The "Creative" Side of George Bush?

Entrepreneur who launches "China-proof" businesses credits President for his "Big Idea".

"What I saw that day in the Oval Office later became the inspiration for what we do today." says psychotherapist and business expert Jeff Karges.   In his last job, Karges worked with the White House Curator and Bush's Interior Designers to create the three Oval Office sofas.  (You only see 2, but there are 3, a story in itself).  While attending a "Thank-you" reception hosted by the First Lady, he noticed some extra wedge-shaped cushions tucked under the sofa's main cushions.  President Bush explained that certain guests seem to need more support to get out of the sofa.  Karges remembers thinking "totally custom" upholstery that adapts to the individual, a new niche to pursue.  While it seemed so simple on one hand, Karges later saw it as genius in lieu of Chinese imports devastating the home furnishing industry.  

For year marketing gurus have referred to the 4 P's of Marketing: Price, Product, Promotion,   Place. However, Karges educates businesses on the "4 Secret P's of Marketing" (book due out this fall) with the focus helping US companies repatriate jobs back from China.  That day in the Oval Office he experienced on of his 4 P's: Personalization. Focusing on Price alone (i.e. China exports) is a "knee-jerk" approach at best.  We are a country that knows the price of everything and the value of nothing?    A few years later when Karges and his wife moved to North Carolina, the second worst state affected by Chinese imports - he was fortunate to find an excellent pool of craftspeople.  Their "Big Idea":  Combine the "total-custom" (Personalization) Oval Office experience with the need to bring jobs back to North Carolina and thus create companies that are "China-Proof".

This "total-custom" (China Proof) approach is the foundation for all three new companies.  Karges calls them the ?Big   Tall? of the home furnishing industry.  He and his wife first created , "Karges Caron".  A luxurious line of impeccably made custom upholstery sold exclusively through Architects and Designers.  Karges explains: "Our catalog contains patterns that we call , suggestions.  However, most pieces are made from client  sketches. One Example:  an interior designer's sketch sent in requesting a ,deeper than normal sofa with extra seat height  and super-soft seating": Client: Richard Hamilton of the Detroit Pistons.  Then to provide that extra "personalized" touch, Karges   Caron embroidered in the decking of the sofa Hamilton's exclusive ,Rip City 32 ,logo.

A second company, "Ample Room®" is custom upholstery designed and built specifically for the "full-bodied" client.  Designs are manufactured with proprietary fabrication methods allowing for extra support and generous spaces.  For example, the "Three Bears" sofa is a three seat generously sized design with special spring support and cushion choices.  "They also offer "green" products and "ADA compliant" products.  Last but not least, "Noble House®" offers custom upholstery designed and constructed for the "Silver" client.  Karges explains: ?Senior furnishings were always "one size fits all" and often unattractive.  A 5 foot thin grandma needs completely different upholstery than a 6'4'  full-bodied grandpa" states Karges.  Karges admits: "Designer custom upholstery is not new." (He would know as the former CEO of the world famous "Karges Furniture".)    However, "Ample Room" and "Noble House"are the first of their kind. Karges reiterates: "Our strategy of personalization we believe protects all three companies and employees from Chinese imports."

Karges is obsessed with supporting US jobs and factories.  He is not "Anti-China', but simply "Pro-US" and has no problems paying more for US materials. Have countless examples of manufacturing nightmares: "the client saved 6 cents on a piece of rope in a car seat, but then spent 35 dollars a piece to repair the busted rope." explains Karges.   Case in point: his springs are hand-formed US Steel made in a true mom and pop shop with 100 year-old machinery.  The coil spring is ,the critical part in making great upholstery.  This vendor hand trucks the springs  into a 560 degree custom oven to temper.  "No one has ever asked why ,tempered" springs are better.  The important point is we know why and so does the vendor."  To cap off this personal and custom approach and because "People buy from People® (another of the 4 P's), every customer receives a recycled kid's shoe box; inside a satisfaction survey AND two miniature loafs of truly homemade (nut free) banana bread called "Banana Loafers" which guarantees customer feedback. The only problem: They all want to buy the bread" You can reach all 3 companies at:  This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it   or call 516-423-1350 (all 3 web sites are almost finished).

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Jeff Karges MA,  MFT is a psychotherapist, business coach, and home furnishing expert.   His new book: The Power of the Secret 4  P's of Marketing  is due out this fall. He offers himself as an expert for media contact and feature interviews.  For more information, to schedule an interview, or for a sample of banana bread.

Contact:     Jeffrey Karges          President:   Karges   Caron              
Email: This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it
Contact:     516-423-1350