Monte Knudson’s footprint in the furniture industry goes back more than 25 years when he first made and sold furniture in Phoenix. He began by selling door-to-door and then opened a warehouse where he and a partner manufactured furniture that was sold directly to retailers.

Things were going well until 2005, when the roof literally caved in. “Our landlord was having the sprinkler system checked out and when they left they forgot to turn the alarm back on,” he says. “Over the weekend, our roof collapsed breaking the main water pipe and flooded the machinery and furniture.”

While Knudson felt like he lost everything, he still had decades of valuable contacts and knowledge and a never-give-up attitude. “Instead of selling to stores, I decided to sell to the public and offer large discounts. I found a niche and went for it.”

One of those valuable contacts was Rick Horne who had represented Knudson’s manufacturing company and now serves as sales manager at the Houston store. “He was then and is now a forward-thinking individual,” Horne says. “It has been my experience that few people are willing to make the commitment to excellence that Monte has exhibited in his life.”

In 2011, Horne was tapped to open the 28,000 sq. ft. Tustin showroom. “It was a challenge,” he says. “Everyone jumped in to help. It is this kind of atmosphere that makes me appreciate being part of the family of National Office Liquidators.”

One of Horne’s favorite memories came shortly before moving to Houston. He was rearranging furniture when a customer walked in and said, “This is the Holy Grail of office furniture.”

“I will never forget that comment,” he says. “It just states in one sentence the impression we are trying to create for everyone who walks in.”

National Office Liquidators is also a family-run business. When Knudson’s son, Rheo, started with the company seven years ago there was no front office set aside for him. Knudson wanted his son to gain knowledge and respect for the company.

“I wanted him to start from the bottom and see how it really works and then, down the road at some point if he wants to take over the business, he will truly understand what it takes to get a business started and keep it running,” Knudson says.

“When I started, my main responsibility was sweeping the warehouse,” says Rheo Knudson. “My dad wanted me to work for my position and over the years he has groomed me to be a confident team leader and valuable company asset.”

Rheo Knudson is now the sales manager in Phoenix where he duplicates his father’s passion for building relationships and doing the right thing, “I always put myself in my customer’s shoes and ask, ‘Does this furniture fill my customer’s need? Will it work in their office environment? Is it within their budget?’”

Monte Knudson not only enjoys mentoring his son, but also other employees. He often reminds them not to let egos get in the way, “Sometimes in business you’re not always right and there are others that come up with good ideas,” he says.

Perseverance is another quality he pushes, “Things change and I want to make sure that I’m focused and I embrace it,” he says. “Knowing that obstacles will come up, you can overcome them and continue.”