Sklar Furnishings Honored as 2014 Small Business

June 11, 2014  by in Furniture Retailing, Industry, Special Events   

Rick Howard and Pat Howard, cofounders and co-owners of the store, were presented with the award at a luncheon.

The Howards were lauded as serving as role models of innovation and best practices in business leadership by Tony McLellan, the chamber's CEO and president. 

“From their stewardship of Sklar’s 22,000-square-foot contemporary home and office furnishings showroom and design center into the only one of its kind in the region, directing a diversified team of credentialed home and office designers and space planners, collaborating with hundreds of custom vendors and suppliers from around the globe to their robust industry leadership roles, long-standing “commitment to community” and “sustainable live/work” philosophy, they set the standard extremely high for others who work, live, and play in Boca Raton and Palm Beach County," he said.

The Howards were applauded for their year-round efforts to help drive the message of building a greater eco-community as industry leaders in green advocacy.

As members of the Sustainable Furnishings Council, the Howards said they take great pride in collaborating with a variety of custom furniture lines that are invested in reducing the environmental impact of operations and use of reclaimed natural materials. Going beyond best practices, Sklar Furnishings partners in creating forests via the National Forest Initiative by donating a tree to one of Florida’s four natural forests for each purchase of a wood product.

Since Sklar Furnishings opened in November 2002, the company has had a strong community presence and engagement, including a partnership with Habitat for Humanity. Sklar donates merchandise to the organization for sale in ReStores. The retailer has been recognized with the “I Gave at the House” Award for six consecutive years. Rick Howard serves on the Habitat for Humanity board of directors. The retailer also supports a number nonprofits including Florence Fuller Child Development Centers, Junior League of Boca Raton and Rotary International.