SICO

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Built to Last

Imagine the cafeteria in your elementary school. For some of us it may be difficult to remember the details, but I doubt you could forget the bench seating you sat at day after day, swapping your food and giggling with your friends before recess. Although SICO isn’t specifically in the business of making memories, its products—quite possibly those tables you sat at some years ago—stand the test of time to be part of the backdrop of your school days, and many other milestones of your life.

SICO is a third-generation family-owned company that has been creating and innovating many of the products used in daily life: from stadium seating and school auditorium furniture from your youth to the stages, platforms, dance floors, and tables at your wedding, there’s a good chance you’ve crossed paths with these products before.

Kermit Wilson, founder of the company, originally called the company Seating Company, and over its history it has been called Seating Incorporated, SI, and then SICO. This demonstrates the change of focus for the business, which originally dealt in chairs and has since expanded to include anything you might see at a conference.

SICO products are known for their ease and speed of use, and its niche products like food warmers and wall beds allow the company to have a presence in many different marketplaces.

Current SICO CEO Chris Wilson—who just recently acquired the new title—started with the company in 1999 after time in the U.S. Navy during Desert Storm, and has worked for his family company in Australia, China, and Europe—SICO Incorporated has locations all over the world, which speak to the company’s dominance in the industry.

“Our long history has allowed a high level of brand recognition in the industry all over the world,” said Chris Wilson. “The U.S. market however is where we are strongest. It’s the leader in all of our product markets.”

A Long History of Excellence

Minneapolis, Minnesota is where it all started 64 years ago for Kermit Wilson. Chris Wilson shared that his grandfather was an inventor, always tinkering with new and better designs for the products he was already selling. He believes this is what has helped keep the company at the top of its game.

“SICO has been offering products that other companies didn’t have to start. My grandfather built the brand as a product innovator and our core success has been based on a wide-ranging offering that others don’t have.

“From there, he created a business that was built around brand recognition and customer-oriented service.”

SICO’s exceptional customer service was built on a common trait of many businesses—its serial number identification. Every single product since the company’s inception contains a serial number. This allowed Kermit Wilson and subsequent leaders to know exactly which version the customer had if there was trouble with a product.

It also came in handy for the school district in Oroville, Washington. Remember those cafeteria tables at the beginning? The maintenance director, as well as most of the district staff, had sat around the same tables as its current 21^st-century students. The district was interested in purchasing the new model cafeteria tables from SICO to replace the schools’ older models—older by 57 years.