Mr. Sam Szabla |
| In-House Designer |
Hibiscus Island Home |
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About Mr. Sam Szabla
A successful small business entrepreneur, Szabla opened his first home furnishings store, Hawaiian House Inc., in a small 1,000-square foot space in Hawaii in 1996. Selling pottery and ironwork he had picked up in Mexico, Sam Szabla capitalized on the niche market of stylish home decorations and attractive furniture, similar to stores like Pottery Barn and Pier 1 had. Sam Szabla’s business boomed, and he moved Hawaiian House Inc. into a larger space and then opened a second store in Kauai’s Aloha Tower Marketplace. Sam Szabla’s day-to-day dedication to Hawaiian House Inc. eventually led to a group of five retail outlets opening on three of Hawaii’s islands.
In 2002, Hawaiian House Inc. was purchased by Delano and Seymour Inc. of Santa Monica, California. Sam Szabla, having built an entire business chain, pursued another interest as a furniture designer for a private label. Sam Szabla launched numerous design collections, including The Delano Slip Cover Sofa Collection and the Seymour China Collection. Sam Szabla’s determined study of international motifs and his passion for combining new colors and shapes were instrumental in his success as a furnishings creator.
Taking his interest for rehabilitating old homes, hotels, and restaurants and building upon it, Sam Szabla enjoyed a transition to a new career in 2003 as the CEO, General Manager, and Hotel Designer for South Beach Plaza Hotels and Villas in Miami. In this capacity, Szabla helped renovate several boutique art deco hotels, restaurants, and bars owned by the company. Some of the buildings dated as far back as the 1930s, fueling Sam Szabla’s penchant for taking traditional art and adding in some of his own modern flairs.
Sam Szabla has helped numerous young entrepreneurs and former employees pursue their own dreams through invaluable business advice and the encouragement to keep looking forward.