what we're about
At Business Furniture + Co, we believe the environments where we spend most of our time
and the people we share it with make us who we are.
We create spaces that help people do their best work.
Business Furniture + Co is deeply rooted in family - and always has been. The company was founded in 1922 by Indiana native Cy Ober who employed the people he trusted the most - his family. They helped to lead the business until 1987 when it was sold to former Steelcase executive, Dick Oakes.
Family continued to be at the center under the Oakes ownership. Less than ten years after buying the company, Dick met his wife, Mary Beth at Business Furniture and they married in 1999. Together, an engaging blend of charisma, entrepreneurial spirit and community involvement was born. Dick and Mary Beth shared a passion for building great relationships with their customers and employees.
In 2008, Mary Beth saw the workplace revolution as an exciting challenge. Work was not limited to cubicles but a hub for innovation and company culture - so Choreo was created - and change management services were added to the business.
As part of the next chapter, Dick retired from owning the business and as of late 2020, the company is 100% woman-owned and a certified Woman Owned Business Enterprise (WBE) recognized by the city of Indianapolis and the state of Indiana.
At BF+C, family is more than blood- it’s the people you collaborate with and share space with every day. Our employee family strives to be consistently synonymous with our core values: relationships, innovation, and doing the right thing.