Tender Heart Treasures creates 90 percent of its own products—and considers this one of its competitive advantages.

By Alicia Orr Suman

All of that trend information comes together back in Omaha where the products are planned, designed and specified for manufacturing. First, product concepts are presented to the design and buying teams, usually in the form of sketches. Once a concept is approved, says Olsen, “Prototypes are built, when applicable, and then sent to the manufacturers for production.”