Celebrating Jacki McKee’s 47 Years at Copenhagen

In the summer of 1979, Copenhagen had been in business for 9 years under the leadership of the founders, Erik Hansen and Tony Christensen. Business growth meant the founders were seeking extra help, and Jacki was hired as Erik’s secretary. Even though she did not know shorthand (one of Erik’s requirements), Jacki’s skills proved to be exemplary, and she developed a close relationship with the founders and other team members.

“When I started, there were only 13 employees,” Jacki says. “Four of them were the owners – Tony, Jonna, Erik, and Lise. That meant I worked closely with all of them from the very beginning.”

She looks back on those early days with fondness, stating, “It was a different time in the 1980s. Most of our furniture came from Denmark, and nearly all of it was teak. From the start, I worked most closely with Erik and quickly learned the ins and outs of the import business. It was exciting to learn something completely new – something I really knew very little about before.”

Indeed, she couldn’t have asked for better guides to the world of furniture than Erik and Tony. “Erik’s passion for furniture and design was infectious,” she states. “In the same way, Tony had a remarkable ability to connect with customers and colleagues alike. They both brought unique strengths that made them successful and highly respected in the industry.”

Growth & Expansion

As time went on, Jacki was in a unique position to witness the evolution of the company. When she started, technology consisted of using manual credit card imprinters with carbon copy for purchases and a telex machine for communication. Stock was catalogued with physical inventory cards, and records were handwritten in a ledger. Later, Copenhagen moved to a larger showroom and introduced computer systems and a fax machine into their operations, all of which Jacki took in stride.

“I worked with Lise in the office and handled a little bit of everything,” she recounts. “That included purchasing, inventory control, container tracking, accounts payable and receivable, and payroll. Shortly after I joined, we opened stores in Tempe and Scottsdale and hired another person to help in the office. As new stores opened and the business continued to grow, we added employees to support that growth.”

She notes, “The biggest change over the years has been where our furniture is sourced. Many Danish manufacturers moved production to the Far East, and as Copenhagen expanded, we enlarged our supplier network and added more upholstered furniture to our assortment.”

Through all these changes, Erik’s presence remained consistent, even as Jacki’s roles shifted. “I worked by his side for more than 40 years, and he was my mentor, my teacher, and my friend,” she declares. “During the last 10 to 15 years of my career, my primary focus was purchasing and working directly with our factories. I loved it.”

Design Inspiration

The more time she spent working at Copenhagen, the more Jacki appreciated modern design. She would soon bring it home for herself. “When I started, most of the furniture in my home had been handed down from family, with a few newer pieces purchased from big-box stores,” she recalls. “However, I quickly fell in love with the clean lines of contemporary furniture, and over time, my home became a showcase for many of the pieces we carried.”

Indeed, Jacki’s home is a testament to the extraordinary craftsmanship and durability of Copenhagen products. “My dining room furniture was among my first purchases from Copenhagen, and I still have it and love it today,” she says. “My dining table is a solid teak piece by Dyrlund, while my buffet and hutch were made by Christian Linneberg. I also have L. Larsen occasional tables that I consider timeless classics.”

She continues, “All the furniture in my home is teak, and much of it was purchased from Copenhagen in the 1980s and 1990s. Teak remains my favorite wood, and unfortunately, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find high-quality teak furniture.”

Jacki is also a big fan of Ekornes, citing it as one of her favorite brands. “I still own two original Ekornes recliners from the 1970s, along with three newer Stressless® recliners and two Stressless® sofas,” she says.

Building Connections

For Jacki, the best part of her time at Copenhagen has been, without question, the connections she has forged. “There are so many wonderful memories, but the most meaningful have been the relationships I’ve built over the years,” she reminisces. “Many workplace relationships have grown into lasting friendships – not only with fellow employees, but also with factory representatives, many of whom I’ve worked with for 20 to 30 years. The people are what made my time here truly special.”

This feeling is reciprocated among those who have worked with Jacki. Her fellow Copenhagen employees agree – Jacki has a talent for always knowing what to do and how to get it done, while showing care for others. Below, we share just a few small excerpts of praise for Jacki.

From Mary Hall, Scottsdale Store Co-Manager:

“I have had the pleasure of knowing Jacki for over 40 years. I remember Jacki calling me one day at my previous job, asking if I would be interested in interviewing for the Denmarket manager position at Copenhagen. Lo and behold, I got the job, thanks to Jacki thinking of me!

“Working with Jacki has always been a pleasure, even when she would page you to the office. Naturally you would panic and wonder ‘What did I do?’ but most of the time she just had a question for you. We tease and laugh about Jacki and her stern voice and direct comments, but she was always fair and to the point. She was always extremely helpful to me as I tried to maneuver my way around the world of furniture. Thank you, Jacki, for your friendship, mentoring and guidance!”

From Ben Duke, Phoenix Warehouse Manager:

“I know Jacki to be a very warm, caring, and loving individual. However, what has truly inspired me through the years has been her mentorship. I believe the growth I’ve had in my position is due in large part to incorporating ‘Jacki Says’ into my everyday practices.

“Jacki says: ‘Give timely responses.’ Don’t make a colleague, vendor or customer wait an unnecessary period of time.

“Jacki says: ‘Examine all information available.’ Don’t spread misinformation that could further confuse a situation.

“Jacki says: ‘Provide complete and concise information in all correspondences.’ Give others the full story, and don’t make them dig for information.

“The knowledge I’ve gained from her has been deeply personal to me. To know that Jacki respected my opinion or would trust me to take the lead on an operation was perhaps the greatest compliment she could have ever paid me.”

From Allison Galt, San Antonio Store Manager:

“Jacki is such a strong heartbeat of this company. She will always be in the background cheering us on or biting her tongue when we make mistakes. Her voice will be in the back of my mind reminding me to always choose the solution that best suits our customers’ needs without breaking the bank!

“Jacki has looked at each manager as an individual and helped us find our passion for this company, without even being in the same location as us. Her dedication to the Hansen family is awesome, and her passion for everything Copenhagen is extraordinary.”

From Lise Hansen, Vice President; Jens Hansen, CEO; and Mette Hansen, Director of Operations:

“Jacki is a wizard at planning anything and everything. All employee meetings, rep meetings, business meetings, and phone calls were handled with efficiency, integrity, and respect. We also did many events like big Danish-themed Christmas parties for the customers and employees, which were a group effort to set up. We would highlight our new Danish Christmas decorations and serve glogg and a variety of Danish treats.

“One spring, Jacki and Tom came to Denmark for the Furniture Fair in Copenhagen. That was a great way to meet all the manufacturers, and it was fun showing them both around our country. Thank you, Jacki, for all the pecan pies and rum cakes! Thank you for all these years of friendship! Thank you for just being you!”