Today we’d like to introduce you to David Quintanilla.
David, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Palmetto Upholstery has been a trusted name for nearly 25 years and came under new ownership in March 2025. Since then, the company has undergone a dramatic and impressive transformation focused on customer satisfaction, quality, collaboration, and vertical integration. The new owners have leveraged their complementary businesses to expand the service portfolio beyond furniture to include boats, bars, restaurants, and drapery/curtain projects.
We are an upholstery workroom and fabric showroom based in Hilton Head, proudly serving the Savannah community. With deep roots in the region, we collaborate closely with designers and clients to breathe new life into their spaces.
Our mission is to deliver exceptional craftsmanship and service while ushering the upholstery trade into a new generation.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The transition has not been without challenges. Under previous ownership, the business suffered from neglected customers and declining quality. When we took over, we faced a wave of quality issues, customer complaints, and little to no cooperation from the prior owner. In addition, the existing workforce was resistant to the higher quality standards and process improvements we were implementing.
Despite these obstacles, we made a deliberate decision to address every issue head-on—resolving customer returns, improving service, and rebuilding our production systems from the ground up. We completely turned over the staff, bringing in trained upholsterers from our Myrtle Beach and Charleston locations, as well as relocating skilled talent from other states.
While the first few months brought financial hardship as we absorbed the cost of fixing past mistakes, this commitment ultimately proved invaluable. Word spread quickly throughout the community, and sales began to grow—both from returning clients and new customers. Designers who had distanced themselves under the previous ownership began coming back, not only with new projects but also referring others. This momentum has fueled our expansion into new markets such as Savannah and Tybee, where we continue to experience strong growth.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Palmetto Upholstery?
We are an upholstery workroom and fabric showroom located in Hilton Head, proudly serving the Lowcountry and surrounding areas. We take great pride in our customer service, craftsmanship, and diverse portfolio of work. Above all, our greatest differentiator is our people.
Our expertise extends far beyond furniture. Our services range from boats and motor coaches to bars, restaurants, and everything in between. Thanks to our extensive and varied background, we’re able to solve unique challenges with creativity and precision. For example, we were recently approached by a golf course to reupholster an 8,000-square-foot acoustic ceiling. Leveraging our engineering background, we first developed and tested the process, then created a small assembly line to efficiently and effectively upholster more than 250 ceiling panels. The result was a benchmark acoustic installation completed in time for the grand opening of the new clubhouse.
Our expanding offerings now include custom drapery and curtains, marine upholstery, and even custom furniture manufacturing—allowing us to deliver complete, tailored solutions for any space.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://palmettoupholstery.com
