Daily News Archive
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November 6,
2012 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Executive Changes on November 7, 2012
Industry veteran David Binke has joined luxury mattress maker E.S. Kluft & Co. to lead its sales and marketing efforts in the Central and Eastern United States.
Binke most recently served five and a half years as executive vice president of sales for Comfort Solutions. Prior to that, he was executive vice president of sales for the Spring Air brand under several different ownerships, one of which was a 10-year partnership with Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.-based E.S Kluft & Co. President and CEO Earl Kluft, when he owned the nations largest Spring Air plant.
Before coming over to the manufacturing side of the business, Binke was a buyer with Robinsons-May, and divisional merchandise manager for Macys and Montgomery Ward.
While Binke will focus on the East and select national accounts, Senior Vice President of Sales Howard Galant now oversees the Western United States and select export accounts for the two brands.
As our business has grown significantly in the East and with our new larger plant in Pennsylvania, we needed to expand our executive management team to help us continue to grow and develop deeper relationships with our dealers, said Kluft. I have known David for a very long time and we had both successfully worked together along with Howard for many years. I think he is one of the best sales leaders and executives in the business today, and Howard and I are pleased to be reunited with him.
I have been watching Earl build an exciting national brand for several years now," Binke said. "I was at a stage in my career where I was yearning for a more entrepreneurial experience, which I believe Ive found with the Kluft and Aireloom brands. Working again with Earl and his team is a very exciting opportunity that I will truly value.
Binke received his bachelors degree from Michigan State University where he majored in advertising and retail management. He and his family reside in Naperville, Ill.
November 6,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Case Goods on November 7, 2012
High-end case goods and upholstery manufacturer Harden Furniture was featured Friday in a Huffington Post article on U.S.-made furniture.
Writer Michelle Minetti conducted a question-and-answer interview with Arlene Hall, director of marketing for McConnellsville, N.Y.-based Harden Furniture, who discussed the challenges of making furniture domestically along with Harden's work in sustainable manufacturing.
November 6,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Executive Changes on November 7, 2012
Bryan Semmens has joined online and brick-and-mortar leather furniture retailer Bari Leather Furniture as CFO.
From 2011 to 2012, Semmens was CFO of furniture manufacturer Archetype Furniture, where he was instrumental in the acquisition of a major client contract with Ikea, as well as a project to expand the companys production and successfully launched an international manufacturing facility. The previous 15 years were spent building one of the most successful accounting firms in Southern California. Semmens has a bachelors degree in accounting and is a licensed certified public accountant.
For all of our remarkable successes over our first 10 years, Bryan brings a combination of furniture and financial experience that is already having a significant impact on our entire business, said Co-President Tom Tilaro.
Semmens said he was impressed with what Bari had achieved in its first decade through bootstrapping and entrepreneurial spirit. The company is on pace for a $13 million in sales 2013. He noted that the next steps for growth will come from solid fiscal management and investment in growth categories and inventory; and that with effective relationships with factories and other partners, Bari can achieve sales of $50 million in the next five years.
Baris Furnitures business model has been solidified and grown every year for a decade," Semmens said. "By engaging proven metrics and processes, I am looking forward to refining our model to achieve multiples of that growth to over the next 5-plus years.
Bari Leather Furniture features brands including Ekornes Stressless, Palliser Furniture, Omnia, and its own line of privately produced products.
November 5,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Executive Changes on November 6, 2012
Art Raymond will leave his post of senior vice president-case goods operations at Hooker Furniture (NASDAQ-GS: HOFT) on Jan. 31.
That date marks the end of his employment agreement.
Raymonds responsibilities for oversight of wood furniture corporate operations including forecasting, supply chain management, warehousing, distribution and product quality will be assigned to various other senior managers in the company, who will report to Paul B. Toms Jr., chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
Hooker has been very fortunate to have someone of Arts caliber in this key role over the last three years, said Toms. As we had hoped when we brought Art on board, he has successfully groomed the next generation of operations leaders, led our transition to a new sourcing footprint in Asia, and greatly improved our forecasting, logistics and supply chain operations. We are forever grateful for his selfless contributions.
Raymond, who was a consultant to the furniture and wood products industries for 40 years prior to joining Hooker, is expected to resume a consulting role with the company on a variety of projects as the company continues to expand its product line and distribution channels.
November 5,
2012 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Executive Changes on November 6, 2012
Case goods vendor Martin Home Furnishings has promoted Paul Tabeek to vice president of sales and marketing
Tabeek has responsibility for developing sales and marketing strategies for the San Diego-based companys two brands; kathy ireland Home by Martin and Martin Home Furnishings.
October High Point market was a turning point for us. Our customers had expressed what they were looking for and they were happy with our response, said Martin CEO Gil Martin. High Point market not only allowed us to present new introductions that were very well received, it also showed me that Paul has a good understanding of what our sales team needs to succeed. He definitely represents our product and our company in a very professional manner.
Tabeek has been with Martin for six years, formerly serving as channel development manager. In his new position he reports to Owner and CEO Gil Martin.
I am excited to have the opportunity to lead Martins sales and marketing efforts, said Tabeek. I am looking forward to helping the company grow its business and further its brand recognition in years to come.