You know them for their commercials and quality furniture, but how does a legacy business like Biltrite begin? Today on WTMJ Conversations, Marty and Randi from Biltrite Furniture sit down with WTMJ’s Libby Collins to discuss how the business began, growing up in a furniture store, predicting style trends, the furniture and funeral home connection, and much more. It’s all ahead on this edition of WTMJ Conversations! Listen in the player above.
A partial transcript is provided below, courtesy of eCourt Reporters.
MARTY KOMISAR: I came into our business when I was 12 years old, and I just loved being able to do anything. I mean, it would start with riding along in the truck, learning how to shift with the wrong hand, learning the city before the freeway system —
LIBBY COLLINS: Wait, you were driving when you were 12?
MARTY KOMISAR: No, I wasn’t driving.
RANDI SCHACHTER: Sitting in the passenger —
MARTY KOMISAR: I was learning how to shift.
RANDI SCHACHTER: He used to get picked up at school.
MARTY KOMISAR: High school.
RANDI SCHACHTER: The Biltrite delivery truck would pick him up at the high school and take him to the store after.
MARTY KOMISAR: And I would start delivering, I could drive the truck at 15.
RANDI SCHACHTER: Shhhh.
LIBBY COLLINS: I think there’s a statute of limitations, I wouldn’t worry about that.
MARTY KOMISAR: Well, there’s all kind of exemptions when you’re SOB, Son of Boss.
