Sheridan, Ark.—This year marks the 40th anniversary for Gartman, a family owned and operated technology firm, based here, that sells and supports dynamic software solutions specifically designed for the wholesale flooring distribution industry.
From humble beginnings as a small, contract programming firm and consulting business serving a variety of industries in 1980, the company’s primary focus shifted to the wholesale flooring industry after its successfully developed a comprehensive ERP package for a wholesale flooring distributor based in central Arkansas.
After the decision to focus primarily within this industry segment, Gartman enjoyed many firsts in the floor covering industry including radio frequency warehouse automation, electronic proof of delivery, dealer specific price lists, cutting machine automation and more.
In the years to follow, Gartman’s flagship software solution, Distribution Management Software (Gartman DMS) was solidified, continued to evolve and was eventually marketed nationally.
“This is an incredible milestone for any company,” said Laronne Gartman, CEO and founder. “I believe we’ve achieved our success through hard work and a culture of customer service, alongside a continued focus on product improvements and innovation. I want to thank our customers for their business and their trust over the years.”
Longevity with customers has been a cornerstone of the company’s culture, as many of Gartman’s customers have done business with them since their very early years. The company boasts several 20- and 30-plus year partnerships with its clients and service some of the largest and most reputable wholesale floor covering businesses throughout the United States and Canada, the company said.
It has a staff of over 20 full time programmers, developers, analysts and support personnel. “We are fortunate to say that we have maintained multi-decade partnerships with the most reputable wholesale flooring distributors and have done so since our early years,” said Chris Gartman, vice president. “Several members of the Gartman staff have also been with us since we began business, many for over two and three decades, and I think that also says a lot.”
In honor of their 40th anniversary, Gartman plans to unveil a new website design and company blog including a timeline of key milestones alongside some additional major product developments and key personnel additions that will be announced throughout the final quarters of 2020.
“2020 has been a challenging year for everyone,” Chris Gartman said. “However, as we celebrate and acknowledge our first 40 years, we are excited to see what the future years hold for Gartman. I believe we are in the perfect position for aggressive growth and poised to make some pivotal moves as we round out the year.”