Cushman & Marden's Company Profile

MISSION STATEMENT

Cushman & Marden, Inc. exists to serve our valued customers in the footwear, apparel, accessories, leathergoods, bookbinding and related industries with superior products. We strive to provide quality woven and nonwoven textiles with responsive service, supplying the greatest possible value to our customers. We work closely with our clients to solve their specific needs related to their various textile applications, taking pride in our continued innovation and reliability in the textile industry. While we endeavor to satisfy our customers, we also strive to provide job security to our valued employees based on performance, recognition of achievement and sense of accomplishment from his/her work. We hope to generate a level of profitable growth that will enable us to better serve our present and future customers, while allowing the opportunity to diversify and expand into new fields. Through continued commitment to high quality, cost effective products and customer satisfaction, Cushman & Marden, Inc. will achieve these goals.

PERSONNEL & SALES REPRESENTATIVES

Corporate Headquarters

President & Owner - Sandra E. Gray

Vice President - Richard A. Corey

Sales Manager - David E. Gray

Comptroller - Robert VanTichelt

Office Manager - Robert R. Gray

Internet Sales Consultant - Michael T. Gray

Production Coordinator - David Sygowski

Sales Representatives

UNITED STATES

Sam Adler - Ohio

Demers Leather Sales - Select New England

Norman Nelson - Minnesota

Heintz Sales - Missouri

John Westbrooks - Tennessee

Charles Williams - Wisconsin

Zamcheck Sales - Select

CANADA
Bennett Fleet, Inc. - Quebec

SOUTH AMERICA
OPEN

AUSTRALIA & S.E. ASIA
Mason Grogan Pty Ltd. - Australia

ITALY & GERMANY
OPEN

SPAIN & PORTUGAL
HOUSE

CUSHMAR FABRIC APPLICATIONS

The following is a brief summary of some markets in which you will find Cushmar Fabrics.

Accessories*** Apparel*** Automotive*** Awards*** Bags/Pouches*** Banners and Flags*** Bookbinding*** Buffing Cloths & Pads*** Car Covers & Bras*** Cases*** Casket Linings*** Computer Accessories*** Crafts*** Eye Glass Cases*** Fabric Retail Stores*** Footwear of all kinds*** Furniture*** Gloves*** Hats and Caps*** Home Textiles*** Industrial Products*** Instrument Cases*** Jewelry Boxes & Displays*** Leathergoods*** Luggage*** Medical Applications*** Outdoor Products & Accessories*** Personal Goods*** Specialty Items*** Sporting Goods*** Toys*** Visual Displays

HISTORY

Chronology
1894
John E. Donallan Company, 75 South Street, Boston founded.

1897
William T. Seabury of North Weymouth added as a partner.

1919
Norman L. Cushman of Winchester joined the firm.

Introduction of fabrics to book manufacturing industry.

1921
Herbert R. Marden of Reading hired as an assistant.

1928
Company moved to 14 South Street, Boston.

1936
Company name changed to Seabury and Cushman after the death of the last Donallan partner, Thomas Neath.

Herb Marden and Roland Seabury named junior partners.

1939
William T. Seabury passed away.

1944
Company moved to 655 Atlantic Avenue, Boston.

1947
Company name changed to Cushman and Marden after Mr. Marden named senior partner with Mr. Cushman.

1951
Norman Cushman retired. Herbert Marden became sole owner.

Walter Hendrick joined the firm.

1952
Robert A. Gray hired as an assistant.

1953
Company moved to Montvale Avenue, Stoneham, MA.

1967
Richard A. Corey joined the firm.

1978
Robert VanTichelt hired as comptroller/bookkeeper.

1981
David E. Gray joined the firm.

1983
Herb Marden passed away. Robert A. Gray became sole owner.

Robert R. Gray joined the firm.

1985
Sandra E. Gray joined the firm.

1986
Company name changed to Cushman and Marden, Inc. after becoming incorporated. Robert A. Gray (owner) named President and Treasurer, Richard A. Corey named Vice President and Robert R. Gray named Secretary.

Michael T. Gray joined the firm.

1987
Company moved to 56 Pulaski Street, Peabody, MA.

1990
Robert A. Gray passed away. Sandra E. Gray became sole owner/President.

1993
Began supplying computer accessories industry.

1994
Celebrated 100 years of service.

1996
Established Internet Homepage and began electronic commerce.

2000
Began Third Century of service. Walter P. Hendrick retired.

ARTICLES

Cushman & Marden, Inc. - Converters and Suppliers to the Textile Industry Since 1894

Peabody, Massachusetts is the home of one of the oldest and most reliable suppliers and converters in the textile industry. Cushman & Marden, Inc. has been steadily supplying the associated textile industries for over a century, and looks forward to continuing their fine tradition into the next century. Among the many diverse industries they supply are footwear (dress, casual, work, athletic and outdoor), book binding, apparel, furnishing, luggage, computer accessories and other personal accessories.

Cushman and Marden, Inc. began its operation back in 1894 as a shoe fabric converter and has been one of the few constants in a fluctuating industry. Though their mainstay continues to be footwear, they have greatly diversified and expanded into other fields where their fine reputation has again proven itself. C&M has been known as an older business in the industry, however their innovation and product development is one of their strengths. It was Cushman & Marden who first developed the original Superlining, designed specifically for footwear. Nado was developed by the company before World War II. C&M was also the first converter to develop an anti-microbial finishing treatment, now known as Mardenized. Nado Mardenized, a 100% cotton lining, is now a mainstay in the footwear industry and, after several years in decline, is making a tremendous comeback. As manufacturers are looking to more natural, effective materials, Nado Mardenized is again proving itself as a superior performance material,

C&M prides itself with attentive and responsive customer service, known as "Cushmar" service. They strive to personally know and work with their customers. "Our number one priority has always been and will remain to be providing excellent customer service" says Sandra E. Gray, owner of Cushman & Marden. "We are fortunate, in that we have survived and even grown during the past decades, while the domestic footwear industry has been in steady decline" notes Richard A. Corey, Vice President of the company. "Our competitive advantage has always been our dedication to the customer, large or small. Our products have always been high-quality goods and our pricing is known to be very competitive." Cushman & Marden's marketing director, Michael Gray agrees. "The competition is pretty tough. Though the larger firms may have large advertising budgets with marketing firms behind them, we have an established, reliable reputation in the industry. That goes a long way against all the glitzy advertising! We have adapted a more grass-roots approach to marketing and pick our spots." "Our reputation for excellent customer service and quality goods is well established," Gray continues, "and we have several exciting new products which we are currently marketing. Their performance and success will speak for itself. In fact several major manufacturers are switching to our products. Why? Simply because they perform, have marketability and save money."

Today, increasing numbers of dissatisfied manufacturers, retailers and customers have turned to Cushman & Marden for alternatives to the high-priced synthetic linings currently dominating the market. In response C&M has developed several new products that not only match the performance of those existing products, but often exceed them and all at a lower price. Below are a highlighted several new developments from Cushman and Marden.

CUSHMAX is a state of-the-art lining with thre best performance specifications of any material available today. Extensive SATRA testing has shown it to outwear and outlast other popular linings available in the industry. Along with the superior technical properties necessary in a maximum performance footwear component, CUSHMAX provides excellent cushioned comfort to the wearer. Perf-X is a perforated lining material used in multiple applications, from footwear to apparel to accessories. Its incredible comfort comes from exclusive Cushmar Comfoot Technology. Opulex Comfort-Dry Fabric is a lining material ideal for applications where a dry, comfortable environment is required. The secret of its success is its exclusive Cushmar Quickwick Aqua Transport (AT) System which rapidly transports moisture away from the surface, while allowing perspiration vapor to escape, thereby providing an excellent foot environment. "So"Suede! is a comfort lining with the luxurious feel of suede with the strength and dryness characteristics desired in a superior lining. TRANSPORT is a state of-the-art breathable, water-proof membrane developed as an effective alternative to the high priced membranes currently in the market. Along with the above technological innovations, C&M can also boast of Stretch-Tek and Foot-Trax technologies. All these linings have excellent performance characteristics, are highly marketable and competitively priced. They are all also MADE IN THE U.S.A.

Cushman & Marden, Inc. looks forward to continuing their fine reputation, providing superior quality goods with attentive and responsive "Cushmar" service all at low, competitive pricing. If the past is any barometer, they will indeed continue their success well into the next century.

Cushman & Marden, Inc. - A Family Affair

Peabody, Massachusetts is the home of a unique and successful business. Cushman & Marden, Inc. has been in existence since 1894, supplying manufacturers of goods using textiles, such as footwear, bookbinding, apparel, accessories, luggage, etc. Their longevity in this highly competitive industry is a testament to their successful approach to business. Although they have been a successful company which continues to grow, their infrastructure is quite unique. They are presently a "family" business, although the company started as anything but!

Cushman & Marden began in 1894 as the John E. Donallen Company and supplied the shoe industry with lining materials. After several years, the company name was changed to Cushman & Marden after the company's reorganization under the partnership of Norman A. Cushman & Herbert R. Marden. Mr. Marden eventually bought out Mr. Cushman's share in the business at his retirement and became the sole owner of the business. It was under Mr. Marden's leadership that the company had its greatest growth and success. The business diversified into many different fields in which textiles were used as they continued to expand in the footwear industry. Mr. Robert A. Gray joined the firm in 1952 and eventually became sole owner of Cushman & Marden at the passing of Mr. Marden. Mr. Marden wanted to change the name of the business to "Marden and Gray" long before his death in 1983, but Mr. Gray decided that since the firm was well established in the industry, this might lead to confusion and the name Cushman & Marden stood for quality and service. He therefore decided to keep the name the same, even as they were incorporated in 1986. This is where our "family" business begins.

In 1967, Bob Gray encouraged Mr. Marden to hire a young, energetic man who just happened to be Mr. Gray's brother in-law. Mr. Richard A. Corey began his employment that year and moved his way up through the company to eventually become Vice President. Not long after the death of Mr. Marden in 1983, Mr. Gray's oldest son Robert R., joined the firm after his graduation from Dartmouth College. Bob's second son, Kevin began working in the warehouse in 1983, but decided to move on to other opportunities outside the business. Soon thereafter, another son, David, began working after school in the warehouse. Around the time of the business's incorporation, Sandra, Bob's wife, began working for Cushman & Marden, while the youngest son, Michael, began working in the warehouse after school. In 1990, after several strong years, the company suffered a devastating blow when Mr. Gray passed away after a long battle with cancer. Although this was a very difficult time for the family, they pulled together under the strong leadership of Bob's wife Sandra. At Bob's passing, she became the sole owner of Cushman & Marden, Inc. and continues to run it today. Her brother Richard became the Vice President after 23 years in the business, and assumed the role of General Manager effectively running the business in Bobs absence.

Today, Cushman & Marden is very much a "family" business. Sandra E. Gray is President and owner of the business, while her brother Richard A. Corey is Vice President. Robert R. Gray is still with the company and was named Corporate Office Manager. David Gray, after a brief career with the Boston Red Sox, has moved up from Sales Executive to Assistant Sales Manager. Michael T. Gray has worked his way up through the ranks to become Production Manager and was named Marketing Director after completing his M.B.A. Although the business didn't begin as a family business, today it is one and enjoys all the benefits associated with it. The main strength of Cushman & Marden has always been quality products and responsive service. With the management literally brought up in the business, this strength is increased tenfold. Each employee is dedicated to delivering superior service to their customers and each has a vested interest in the success of the business. Since Cushman & Marden is a tight family business they endeavor to treat their customers as though they are also a part of their family; their greater "Cushmar" Family. Through working closely with their customers with responsive service, quality products, competitive pricing and innovative product research and development, greater customer satisfaction is afforded, while the customer enjoys an increased competitive advantage.

Cushman & Marden, Inc. continues its success in the textile industry while enjoying the benefits of a close-knit, family infrastructure. Though they have a family mentality towards business, they have in place a strategic plan which allows for growth and expansion. Their main goal is to remain a friendly, family business while expanding to better compete in the global economy. If the past is any barometer, they will indeed meet and surpass their goals.

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