how it all BEGAN
Just 60 miles east of Austin is the Central Texas town of Giddings, home to Kaemark Salon Furnishings, one of the largest salon furniture manufacturers in the United States.
Gilbert and Dorothy Krause, descendants of the early German settlers who came to Giddings in the late 1800's, founded Kaemark Salon Furnishings in 1972. Today Kaemark is sold nationally by only America's finest professional beauty distributors such as Armstrong McCall, BSG, KB, Maly's, Peels, Schoeneman, CB Sullivan, Idaho B&B and 30 other regional distributors.
In October of 2000, Mr. and Mrs. Krause sold Kaemark to Howard and Karen Owen. Mr. and Mrs. Owen previously founded and owned a publishing business based on Mr. Owen's graduate business school thesis. After selling to a subsidiary of Kohlberg, Kravis and Roberts (owners of such companies as RJ Reynolds, Nabisco and Motel 6) Mr. Owen purchased Kaemark.
Starting in October of 2007, Mr. Owen relinquished his CEO responsibilities while retaining his COB position. Mr. Jeffrey Owen, formerly VP of Sales & Marketing for 7 years, assumed the responsibilities of CEO and Mr. Benjamin Peterson became COO.
Since becoming the steward of Mr. Krause's nationally respected company, Mr. Owen has left Kaemark's unique artisan culture unchanged while simultaneously expanding Kaemark's capacity and installing modern supply chain technologies. Result: No one matches Kaemark's speed of delivering your salon furnishings to your store. Kaemark's KwikShip™ Program, with over 800 products, is recognized as the largest of its kind in the USA with more than 98% of the orders shipping to you in 3-5 days versus 10-13 weeks by the competition.
KAEMARK craftsmanship
Kaemark is located in Giddings, TX, a small farming and ranching town comprised of 4,500 people with old fashion values, work ethics and a lower cost of living. The average tenure of a Kaemark artisan employed by Kaemark at the time the Owen’s purchased Kaemark is now 25+ years. Since the purchase in 2000 employment has nearly tripled with minimal turnover. Result? Each quality chair and cabinet you purchase benefits from over 100 years of hands-on craftsmanship by artisans who care.
Your trusted beauty goods distributor, having visited our manufacturing facility many times, recognizes why Kaemark represents the best value proposition in the salon furnishing industry: 1) our hardworking professionals are quality-minded and enjoy working together, and 2) if by chance the equipment does require servicing over time, your distributor will be talking to the same friendly, knowledgeable customer service professionals they have worked with over twenty years. And you won't have to wait for an answer. These Kaemark professionals have the authority to resolve issues immediately. Again, no one matches Kaemark's speed.
Kaemark utilizes the finest quality of materials... high-grade industrial strength cabinetry materials, such as piano hinges and steel drawer glides. Our chairs are made of 7-ply board where most manufacturers use 5-ply. Our chairs are made with very high-density foam and the heaviest steel gauge base for guaranteeing years of comfort and un-matched durability.
Kaemark's professionals take great pride in the quality design and outstanding craftsmanship found produced in each piece of equipment. To become emotionalized by the best-valued, not least expensive, salon furnishings click here for the Kaemark Distributor showroom closest to you or email us and we will refer you to the appropriate distributor.