Daily News Archive
Brought to you by Home Furnishings Business
May 1,
2011 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Executive Changes on May 2, 2011
Memory foam mattress vendor Anatomic Global, Corona, Calif., has named Rick Vander Woude national sales director, a new position.
In his new role, Vander Woude will oversee the company's six regional sales managers and network of independent representatives; and lead the company's efforts in its burgeoning retail networks channel. During his three decades in the industry, Vander Woude has run national and regional sales efforts for Simmons, Tempur-Pedic and Innomax. He joined Anatomic Global as a regional sales representative in July of 2009.
The national sales director position was created after the recently announced leave of absence by Anatomic Global's President Jeff Scorziell, who several weeks ago said that he and his wife were relocating to Zimbabwe for six months to focus on missionary work they began in the country many years ago. Scorziell will remain in a consulting role with the company during this time, but has given up all day-to-day management activities.
"Rick has been one of our strongest producers for the past several years and has been serving as a mentor to other sales representatives for some time, so I believe this is a very natural evolution of roles for him in our organization," said Anatomic Global CEO David Farley. "His experience in specialty bedding, in particular, and having run larger sales forces for some of the largest players in the mattress business are also important skills he brings to our senior management team as we continue our steep growth."
Farley said that the leave of absence by Scorziell was "bittersweet" for the organization and for him personally.
"Jeff and I have become good friends and close colleagues these past few years," Farley said. "When I wear my CEO hat I would say I had wished he had picked another time to make this journey. But as his friend, I understand his commitment to the children of Africa and their need for his good work. We needed to find a balance between the needs of Jeff and those if the organization. I believe the transition and structure we have created serve all needs well."
May 1,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Executive Changes on May 2, 2011
Andy Kersey has been elected chairman of the board of BrandSource retailing group.
BrandSource, Anaheim, Cal., has more than 4,000 independent dealer members representing $14 billion dollars in retail sales of appliances, consumer electronics, flooring and home furnishings. Kersey, who has been a member of the BrandSource organization since 1991 and has served in various positions on its board since that time, also manages Hamlin & Kersey Home Center & Audio-Video Systems in Corbin, Ky.
"I'm honored and humbled that the BrandSource Board of Directors has committed their support to me as leader of this organization as we work to continue the success of our members across the U.S. and Canada," Kersey said.¨ ¨Kersey plans to help BrandSource develop initiatives designed to benefit the neighborhoods and local communities where its members do business.
"Brand Source has made a strong and impressive commitment to Ronald McDonald House Charities," he said. "Developing additional programs to reach 'Main Street' in all of our cities and towns would build positive and mutually beneficial relationships between our members and their customers."
According to Bob Lawrence, CEO of BrandSource, Kersey's appointment will help the organization evolve as it implements new programs and services designed to maximize member growth and profitability.
"Andy is a consummate professional with a keen understanding of the retail landscape and its continued evolution," said Lawrence. "I'm confident that Andy will inspire our organization and help spark new ideas as we continue to grow."
May 1,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Case Goods on May 2, 2011
Occasional and case goods furniture vendor Howard Miller has received the TharpeRobbins Award of Excellence for Vendor Partnership.
It's the second year in a row TharpeRobbins, a Statesville, N.C.-based leader in the awards and recognitions industry, has so honored Howard Miller, Zeeland, Mich.
"The entire team at Howard Miller takes pride being a responsible supplier and partner to provide lasting benefits for TharpeRobbins," said Brian Burley, director of special markets for the Howard Miller Company. "We work hard to ensure that our products are in stock to ship on time in order to enhance the experience of all gift recipients."
"A few of our vendor partners, like Howard Miller, go above and beyond year after year," said Brett Tharpe, TharpeRobbins CEO. "As a recognition company, we live, breathe and are passionate about honoring those who are exemplary. Partners like the Howard Miller Company set that standard of excellence for others. And, as we all know, recognition changes everything."
Only 21 vendors out of hundreds have been named as recipients of the second annual awards in honor of the flawless service and quality that has helped TharpeRobbins become the industry leader that it is today.
April 30,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Aggregated Content in Case Goods on May 1, 2011
from http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?z4572454123&z=1250249029
For Sandberg Furniture, one of the California's oldest makers of home furnishings, survival is a matter of adaptability, says CEO John Sandberg, who represents the fourth generation of the family-owned company.
The streets around John Sandberg's furniture factory are dotted with the shuttered shells of manufacturers that have closed down or left town. But the Sandberg family, woodworkers for four generations, has found ways to keep Vernon-based Sandberg Furniture Co. going despite foreign competition, the nation's stiffest environmental laws and the housing industry collapse.
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April 28,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Obituaries on April 29, 2011
Lynn Davis.
Shock rippled through the furniture industry earlier this week as news of Lynn's passing made its way from person to person. Such horrific, sudden news, and we were all impacted.
Wicked storms happen every day. We see them on the news, but it's typically somewhere else, someone else. Until Wednesday, when it wasn't just another storm; another unknown someone. It was one of our someones.
Our intimate furniture industry has lost an incredibly tall pillar in Lynn's passing. He was more than just a vendor selling furniture to retailers, he was also one of the industry's biggest philanthropists. Lynn was always ready and willing to take a leadership role, head up a campaign or just offer a helping hand.
In fact, he was on his way to offer his hand in help to a friend whose house had sustained storm damage Wednesday when his truck was picked up by a tornado and thrown several miles into a neighboring county.
That sums him up. He was a quiet, genuine, caring soul who never thought twice about dropping what he was doing to reach out to someone in need.
On a personal note, I met Lynn way back when in 1994 at the August Tupelo Furniture Market when I attended the market for the first of many times. He was quiet and reserved and willing to teach a new reporter about the upholstery business, the Tupelo Market and the furniture industry.
Through the years, he's been a keystone for me as I've continued to write about our ever-changing business. I was honored to sit on the furniture industry's executive board for the City of Hope with him, a position and honor he took very seriously.
His touch will forever be felt in the industry. He was one of the founders of the Tupelo Furniture Market, selling the former Mississippi Complex to V.M Cleveland in 1988. Lynn forever changed the landscape of downtown High Point with the development of the showroom buildings, Centers of High Point, which were created from shuttered mills.
His real estate holdings in the city and his firm belief in the viability of the High Point Market led him to his seat on the High Point Market Authority where he was a vocal proponent of the Market.
Lynn's impact will be forever missed; he will be forever missed.
A memorial service is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the First Baptist Church in West Point, Miss. Visitation will be held today from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the church. Burial will be in a private graveside service Saturday afternoon. Robinson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Peace and love to his family, friends and all of his industry colleagues.