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From Home Furnishing Business

Furniture First Recognizes Vendors

May 15, 2014  by in Furniture Retailing, Industry   

The awards were presented Tuesday during the furniture retail consortium's 2014 Symposium in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Awards were presented in three categories: Occasional, Stationary Upholstery & Leather, and Formal & Casual Dining. Winners were calculated through survey responses from Furniture First members. The survey encompassed a popular vote and member evaluations of the vendors’ performance in three “Areas of Excellence,” including Service, Quality, and Sales. Only vendors with active programs with Furniture First in 2013 qualified for the awards. 

Ashley won “Occasional Vendor of the Year”; and the plaque was received by George Gesualdo, vice president of Ashley.

“Stationary Upholstery & Leather Vendor of the Year” award went to Flexsteel.

Liberty Furniture won “Formal & Casual Dining Vendor of the Year.” Liberty Vice President of Sales Ron Childress accepted the award.

Both Ashley and Liberty Furniture participated in Furniture First’s Symposium as sponsors of the event which had a record turnout of more than 340 people in attendance.

Bill Hartman, president of Furniture First, presented plaques and expressed appreciation to the winners. 

The Board of Directors authorized the creation of the awards at their 2013 long-range planning meeting.

“We wanted to recognize the quality relationships between our members and suppliers and acknowledge that it’s our partnership that leads to our mutual success,” said Hartman. “Events like the Symposium help encourage interaction to strengthen these partnerships.”

Furniture First was founded in 1994, and today the group comprises 211 independent retailers with 444 stores in 47 states. Collectively, Furniture First Members produce $1.7 billion in retail sales.