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California Homes Article:
In a day when products are manufactured to insure maximum quantity at the expense of quality, there are still a handful of artists who insist on perfection. Steven Handelman is one of them. A self taught artisan. Handelman spent the better part of his life following his dreams, ultimately creating an artistic empire. Originally from St. Louis, he graduated from the University of Missouri with a business degree. then he entered the U.S. Army, where he re-discovered his love for "making things" in the craft shop where he was stationed. He also learned skills in leadership and directing people as the platoon Sergeant.
After leaving the Army, he started a leather products business in the basement of his parents home. After three months in the basement, he opened a leather shop and boutique in the trendy West End of St. Louis. Three years later, he moved to Santa Barbara. It was 1972 and he loved the small city and began Steven Handelman Studios. " I wanted to have a business name that would not define me in too narrow of a way" he says. " I worked at stained glass, sign painting , wood carving, jewelry design and a variety of architectural products. I educated myself in design, fabrication, engineering and business procedures."
As the 1988 recession began Handelman fought back with his honed versatility and entrepreneurial spirit. He shed being a "workshop" artisan, expanded his business and moved into a retail location. He not only survived, he prospered.
Handelman says his keys to success come from hard work, attention to detail, integrity, and persistence. He is hands-on all the way, designing each piece and overseeing it through the final production. His workshops hum with the efforts of the 75 artisans he inspires to bring the highest quality to their work.
Today, his company supplies hand forged lighting, fixtures worldwide. His client list includes every Disney theme park on the planet as well as luxury hotels, country clubs, shopping centers, theaters, and thousands of homes of every size and description. The work of Steven Handelman Studios is respected internationally. Steven Handelman Studios is headquartered in Santa Barbara California.
To see the entire article, look for the August issue of California Homes.
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Steven Handelman |
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Santa Barbara, California |
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The August issue of California Homes magazine has featured "me" in a very nice article. Many clients think that I do not exist, or that I am the only one here, taking orders, forging the iron products and making the deliveries. It thought this would be a good time to set the record straight.
My job at Steven Handelman Studios is to design the products, make sure they get made correctly and delivered to the right customers. With the help of 75 dedicated employees we complete over 2000 jobs each year. Included in those jobs are over 10,000 items.
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Steve standing in the stairway of the newly renovated Granada Theater in Santa Barbara.
We treat every job, large or small, with equal importance.
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