Frost-Barber wants to make a difference. Locally owned and operated for 78 years, their services extend beyond merely supplying commercial furniture. They are a consultant and partner in the design process.
That’s particularly true of their work in the educational market, where they’re actively assisting architects, interior designers, project managers and school districts to promote a more immersive educational experience. “We’re on a mission to improve education for our children in the state,” says Elizabeth Beyer Carter-Thibodeaux, VP of Sales and Business Development. “We’ve done half a dozen projects in East Baton Rouge Parish, and we have now expanded into multiple school districts.” To back it up, they’ve opened the largest educational furniture showroom in Louisiana, which will soon double in size. “In the process, we ensure that what we’re putting into our school facilities is something that is going to enhance education for the children,” she adds.
AT A GLANCE
Top executives: Doug Jehle, President & CEO; Mary Jehle, Managing Director/Principal; Elizabeth Carter-Thibodeaux, Vice President of Sales and Business Development; John Toups, Vice President of Design
Phone: 225.926.5000
Address: 9322 Interline Ave., Baton Rouge, LA 70809
Website: frost-barber.com
Recently, they took it a step further at McKinley Elementary School when they met with the teachers, architects and project manager after the completion of a project. “We broke everyone into groups and led a tour of the school to inform the teachers of why we had made the selections we did, and how they could use the furniture to enhance the learning experience,” Carter-Thibodeaux says.
Essentially, the furniture is becoming part of the learning process. Tables and desks come in a variety of shapes that can be pushed together for student collaboration. Teachers also have mobile white boards and podiums that move with them for small group learning. There are also special adaptive seating items for students with ADHD, allowing them to fidget, while still keeping their eyes on the teacher.
An Exclusive Steelcase Supplier
Frost-Barber has been a Steelcase dealer for 40 years. Having such a strong relationship with one of the leaders in the world of commercial furniture manufacturing affords them the ability to provide an unmatched level of specialized service.
Steelcase is a cut above, since they design their products based upon the needs of the end user, and share their research with architects, designers and customers. “Even when I was an independent designer, I always specified Steelcase products,” says Carter Thibodeaux. “I knew that Steelcase was the best at what they did.”
Frost-Barber services any type of commercial facility, with a strong concentration in the educational, medical and industrial markets. They’ve fostered long-standing relationships along the way; Turner Industries has been a customer for 18 years. They have also been part of the Baton Rouge landscape in the medical arena. The current Woman’s Hospital and OLOL Children’s Hospital were both mostly furnished by Frost-Barber.
Not all furniture dealers can do what they do. Delivering creative workspaces and complete custom solutions, they’re Louisiana’s premier source for commercial furnishings. They provide total life-cycle services from space planning to procurement, as well as responsive delivery, installation and repairs.
Role of Technology
Technology also plays an integral role. Designers at Frost-Barber utilize specialized software programs that allow them to arrange and re-arrange the furniture within the plan, while changing finishes, colors, etc. as the customer provides input in real time. “We can show the clients in 3D what that furniture looks like within their space,” she adds. That’s all complemented by a two-story working showroom, so that clients can see what they are getting before they receive it.
It has been an undeniably successful formula, prompting Frost-Barber to expand its territory westward to the Texas state line and northward to Arkansas. They hired salespersons in Shreveport and Jennings to support the expanded territory.
In every project, their goal is always the same— to create a welcoming space that is inviting to both customers and the end user. That’s been particularly important as many companies adopt hybrid work schedules and struggle to get employees to come back to the office. The workplace must provide better than what they have at home. “If you give your staff the proper tools from a technology standpoint, posture standpoint and choice standpoint, they will choose to come to the office. We all are social creatures, after all.” Along with their vendor partner, Steelcase, they strive to help their customers “Work Better.”
Elizabeth Carter-Thibodeaux
Our success is based on the energy and experience of our people. Frost Barber has been in business since 1946. We started out as an office supply company in Downtown Baton Rouge and then moved to our current location in 1984, where we became a Steelcase Dealer, and furniture became our primary mission. Over 50% of our staff have been employees for over 18 years. We deliver a high level of service with the intent of repeat business and referrals. As a result, Frost -Barber has many long-term customer relationships lasting over fifteen years. Taking care of our customers is extremely important, but so is giving back to the community that we live and work in. Frost Barber sponsors programs such as Toys for Tots, donates to the Baton Rouge Food Bank yearly, supports various business organizations and our employees serve on various community boards.
