Pat Martinek: A Real Renaissance Woman
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At The Giggle Guide™, our “Road to Success” series shares the interesting paths leaders in the children’s industry have taken that have guided and influenced their businesses. We recently heard about the journey of Pat Martinek, founder of Martinek BéBé. We’ve all heard about “Renaissance men,” but nothing about “Renaissance women.” Pat is a true Renaissance woman. She is known for her award-winning furniture products — round & rectangular cribs, hand-forged cradles, armoires, toy chests and other baby-oriented furniture — plus innovative, elegantly designed store fixtures.
Picture yourself meeting Pat Martinek for the first time. You walk into Pat’s Texas home. Her husband greets you at the door. Your eye is drawn to the numerous mounts high on the living room wall – deer, elk, and wild boar, the meanest of all. Naturally, you turn to him and say, “Yours?” “No,” he responds, “They’re Pat’s. I’m a pheasant hunter.” So goes your introduction to this Renaissance woman, Pat Martinek.
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From the Farm to the Furniture Business
Pat’s parents, hard-working farmers/ranchers of Czechoslovakian decent, raised their five children on a ranch near Sherman, Texas. Pat looked after the house and her youngest brother, cooking for the family, all of whom worked on the farm, including her mother. Pat became an excellent cook. She is now such a capable cook that she could easily qualify as executive chef at a five-star restaurant.
After completing college and a few years of experience, Pat became European buyer for a well-known United States antique dealer. She traveled extensively in France, Monaco, Austria and Italy. What she learned from that she has never forgotten.
Pat moved to Miami Beach and opened an antiques business. She eventually moved to Dallas and opened the famous Rugs, Rugs, Antiques, Antiques. Her knowledge of antiques grew to encompass Persian rugs, other Mid-Eastern rugs and Portuguese needlepoint rugs. Pat became knowledgeable about all different types of rugs from around the world. Rug designing was the introduction to Pat’s world of designing her various products.
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Pat Martinek’s customers wanted to encase their televisions in antique armoires, but the television sets would not fit. With the resourcefulness of a Renaissance woman, Pat opened a factory, making the proper-sized armoires for entertainment centers. Subsequently, Pat’s business savvy and design inspirations led her to baby cribs, cradles and bedding. She formed a baby furniture and linens manufacturing company known as Martinek BéBé.
Innovation is a Fixture in Her Success
After having been in this business for a while, Pat noticed that display fixtures lacked the personality and high-end style needed by her clientele. True to form, Pat now designs and produces a line of elegant store fixtures with eye-catching finishes. She formed 1StoreFixtures.com to produce and market them. Store owners cab display their merchandise to its best advantage on Pat’s top-quality display fixtures.
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Pat has earned a reputation as a creative force and leader in the children’s business.. She has appeared on Good Morning America, HGTV and the covers of many trade magazines. Pat’s products have won numerous awards. Most recently her products were selected by readers of Baby and Children’s Product News magazine as 2009’s First Place Winner in Cribs and Second Place Winner in both Cradles and Window Treatments.
Martinek’s Multi-Brand NY Pavilion - August 14-20.
Pat Martinek’s products and companies – Martinek Co., Martinek BéBé, and 1StoreFixtures.com – are in showrooms at markets in New York, Atlanta, Dallas, High Point, and Las Vegas. Her latest venture is Pat Martinek’s Baby and Children’s NY Pavilion, Suite 820 at Building 7 W at 7 West 34th St., New York City. It is the ultimate source for everything baby and child needs. Martinek’s showroom specializes in home, nursery, and customized products with a French country and English design aesthetic – Martinek’s signature for over 20 years. Companies exhibiting in Pat Martinek’s Baby and Children’s NY Pavilion are: Angel Song, I Lite 4 U, Just Too Cute, Chi Chi Baby, Hayli Bug, Villa Bella, Renditions by Reesa, Martinek BéBé, Martinek Co. and 1 Store Fixtures, My Stuff, Handmaiden, and Robin Wren Designs. http://martinekbebe.com/pavilion.html
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Hunter, Antiques Expert, Designer, Business Owner and Five-Star Chef … a true Renaissance Woman, that’s Pat Martinek. For more information, visit www.martinekbebe.com and www.1StoreFixtures.com.
Have you heard an interesting “Road to Success” story about someone in the children’s business, from designers to manufacturers, reps and retailers? Let us know! Editorial Director David Gaunt,
