Stinson

As an independent, family-owned business for three generations, CF Stinson purveys innovative textiles that exceed customer expectations for design, performance, service and sustainability.

Charles F. Stinson Sr. and his wife Florence founded CF Stinson in 1952. The company originated as a textile distributor for furniture manufacturers and upholsterers in the Detroit area.

Charlie’s son, Charles, Jr., worked for CF Stinson while in school and began to learn the business.  He attended the University of Michigan and later served in the U.S. Army and returned to work alongside his father.

Charles, Jr. had three children, Karen, Keith and Glenn. After college, the brothers both joined the family business. Keith and Glenn began their careers at CF Stinson in the early 1980s before computers were standard equipment, and the company maintained inventory and sales records by hand. The Stinson brothers saw an opportunity to create efficiency by applying technology to many of the company’s business processes.

In the early 1990s, the company developed a strong position in the healthcare and hospitality markets as one of the first distributors of high-performance fabrics and vinyl upholstery. At the end of that decade, CF Stinson began to focus their attention on emerging Internet technology. They launched their first website in 2000 to great industry acclaim. Based on interest from their customers, Sample Technologies, LLC was founded to provide digital imaging and state-of-the-art web technologies to an impressive list of clients. Sample Technologies has since been awarded 3 patents with several others pending.

In the early 2000s, the company expanded its focus and appeal to the A+D market. With additional management and notable product designers, CF Stinson enhanced its fabric offering, marketing efforts and overall brand positioning. The company also established a national sales network to promote its broad product offering to architects, interior designers, furniture dealers and end users.

CF Stinson has established itself as an industry leader in design, innovation, performance and reduced environmental impact. The company has gained wide industry acclaim by receiving multiple annual industry awards for innovation and design. In 2011, the company opened a showroom at the Chicago Merchandise Mart and more recently expanded into New York City with a shared showroom in the Design Center at 200 Lexington Avenue. In 2014, CF Stinson expanded its talented textile design team and opened an inspiring new studio in the scenic New England town of Kennebunk, Maine.

Today, CF Stinson is positioned to serve its customers well into the future.

cfstinson.com