1989
Schoolhouse began distributing furniture and related products to the education market.
The two principals, Hart Sernick and Walter Posusta, had worked together in the early 1970’s, selling school furniture across North America, and felt that the Canadian education market was missing a number of products that could enhance and support the education process. They further believed that the Canadian market deserved a higher level of customer support and after sales service than was generally available at that time.
First Manufacturers
Artcobell
One of North America’s largest manufacturers of classroom furniture.
Mity-Lite
The originator of the first high quality and durable lightweight folding table.
Screenflex Inc
The manufacturer of a unique range of moveable partitions and room dividers.
We are pleased to note that all three companies are still exclusively represented by Schoolhouse Products Inc in Canada.
The next 30 years
Over the succeeding 30 years, Schoolhouse Products added a number of additional manufacturers to the product lines that were distributed in Canada including Bretford Mfg, the largest manufacturer of A/V support furniture; HON, one of the largest manufacturers of office furniture; and Brodart Contract, the leading manufacturer of Learning Commons furniture.
During this time, we found that there were other related institutional-oriented markets, other than education that were underserved – and more importantly, we found that many of the products we originally promoted to the education market had excellent application in the hospitality, recreation, and church market.
Serving Canada
Although Schoolhouse Products Inc began selling its products only in the Ontario market, it quickly realized that the other provinces in Canada were similarly lacking in the necessary range of products – so the company quickly expanded its geographic distribution to these areas.
Today
Today, Schoolhouse Products Inc is one of Canada’s largest distributors of furniture for the education market; recreation market; hospitality market; and churches of all denominations.
Today, Schoolhouse Products Inc is one of Canada’s largest distributors of furniture for the education market – both K-12, as well as university and college; recreation market – both recreation centers and arenas; hospitality market – both hotels as well as conference centers; and churches of all denominations. Despite the rapid growth of the company, we have never forgot our original mandate – sell high quality and durable products at fair prices, and back them with the best after-sales services and long-term warranties.