The Willow Glen Resident

Photograph by Skye Dunlap

Exhibiting Family Traits: Willow Glen's Ferrari family (l-r: Dave, Julie, Marie and Mark) is hosting the 'Work, Life, Tools' photographic display at the Lindsay-Ferrari home office.

'Work, Life, Tools' show is business as usual for the Glen's Ferrari family

Local workspace designers host benefit exhibit for Tech Museum

By Mary Spicuzza

It's a quickly changing world, made up of a vast array of people doing countless different things. But pretty much everyone--save those born independently wealthy--will go to work at some point in their lives. Instead of presenting it as the daily grind, the local office-environment masterminds at Lindsay-Ferrari have chosen to celebrate work and the tools that allow people to pursue their dreams. The company is now hosting Steelcase Design Partnership's traveling national exhibit, Work, Life, Tools, an exploration of contemporary culture as told through the tools Americans use on the job.

The Ferrari family itself has a deep commitment to hard work. In the 25 years that they've owned the company, the longtime Willow Glen residents have expanded Lindsay-Ferrari's range of services from office supplies to office design, building on 73 years of success.

Even Lindsay-Ferrari's Milpitas warehouse-workspace makes good use of space and design. The hard edges of the warehouse aren't hidden; instead, they're highlighted. At the same time, the lofty warehouse feel is softened by fluid furniture, plush carpeting and modern highlights.

"We're using this space to tell a story," CEO Mark Ferrari says proudly. The company specifically chose to convert a warehouse space into its new office to show the creative options available to companies in designing their office environments.

Besides being a testament to what the company can do, the warehouse tells a story of a hard-working family that puts teamwork, customers and employees first, while staying focused on giving back to the community. A classic "cruiser" bicycle sits near the door of the Lindsay-Ferrari workspace, a reminder of the company's roots. The late Elmo Ferrari began working in the business in 1947. Elmo had just finished years of Army service during World War II and became the first bicycle delivery man for Curtis Lindsay Inc., then a bookstore in downtown San Jose. (Lindsay-Ferrari's history wall still holds the newspaper clipping announcing Mr. Lindsay's purchase of his book shop for $18,000.) At that time the store only sold books, stationery and a tiny selection of office supplies.

In 1975 Elmo and his wife, Marie, became half-owners, and over the years, their three children--Mark, Julie and Dave--have chosen to work in the family business. "Dad never forced us to join the company; he always encouraged us to do what drives us," Mark says.

But the children have all found an important role in the company. The Willow Glen- based family became the sole owners in 1983. In 1985 they changed the name to Lindsay's Business Supplies and Furniture, and quickly became the largest locally owned office-product supplier in California. When Elmo passed away that same year, the Ferraris unanimously decided to keep the business in the family. Marie remains company chairwoman, Mark now serves as CEO, Dave is president and Julie is executive vice president.

"We believe in surrounding ourselves with experts in various areas, and we operate as a team," Mark says of the company's 330 employees.

It's this teamwork that has helped them survive--and thrive--throughout the years. Instead of resting on their father's success, the Ferraris have branched out from being furniture dealers to offering over 30 different services, including workspace design, ergonomics, facilities management, office furniture storage and move coordination. Sales have increased from less than $10 million in 1985 to $104 million in 1997.

While the Ferraris have never stopped working, they have always found time to give back to Willow Glen and the surrounding community. Mark has served as president of the Holy Name Society and has sat on the school board of St. Christopher School, his and Dave's alma mater.

"Our mom has lived in Willow Glen our whole life, and so will we," Mark says. "Willow Glen is our home."

Lindsay-Ferrari also hosts an annual fundraising event for Via Rehabilitation, formerly known as the Crippled Children's Society of Santa Clara County. This year's fundraiser is a bowl-a-thon that will take place on Oct. 17.

In the meantime, the company is hosting the Work, Life, Tools exhibit to benefit the Tech Museum. Designed by Milton Glaser Inc. with photography by Matthew Klein, the exhibit showcases photos of people from across the nation, each pictured with a most valued work tool. The Lindsay-Ferrari exhibit also includes 12 local participants, from Mayor Susan Hammer with her cell phone to The Tech's CEO Peter Giles with Palm Pilot in hand, photographed by Michael O'Callahan.

"We just wanted to include a diverse group of people at work, and the things that enable them to do what they do," says Jill Wilterdink of Steelcase Design Partnership, the exhibit's sponsor.

Family teamwork remains a key tool in the Ferrari family's success. Mark smiles, "We all live and breath this place."

"Work, Life, Tools" will be exhibited through Oct. 16 at Lindsay-Ferrari, 1057 Montague Expwy., Milpitas. Hours are Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

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