About UsXylem Design brings you America's finest selection of display, presentation, and specialty easels. (Xylem is from the Latin meaning "woody tissue") We operate our manufacturing and distribution company in Old Town Fort Collins Colorado, a mid-sized college town with a small-town feel.
We're just a short drive from Rocky Mountain National Park, which offers an utterly spectacular experience for any visitor. Magnificent elk herds, knee-weakening ridge-top drives and a friendly Western attitude await you. If you're out this way, drop on by and I'll give you some pointers on the great spots to visit, like the Swetsville Zoo, a delightfully whimsical sculpture garden, and, for the serious art lovers, Loveland Colorado, the sculpture capital of the West. I'll also show you our great local micro breweries (New Belgium, O'Dell's, and HC Berger).
The company originated in the basement of my parent's home, where I spent countless hours building wood-related projects from elementary through high school. I now bring you 30 years of hands-on experience, including the design, engineering and construction of furniture, ultra-light aircraft, countless widgets, and manufacturing equipment. Many of my designs are unique enough to be patented.
This 900 square foot Chicken Coop was our first shop in Historical Bucks County Pennsylvania just down the road from Doylestown.
I was actually running an art gallery in central Philadelphia at the time and needed some easels. I went to visit my close lifelong friend and fellow woodworker, Glenn Bostock at his woodshop in rural Bucks County, about a one-hour drive from the gallery.
I needed some easels for the gallery so I drove to Glenn's shop on a Sunday afternoon and we built a few of the first Bifold Easels. We used leather hinges, as no metal hinges were available. The leather hinges remain a trademark element and have proven virtually indestructible. I started using the Display Easels in the gallery and noticed that my customers were more interested in the easels than the art. I followed their lead and Xylem Design as an easel business was formed.
Glenn went from cabinet making to form Bostock Elevator and Xylem Design have been designing and building easels ever since!
Xylem Design relocated to Arizona and then on to Fort Collins Colorado, a place to call home for the family.
Our Business
We're a business operated by highly intelligent and capable people. In these days where good service and information are a rarity, we excel at providing both. I fully expect that you will be impressed by the depth of available information, both on this Web site and from our service staff.
Our Products
Many of our easels are patented or have patents pending (look for the "Xylem Design Original" logo), and all come with our total satisfaction guarantee. If you are ever dissatisfied with any of our easels or easel products, contact us and we will fix the problem, replace the easel, or refund your money. It's that simple.
While many of our products are hand-crafted in Colorado, some items are produced by other manufacturers, allowing us to provide a larger selection at competitive prices.
View Our Easels
The Web site
During Xylem's infancy, an old sales rep introduced me to the principle of K.I.S.S, or "Keep it simple, stupid!" K.I.S.S. Being stupid is easy. Keeping it simple is seriously difficult work! I am a right-brainer with minimal patience for anything not intuitive. Being so, I was determined to make this informative and easy to navigate. Jon Summerfield of Blue Avenue Design has worked closely with me to build this site, and I think he has a good eye, and understanding of Web site usability.
Our guarantee
"What goes around comes around..."
My parents and several other people whom I respect highly handed me some great age-old advice early on: "Treat others as you would wish to be treated." The Golden Rule, Karma - call it what you will, it all comes down to this: "What goes around comes around." That's the treatment we expect, so that's the treatment you receive. I will do whatever it takes to make sure you are satisfied with our products. If something slips by us or we bungle a job, let us know. We will do whatever it takes to set things straight.
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Greg Glebe |
Greg's family circa 2002 |
Xylem Shop present day
Some people say Greg is a visual thinker...wonder where they got that idea
Tiger Lily guarding Dick's cell phone from thieving mice
Chris in Accounting with his wife looking over his shoulder...
View from offices
Karl producing EZ1824 Watercolor Easels
Zach our tech guy
Ubiquitous Karl in front of the offices
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Brad prototyping an AV cart |
Robert in production |
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Chris in accounting |
Dick Bergs managing things in general... |
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Crazy Katie delivering her home made salsa |
Pulling a shipment |
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In The Smokehouse |
Secret easel manufacturing codespeak |
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Joe the law student in assembly |
Another pedestal order headed out the door |
