DBI
DBI is a privately held Mid-Michigan commercial interior design and office furniture dealer serving corporate, education, healthcare, government, and value-conscious customers through workspace design, Haworth furniture distribution, installation services, and a discounted Office Outlet retail sub-brand.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1984
- HeadquartersLansing, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What DBI does
DBI, also operating as 'DBI Business Interiors' and branded 'DBI - We Do Office,' is a privately held commercial interior design and office furniture dealer founded in 1984 and headquartered in Lansing, Michigan. The company serves Mid-Michigan organizations across corporate, education, healthcare, government/public sector, financial services, and value-conscious segments, offering end-to-end workspace solutions from space planning and interior design through furniture specification, delivery, and installation. DBI operates as a Preferred Haworth Dealer with 30+ years of tenure and has earned Haworth's Best In Class distinction every year since the award's inception in 2012 (14 consecutive years through 2025).
The company generates revenue through multiple streams: one-time sale of office furniture (desks, seating, storage, systems, tables, wellness products) from manufacturer partners led by Haworth plus Humanscale and OFS; professional interior design services delivered by NCIDQ-certified designers using CET and AutoCAD; factory-trained installation, reconfiguration, warehousing, and inventory management; circular/sustainability services (furniture resell, trade-in, donation, recycling, Haworth Take-Back program); and a value-focused DBI Office Outlet sub-brand selling new and gently used furniture at 40-90% off list prices. The product surface spans core furniture, moveable walls, collaborative technology (Bluescape, Workware), windows and flooring, acoustic solutions, and healthcare-specific environments. Distribution combines a direct field sales team with dedicated account managers, a physical showroom at 912 East Michigan Ave, the Office Outlet retail location, an e-commerce storefront at shop.dbiyes.com, and Haworth co-marketing.
Ownership rests with co-owners George Snyder (President & CEO) and Steve Klaver (VP & COO), with the Snyder family represented in finance roles. The company employs 101-250 people organized across sales, design, project coordination, installation/warehouse, IT, and State of Michigan contract administration functions. In April 2024, DI offloaded its office supplies operations to Smart Business Source via partnership, allowing it to concentrate on Workplace Solutions. The company has never raised institutional capital and reports no public revenue figures.
DBI firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- DBI
- Legal name
- DBI
- Website
- https://dbiyes.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1984
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- DBI is a privately held Mid-Michigan commercial interior design and office furniture dealer serving corporate, education, healthcare, government, and value-conscious customers through workspace design, Haworth furniture distribution, installation services, and a discounted Office Outlet retail sub-brand.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
DBI industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Commercial Office Furniture & Interior Design
- NAICS
- Office Administrative Services (5611)
- SIC
- Retail-Furniture Stores (5712)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Managed Workplace Services (DaaS/Workplace-as-a-Service) (BPAEAIAA)
Keywords
Where DBI is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lansing
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
DBI business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Office Furniture Sales: DBI generates revenue primarily through the sale of office furniture including desks, seating, storage, systems, tables, and wellness products from manufacturer partners like Haworth, Humanscale, and OFS.
- Interior Design Services: Professional design services including space planning, furniture specification, layout design, budgeting, finish selection, programming, 3D modeling, and decorative accessory selection. NCIDQ-certified design professionals provide consultation.
- Installation & Reconfiguration Services: Factory-trained installation team provides professional delivery and installation services. Additional services include reconfiguration, warehousing, inventory management, and maintenance/cleaning.
- Office Supplies: DBI previously operated an office supplies division which is now powered through strategic partnership with Smart Business Source, allowing DBI to focus on core workplace solutions offerings.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | The Office Outlet - Discounted Furniture |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Main DBI Products - Quote-based Pricing |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
DBI product offering
Product offeringCore offering
DBI is a commercial interior design and office furniture dealer serving Mid-Michigan organizations since 1984. As a Preferred Haworth Dealer for over 30 years, the company sells office furniture (desks, seating, storage, systems, tables), provides professional design and space planning services, and delivers factory-trained installation, reconfiguration, and inventory management. It also operates The Office Outlet, a value-focused retail division offering discounted new and gently used furniture, and offers Circular Services for sustainability.
Product overview
DBI is a commercial office furniture dealer and interior design company offering a comprehensive portfolio of workspace solutions. The core product lineup includes Desks (height-adjustable, executive, private office), Seating (ergonomic task, executive, lounge), Storage (files, cabinets, towers), Systems (panels, benching, private offices), Tables (collaborative, conference, training), and Wellness at Work products (sit-to-stand solutions, active seating). DBI provides workspace environments including Moveable Walls, Accessories, Collaborative Technology (Bluescape, Workware), Windows and Flooring, and Health Environments. The company offers Design Services (space planning, 3D modeling, specification) and Installation & Reconfiguration services. As a sub-brand, the DBI Office Outlet provides discounted new and gently used furniture. DBI also offers Circular Services (sustainability programs) and Inventory Management Services. New product highlights include Haworth Knits, Cabana Lounge, PopUp Tables, GAN Rugs, Forest Seating, BuzziSpace products, and Riverbend Lounge Seating.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Office Desks
Quantifiable outcome
- Ergonomic improvements: Height-adjustable desks reduce strain for associates working at sit-to-stand stations
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use DBI
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
DBI technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
DBI partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Smart Business SourcecoreStrategic partnership announced April 18, 2024 where Smart Business Source powers DBI's office supplies division. This enables DBI to concentrate resources on Workplace Solutions offerings including office furniture, architectural design, and comprehensive office design services. Smart Business Source is a Michigan-based office product supplier providing diverse office and business supply products.
- HaworthcoreDBI has been a Preferred Haworth Dealer for over 30 years. Haworth is a world-class designer and manufacturer of adaptable workspaces headquartered in Holland, Michigan. DBI is one of only four dealers to have received the Best In Class award every year since its inception. The partnership provides access to Haworth's complete product line including seating, desks, storage, systems, moveable walls, and collaborative technology solutions.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
DBI competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Tangram Interiors: Multi-region office furniture dealer and commercial interior design firm that distributes Haworth, Knoll, and other premium brands while providing space planning, installation, and project management. Highly comparable to DBI in business model, manufacturer relationships, and full-service workplace solutions offering.
- Workplace Resource: Michigan-headquartered office furniture dealer and interior design firm serving the Great Lakes region with Haworth and other manufacturer partnerships. Directly comparable to DBI given shared Michigan base, Haworth dealer status, and design-plus-furnishing model.
- Interior Systems, Inc. (ISI): Midwest commercial interiors dealer providing office furniture, architectural products, and design services across multiple states. Comparable to DBI as a regional contract furniture dealer with design, installation, and project management capabilities serving corporate and institutional clients.
- CORT Business Services: National office and residential furniture rental and transition services provider with corporate furniture, space planning, and installation offerings. Comparable to DBI in serving enterprise workplace needs, though CORT's rental-led model competes for the same hybrid-work redesign budgets.
Broad incumbents
- Haworth: Global office furniture manufacturer and DBI's primary supplier for 30+ years. While a critical partner, Haworth also operates direct sales for major accounts and a dealer-referral network that bypasses regional dealers like DBI on national rollouts, making it both an enabler and a structural competitor.
- Steelcase: Global office furniture manufacturer with its own dealer network and direct enterprise sales. Competes with DBI indirectly through manufacturer-direct pricing and national dealer programs that can erode regional dealers' share on large or multi-site accounts.
- MillerKnoll: Parent of Herman Miller, Knoll, and other premium office furniture brands with a global dealer and direct-sales network. Competes with DBI through national account programs and through the same specification battles in RFPs that determine which manufacturer brand wins each project.
- Office Depot: National office supplies and furniture retailer serving SMBs and enterprise procurement. Overlaps with DBI's Office Outlet value segment and competes for small-business office furniture purchases, though it lacks the design and contract-furniture depth DBI offers to enterprises.
- National Office Furniture: Kimball International brand offering office seating, desks, and casegoods through a dealer network. Comparable to DBI's product categories and competes for the same specification slots, though as a manufacturer it sits upstream of DBI in the value chain.
Regional players
- IKEA for Business: Ikea's small-business and home-office furniture offering targets startups, remote workers, and budget-conscious buyers — directly overlapping with DBI's Office Outlet segment in Lansing and Mid-Michigan. Alternative channel rather than a like-for-like competitor, but addresses the same price-sensitive demand.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
DBI social profiles
Digital presenceDBI financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
DBI leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles14 records
DBI subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
DBI funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
DBI M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about DBI
What does DBI do?
DBI is a commercial interior design and office furniture dealer serving Mid-Michigan organizations since 1984. As a Preferred Haworth Dealer for over 30 years, the company sells office furniture (desks, seating, storage, systems, tables), provides professional design and space planning services, and delivers factory-trained installation, reconfiguration, and inventory management. It also operates The Office Outlet, a value-focused retail division offering discounted new and gently used furniture, and offers Circular Services for sustainability.
Is DBI a public or private company?
DBI is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was DBI founded?
DBI was founded in 1984. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is DBI based?
DBI is headquartered in Lansing, United States, in the North America region.
How does DBI make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Office Furniture Sales are the primary driver. The others are interior Design Services, installation & Reconfiguration Services and office Supplies.
Who are DBI's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Tangram Interiors, Workplace Resource, Interior Systems, Inc. (ISI) and CORT Business Services. Broad incumbents are Haworth, Steelcase, MillerKnoll, Office Depot and National Office Furniture. IKEA for Business is listed as a regional player.
Does DBI have an API?
No public API is recorded for DBI.
What industry is DBI in?
DBI's product category is Commercial Office Furniture & Interior Design. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAEAIAA, Managed Workplace Services (DaaS/Workplace-as-a-Service). Its NAICS code is 5611 and its SIC code is 5712.