Standing on a different path
DREW DE WEERD TAKES ON THE TERRAIN OF BUSINESS, LIFE AND OFF ROAD
When Drew de Weerd, founder and CEO of MultiTable, isn’t in the office, he is probably hiking or cycling.
De Weerd, originally from the Netherlands, moved to Phoenix in 1997 for what he expected to be one year. He spent his first summer in the U.S. riding motorcycles through Zion National Park.
In 2002, while skiing in Telluride, Colorado, with his brother, de Weerd expressed his frustration about the lack of height adjustable desks in the U.S.
“Height adjustable desks have been part of the normal office furniture line in Europe for probably at least 20 years,” de Weerd said. “My family actually was manufacturing height adjustable desks 10 to 14 years ago.”
From an entrepreneurial family, de Weerd identified there was a market for standing, height adjustable desks in the U.S. and found a way to easily address the market demand by taking action himself. MultiTable is a manufacturing company of height-adjustable standing desks headquartered in Phoenix.
The use of standing desks is scientifically proven to burn more calories, alleviate stress on the spine, improve blood pressure, and boost energy and productivity for office workers.
“I can feel the difference between sitting down for an hour versus standing for an hour,” de Weerd said.
In 2010, de Weerd began manufacturing and marketing height adjustable desks in the U.S. It took about six months to get the operation going.
“We purposefully wanted to make it an e-commerce product,” de Weerd said. “Since the height adjustable frame was already designed, we had to make sure we had a consumer-ready, mom-tested product.”
De Weerd said he often would send his mother the next version of MultiTable’s standing desk and ask her to put it together. If she was able to put it together, Weerd knew it was “mom-proof.”
He has brought the family business of manufacturing and selling height adjustable standing desks to the U.S., and his brother is on his manufacturing team.
“Most of the time I spend with my family. We love going up north and getting out of town for a bit,” de Weerd said.
He appreciates Arizona’s diverse climate and particularly enjoys being only a few hours away from Flagstaff skiing resorts. From one of the wettest countries in the world, de Weerd optimistically embraces the dry Phoenix heat.
“If you’ve lived with wet socks for your whole life, being dry is great,” de Weerd said.
De Weerd said he enjoys the risk and spontaneity of being a CEO. He said MultiTable is expanding as it attempts to quadruple production of table tops and standing desks in the near future. With hopes of having more free time as he further establishes his business, de Weerd’s future plans involve being somewhere on a sailboat within the next 20 years.
DREW DE WEERD
Title: President
Company: MultiTable
First job: My first job was working for my dad in construction. I was 13 years old.
Family: Wife, two kids.
What makes you tick: I’m a problem solver. I always have been. When I see a need, I just can’t help but try to find the solution.
Three things always in your refrigerator: Grapefruit juice, plain Greek yogurt and Dutch cheese.
Aside from your parents, the most influential person in your life: My wife. She’s always there for me. She’s incredibly supportive and a great sounding board.
Best conversation piece in your house: My wife’s electric car, BMW I3. It’s all electric and everyone wants to see it/talk about it. Everyone always asks about the range anxiety.
Important in job: Flexibility
Wish you knew 20 years ago: How to read a balance sheet.
Favorite book: A Dutch book by author Jooft Zwagerman called “Gimmick.” It’s about the ‘80s and ‘90s in Amsterdam. A true coming-of-age story.
