Background Information

Dan Smith and James Fong founded Smith & Fong in 1989 as a design/manufacturer of art-craft quality bamboo pieces. At the time bamboo was perceived as a cheap material for low-cost or disposable items, and Smith & Fong made its mission to change this perception. The company succeed and its puzzle boxes, trays and tea canisters were well received by Gump’s in San Francisco, the New York Museum of Modern Art, the Chicago Art Institute and other fine boutiques and retailers nationwide.

In 1993 Smith & Fong converted a Chinese tea-processing plant to produce bamboo flooring. In the same year the company joined the National Wood Flooring Association and worked out a distribution agreement with Bay Area-based flooring distributor Golden State Flooring. Under the name Plyboo, Smith & Fong was the first company to bring bamboo flooring to the US market. The first product was an amber flat-grain flooring that is still in stock today (FL-1272PA).

In 1996 Angus Stocks joined Smith & Fong as an equity partner. The company leased its own space and took possession of its inventory. A second color of bamboo flooring (natural) was added, and the company introduced architectural-grade bamboo plywood to the marketplace.

Smith & Fong incorporated in 1997 and spent the balance of the 1990s adding more bamboo flooring and plywood options to its Plyboo offerings. In 2000 the company launched bamboo strand flooring; in 2001 Smith & Fong introduced coconut palm plywood and flooring under the Durapalm brand, and bamboo plywood production moved to a 4’x8’ dimension.

2006 saw the company venture into the sports floor market with PlybooSport. The first installation was in Dallas, Texas, where Smith & Fong first launched its flooring business 13 years prior.

Today Smith & Fong Plyboo offers more than 50 SKUs in bamboo plywood with product up to 13’ in length, close to 25 SKUs in bamboo flooring offering options in click-lock, standard or strand plank, and a variety of tambour paneling and bamboo veneers. The company also manufactures a full line of coconut palm products under the brand name Durapalm that includes flooring, plywood, paneling and veneer.

In April this year Smith & Fong leased a building in San Francisco, returning to its roots after more than a decade on the peninsula. 2007 will see Smith & Fong’s commitment to eliminating formaldehyde from its manufacturing processes with the introduction of UF-free bamboo flooring under the brand PlybooPure. PlybooPure bamboo plywood follows in January 2008.

The company currently has 15 full-time employees, 12 stocking distributors and 24 independent manufacturer’s representatives in North America.

Corporate Timeline

1989

Smith & Fong, founded by Dan Smith and James Fong designs, manufactures and markets high-end bamboo craft

1993

Smith & Fong converts Chinese tea-processing plant to produce bamboo flooring; company joins National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) and develops distribution deal with Golden State Flooring in San Francisco

Under the name Plyboo, Smith & Fong brings first bamboo flooring product to the United States

1996

Second color SKU (natural) launched; both colors offered prefinished and unfinished

Company launches bamboo plywood in _” 3’x6’ size

Angus Stocks joins Smith & Fong as partner

Company leases space and takes possession of inventory

1997

Smith & Fong incorporates

1999

Edge-grain bamboo product introduced; more products added to line

2000

Company begins manufacturing 4’x8’ sheets in 20 SKUs; adapts strand technology to bamboo flooring

2001

Strand plywood and flooring launched along with coconut palm plywood and flooring

2006

Bamboo sports floor launched; first installation in Dallas, Texas

2007

Smith & Fong now offers more than 50 SKUs in bamboo plywood, 25 SKUs in flooring, several SKUs in tambour paneling, and bamboo veneer. In addition, the company offers end block products in strand, standard bamboo plywood and coconut palm

Smith & Fong leases building in San Francisco and rolls out new PlybooPure, formaldehyde-free flooring product with bamboo plywood to follow in January

Company now has 15 full-time employees, 12 stocking distributors and 24 independent manufacturer’s reps throughout North America