(From top, clockwise) The Minhas family—Harbhajan, Kanta, Kamaljeet, Bineeta, Parteek and Bill
courtesy of Minhas furniture

Familial furniture

Minhas Furniture has found success as a family business

by DAN JONES

After moving from India to Calgary in 1989, the Minhas family hatched a plan to start a furniture business while working in a furniture factory.

Bill Minhas embarked on his journey into entrepreneurship with his parents, Harbhajan and Kanta, and wife, Kamaljeet, in October 1997.

What began as a modest 3,000-square-foot office with one employee has evolved into multiple facilities spanning over 600,000 square feet of operational space in three countries.

Minhas Furniture specializes in recliners, leather and fabric sofas, chairs, and bedroom and dining sets. It operates out of two manufacturing plants in North Carolina, one in Calgary and a fabric sewing facility outside Shanghai. Frames are built from scratch and upholstered before being shipped around Canada.

The company also opened a division, Flair Enterprise, to import items like bedroom and dining sets from Asia to North America and South America.

“Many other businesses buy their frames from third-party sources,” says Bill, CEO of Minhas Furniture. “We customize everything with an in-house designer.”

Family still comes first at Minhas Furniture. Harbhajan and Kanta, now in their mid-70s, were supposed to retire 12 years ago, but their work ethic wouldn’t allow it, Bill says. They run production, while Kamaljeet handles the financial side of things.

“Everyone keeps going,” says Bill, adding that his son, Parteek, and daughter, Bineeta, also serve roles with the company. “And we continue to look for ways we can be better.”

Minhas Furniture earned its chops with Costco during the pandemic as products became increasingly difficult to obtain, Minhas adds. “We had a lot of products here, and we could ship them on time to Costco. We believe in the value of shipping the product on time. Even when everyone had a problem with supply issues, we brought it in on time, even if it meant spending extra. In the long run, it’s an investment.”

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