a manufacturing facility in Sarasota, Florida. For more information about the company, visit www.tropitone.com.