With two decades of experience in the commercial office furniture industry, Robin Moorad has witnessed a lot of waste, and a lot of room for operational improvement. She envisioned a resource-efficient business model that would provide a financial benefit for her customers, and also contribute positively to the California’s East Bay community and the environment at large. In 2009, Imago Associates was born.
Imago Associates acquires high-quality, gently used office furniture from companies growing or going out of business. They manage the removal, transportation, and redistribution of that furniture to their own client businesses. Imago is based in Berkeley, California, but most of their sales have come through their website and through business referrals from professionals in architecture and design, real estate, and property managers.
While founder Robin Moorad’s relationships and industry contacts — built over 25 years — were important to the early success of the company, the business suffered in the recession. She came perilously close to closing her business in 2011, but managed to keep it afloat through some creative financing — something many small business owners who weathered the recession can relate to.
Because of these challenges, she relocated Imago Associates, moved the furniture storage facility, and had to cut back on hiring. Since this setback Robin has spent the past three years building her business up again, and has now hired more part-time employees.
She’s ready to grow the business even further and create more permanent positions — But to get there, she needed help. That’s when Robin came to Pacific Community Ventures. Robin’s identified a location in Berkeley to open a warehouse that will allow space for a showroom – an important aspect to attracting and acquiring new clients. Her small business loan from PCV will support the equipment, shelving, and working capital she needs to get the company’s warehouse set up and the showroom built.
Are you in the market for affordable office furniture for your Bay Area business?