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Ron Downs Launches Financial Consulting Company
August 15,
2012 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Business Strategy on August 16, 2012
Home furnishings industry veteran Ron Downs has launched The Downs Group, a new financial consulting firm.
The Downs Group will provide services to the furniture and home furnishings industry working with manufacturers, distributors and its suppliers. The Downs Group specializes in corporate finance and restructuring, financial planning, reporting and analysis, interim c-level management, internal audit and control framework, licensing agreements and requirements, mergers and acquisitions advisory, operations audits and analysis, planning and control systems and business development.
Im taking my experience and expertise to the next level," Downs said. "My unique combination of strong, hands-on expertise, combined with significant senior executive management and consulting experience in the furniture and home furnishings industry makes me a perfect fit for a broad range of consulting assignments for any size business. I swiftly analyze the current situation and provide value-added, cost-effective, timely and quality solutions."
The Downs Group brings five key factors to each assignment: confidentiality, experience, expertise, results and follow-up.
The Downs Group is the cornerstone, driving superior results and functioning as a trusted advisor at any stage of the business life cycle, Downs says.
Downs has more than 35 years of strong, operations-oriented senior financial executive and consulting experience in the home furnishings industry at the corporate, group and business unit levels working with more than 75 public and privately held companies, ranging in size from start-ups to $1 billion facing critical issues, including industry consolidation, technology changes, governmental regulations, distribution channel changes, sales and margin erosion, asset re-deployment and global strategic alliances. Downs has long-standing working relationships with many attorneys, auditors, bankers, brokers, c-level executives, factors, private equity groups and extensive furniture and home furnishings industry contacts.
Prior to launching The Downs Group, Downs was treasurer and chief financial officer at Taylor King Furniture, helping achieve record-high profitability levels through many aggressive actions, including the implementation of excellent business planning and control systems, cost reduction programs and product pricing improvements and superior asset and risk management strategies.
Before Taylor King, Downs had a successful senior management consulting company, providing financial and operational advisory services to more than 50 companies, including many major furniture and home furnishings industry manufacturers, distributors and suppliers.
Previously, Downs held senior financial and planning executive management positions with Ayers Furniture Inds., Alexvale Furniture Inc., Hickory-Fry Furniture Inc., Congoleum Corp. and operational finance positions with Hammary Furniture and Stanley Furniture.
Downs has served multiple terms on the Finance Division Board of Directors of the American Home Furnishings Alliance and its predecessor associations. The Downs Group is a current member of the American Home Furnishings Alliance Suppliers Division. Downs is also a member of APICS-The Association for Operations Management, Financial Executives International, Institute of Management Accountants and Turnaround Management Association.