Our History

Working full-time at Fairchild in Hagerstown, Maryland in the late 1960s, Russell Laber began fixing typewriters and small business machines to earn extra money. In the early 1970’s, while working part-time for a new office furniture store in Hagerstown, Mr. Laber purchased a used desk and resold it for a profit. That one transaction kindled an entrepreneurial fire that would last for over 30 years and make Mr. Laber one of the most unique and successful businesspersons in Hagerstown.

Since 1973, Laber’s Office Furniture has been selling pre-owned furniture to businesses and local governments in Maryland, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Always recognizing a good value, Mr. Laber had the masterful ability to convince customers that even though the desk, chair or filing cabinet was used and might have a few scratches, they will not find an item of better quality for a better price anywhere. Mr. Laber was not concerned that the desk or filing cabinet might last forever thereby limiting his future sales. His only concern was that the customer felt they got a good deal and that, when the customer’s business expanded, they thought of Laber’s first.

As Mr. Laber reached his late 70’s in 2004, he decided that it was time to step aside from the six day a week commitment he began 31 years before. After a very brief negotiation with Ridgecrest Investments, a local investment company, Mr. Laber trusted Ridgecrest to take control of the operations of the business. Ridgecrest immediately hired Mark Raidt to work with Mr. Laber to learn and understand the business. A quick study, Mark flourished as Mr. Laber’s successor and soon needed more assistance. Mark’s wife, Kim, joined the Company and along with Mark, they now own the business jointly with Ridgecrest.

Mr. Laber, as healthy and active as ever, continues to be a presence in our Hagerstown store each day. While we have expanded our locations to include Martinsburg, WV, and have added new products to our stores, Laber’s Office Furniture remains committed to the quality, value and service that Mr. Laber began in 1973. We know that Mr. Laber will always be there to make sure!