Cara Dau Allen and Ryan Dau - DAU FURNITURE
DesignSTL|Jan/Feb 2020
Growing up, Cara Dau Allen and Ryan Dau weren’t involved with the family business.
By Megan Mertz
Cara Dau Allen and Ryan Dau - DAU FURNITURE

“It was something that we knew about and were aware of, but my parents made an effort to not bring it home too much,” says Dau.

Though the siblings never felt pressured by their parents, both joined the business as adults. Allen took on a customer service role 12 years ago, and Dau joined the sales team seven years ago. Then, last fall, their father, Paul Dau, retired, and Dau and Allen became the fifth generation to run the showroom.

The siblings agree that they get along “exceptionally well.” The industry is full of family businesses, Dau says, and they know that’s not always the case.

“Anytime there’s tension, we know we have the best interests of the business at heart,” Dau says. “We hear each other out so that we do what’s best for the business, our customers, our employees.”

This story is from the Jan/Feb 2020 edition of DesignSTL.

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This story is from the Jan/Feb 2020 edition of DesignSTL.

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