Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris Dicken.
Hi Chris, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
In 1955, EC Dicken, Inc. became the inaugural tenant of the original Dallas Decorative Center. The 4,000 square foot showroom was a modest start, featuring ten furniture and floor covering lines. Today, our showroom has evolved and expanded, representing 50 plus brands of furniture, lighting, fabrics, wallcoverings, and window coverings. The showroom, now an 18,000-square-foot facility, is a testament to our commitment to providing a comprehensive design experience.
Over these past many years, our family has been fortunate to play a significant role in the Dallas Design community. My grandmother, Janet Dicken, worked in the showroom alongside my grandfather and managed the business side of E.C. Dicken for almost 30 years. She was an active member of many professional organizations, serving as president of the National Home Fashions League at one point. My dad, Buzz Dicken, joined EC Dicken in 1962 and I joined my dad in the showroom in 1991. We moved to the new Dallas Design center in 1992 and have been here for over 30 years. My dad retied in 2017 and I am honored to carry on as the third-generation owner of the EC Dicken showroom.
Before coming to EC Dicken, I received a B.S. in Biology and a minor in Chemistry from the University of North Texas and was an EMT. I married my college sweetheart, Kim, and we raised four wonderful children together. Kim joined me in 2022 as the office manager and we are fortunate enough to be able to work together and continue to build EC Dicken. Kim received her undergraduate degree from SMU and received a master’s degree from The University of North Texas; she left the school system to join me at EC Dicken.
I enjoy leather working, fly fishing, and playing the banjo in my off time. I love my profession and I look forward to continuing working alongside designers and manufacturers as EC Dicken is in its 71st year in March 2026. I will do my best to help you and do my best to make my grandparents and dad proud.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There have been many challenges along the way that required a fair bit to navigate. The Great Recession on 2010-2013 was certainly a challenging time for our industry and the country as a whole. Certainly, COVID epidemic cannot be overlooked as well with all the challenges that social distancing presented with showroom traffic and manufacturer work schedules. On the heels of COVID was the Great Freeze on 2022. The aforementioned are in addition to the challenges to stay relevant to the design community bringing innovative and original products to the market.
With each challenge EC Dicken adapted and changed to a new market environment and the demands of the that new environment.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I see my role as manufacturers representative as a facilitator to help solve design needs. Working to solve a problem or adapt a item to a specific need is very satisfying part of my job. Custom work is always interesting and challenging, too. I do try very hard to stay in front of customers information curve to anticipate their needs. I feel this is not only a reflection on my ability to work effectively but it is a reflection on my family name and try hard to make my family proud.
Running a showroom is a huge responsibility an one that I do not take lightly and I am very proud and humbled to be the third generation owner of EC Dicken. EC Dicken is known for service and a very friendly and inviting showroom environment. We do our best to service client needs and work to find design solutions for projects.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
EC Dicken is know for furniture, antiques, lighting and accessories but about 15 years ago the opportunity arose to represent fabric lines. Taking on fabric lines was a completely new direction for the showroom. The new direction required a significant investment in time, display space, supplies and additional staff. The fabric department has grown from 12 lines to over 30 lines of fabric, leather, wallpaper and trim. Adding fabrics was a beneficial move for EC Dicken and allowed us to expand in the design community being able to offer new products.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ecdicken.com
