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The HON Company today is the country’s largest provider of 
office furniture to small and medium-sized businesses. We’re 
widely recognized for having the broadest line of durable, 
functional, practical, and professional office furniture — from 
storage files to seating, desks, panel systems, and tables — and 
we’re admired for bringing it all in at a competitive price.
As tough as it is to become a leader, it’s even tougher 
to hold on to the lead. To do it, we’re working to know our cus-
tomers better than ever, and to continually respond to their 
evolving needs. We’ve come to understand that our customers 
want the same reliable and affordable furniture they’ve always 
wanted from us, but with a twist: greater choice. 
Over the past three years we’ve raised the bar in terms 
of design and aesthetics. We create design that is beautiful 
without being intimidating or pretentious; design that provides 
complete workplace solutions with a value-added contempo -
rary twist of color, or fabric, or function. 
For example, our award-winning Perpetual
®
 Series of 
seating and desking products is made of wood, steel, and lami-
nate, and offers a range of finishes. Other innovations include 
combined seating and file storage, combined organizer tray top 
and file storage, and mobile marker boards. In short, our 
H O N  I N D U S T R I E S  2 0 0 3
T H E  H O N  C O M P A N Y :  PRACTICAL AND  PROFESSIONAL  
A  C A S E  S T U D Y  I N  K N O W I N G  O U R  C U S T O M E R S
brand’s aesthetic drive is way up, while our price and function-
ality remain absolutely consistent and true to expectation.
One customer, an office manager of a Chicago-based 
manufacturer, is exactly the kind of end-user we’re looking for. 
In addition to her other responsibilities, she’s in charge of 
ordering furniture for her 65-person firm — and she knows 
exactly what she wants. “I don’t care how many times you tell 
me your product is comfortable,” she says, “I’m the hands-on 
type, so I have to touch it, sit on it, and see it myself. I looked for 
chairs that had great back support, good casters to roll around 
on, adjustable arms, backs, and seats, and generous width — 
but didn’t cost a fortune. I also wanted them to look good and 
wear well. I don’t want to have to buy replacements any time 
soon. All in all, HON was the brand that fit the bill.” 
Making our customers happy, productive, and satisfied 
is the focus The HON Company is all about. We’re committed 
to staying on track, focusing on customer needs, and building a 
brand — and products — that will last for generations.