By Joshua Burd
Interior solutions firm dancker has acquired Arbee, a Maryland-based furniture dealer, expanding its reach in the Mid-Atlantic as well as its home state of New Jersey.
According to dancker, which is based Somerville, Arbee’s assets include offices in Piscataway and Gaithersberg, Maryland, along with a logistical facility in Beltsville, Maryland. The latter is now operating as dancker effective immediately, bringing an extensive business as a dealer of Steelcase furniture.
“The acquisition of the talented team at Arbee will enable dancker to more fully support our clients and partners in solving their most challenging problems as they navigate the shift to hybrid work,” said Steven Lang, dancker’s CEO and president. “Both organizations strongly believe that our people are our greatest assets. As a result, we are aligned in a holistic approach to deliver innovative solutions and remarkable customer experiences. We look forward to continuing to work with our clients, expanding our existing relationships in the commercial real estate and design community to co-create destinations where people can do their best work.”
With the acquisition, dancker is now the largest Steelcase dealer in New Jersey and the Mid-Atlantic, according to a news release. The firm noted that Arbee is a third-generation, family-owned business founded in 1938, with a focus on integrating furniture, technology and architectural products and services.
Arbee employees will join dancker’s team throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, the company said, adding that an integration team is in place to assist with the transition to ensure continuity in business practices and assimilation of company culture.
“On behalf of myself and Arbee’s leadership team, we are excited to join an organization that also has a long, proud history and outstanding reputation,” said Nancy Berkowitz, owner and CEO of Arbee. “We are grateful for the customers who’ve entrusted us with their business and believe that together we are even better positioned to serve you as we navigate the challenges of this post-COVID era.”
The deal follows dancker’s acquisitions of U.S. Business Interiors, formerly based in Capitol Heights, Maryland, and Baltimore-based Hyperspace, which helped to significantly expand the company’s presence in the Washington-Baltimore market. The firm, which is nearly 200 years old, serves a range of clients that include Fortune 100 companies.
It’s also a Premier Partner for Steelcase — a manufacturer of furniture for offices, hospitals and classrooms — and also maintains partnerships with more than 300 manufacturers in the furniture, architectural products and audiovisual industries.
“Both dancker and Arbee have been outstanding Steelcase dealer partners for decades,” said Eddy Schmitt, Steelcase’s senior vice president for the Americas. “By joining forces, their capabilities and effectiveness will become even stronger for the benefit of their clients in New Jersey and the Delaware-Maryland-Virginia market.
“Our dealer partners are an integral part of the Steelcase experience,” he added. “Together, we provide our clients with industry-leading expertise and services. Having the most trusted and proven dealer network in the industry does not happen by chance. At Steelcase, we continuously strive to make our dealer network the best it can be.”
