FF&E WORLDWIDE

In early 2021, Clem Soga was managing operations at Dependable Manufacturing Co. Inc. (DFm), a custom contract furniture company based in Rosarito, Mexico. Known for its precision craftsmanship in high-end wood veneer furniture, DFm operated out of a 100,000 sq. ft. facility and had developed a solid reputation in the industry. Around this time, Clem was approached by Brian Blakenship—an architect he had worked with on the Coyote Valley Casino and Coyote Valley Wyndham Garden Hotel projects.

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Brian had a timely insight: the U.S. hospitality market was becoming increasingly disillusioned with Chinese-manufactured furniture, and a growing number of clients were looking for alternative sources. He asked whether DFm might be able to pivot into hospitality furniture manufacturing. While DFm wasn’t equipped to retool for plastic laminate (PL) furniture production, Clem knew of a strong candidate overseas—CASSONE, a reputable manufacturer based in Kyiv, Ukraine.

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After nearly a year of email exchanges and Zoom meetings, Clem traveled to Ukraine in early 2022 to visit CASSONE in person. He left Kyiv on February 5, impressed by the company’s capabilities and readiness to supply quality PL furniture at scale. Just two weeks later, Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine. Remarkably, CASSONE’s facilities remained untouched, and its supply chain adapted quickly—rerouting exports via truck and rail to ports in Hamburg, Germany, and Amsterdam, Netherlands.

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With manufacturing relationships taking shape, Clem was invited by Brian and Chris Chesebrough in early 2022 to join a new venture focused on furniture, fixtures, and equipment (FF&E) for the hospitality industry. Together, the three co-founded FF&E Worldwide LLC in Delaware by mid-summer 2023, with a mission to provide high-quality, competitively priced hospitality furnishings by leveraging global manufacturing capabilities outside of China.

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Though confident in CASSONE, the team agreed it was wise to establish additional supply chains—what they called “Plan B”—to ensure flexibility and continuity. They explored potential partners in Poland, Romania, Germany, Spain, Thailand, Vietnam, and Turkey. Responses were limited or pricing was too high. Then came a promising lead: India, an emerging powerhouse in global manufacturing, offering the right combination of scale, quality, and cost-effectiveness. As FF&E Worldwide continued to grow and refine its operations, the company welcomed Adrian “AJ” Belt III in 2024, bringing on his deep financial knowledge and experience to help expand strategic partnerships and oversee international logistics.