Watermark Living Taps Telleysh as National Sales Manager

August 14, 2018  by Laurie Northington in Executive Changes, Industry   

A veteran in the casual furniture industry, Telleysh most recently served as president of Braxton Culler, where he led the company’s strategic direction and operations and is credited with improving productivity, as well as opening new market channels. He has also worked as vp and general manager of upholstery for Lexington Home Brands; vp of sales and marketing at Southern Furniture; and as a sales and marketing manager for Clayton Marcus.

“As a resource that is laser-focused on the needs of retailers in today’s competitive marketplace, I believe Watermark Living is uniquely positioned,” said Telleysh. “A subsidiary of Leaders Casual Furniture, a highly successful 19-store, family owned- and -operated chain with 47-years of experience, this brand stands out because it was developed with a retail mindset.”

Watermark Living specializes in fashionable and customizable contract-grade products for indoors and out and is designed to be a one-stop resource for retailers. Offerings include upholstered looks encompassing both traditional and deep seating options, as well as dining, lighting and decorative accessories.

Products are stocked for fast delivery inside the company’s 120,000-square-foot distribution center located in Largo, FL. In-stock items ship in as little as 48 hours and special-order cushions are delivered in under 21 days.

“We eliminate the need for a dealer to stock a lot of inventory,” Telleysh said. “There are no containers to buy, low freight rates and dealers enjoy fast turnaround and easy-to-use programs that are retailer friendly because they have been developed by successful merchants who understand what retailers need in order to increase gross margins and avoid end-of-the-season markdowns.”

Telleysh is expanding the company’s sales force and hiring representatives that have experience and broad relationships with traditional furniture stores. He also intends to elevate Watermark Living’s presence in the interior design community and encourages designers to visit the year-round showroom located at 205 South Main Street in High Point, N.C. 

“This is not a new company; it’s a rebranded company,” he said, “with a decades-long heritage in importing and the rattan business. On the one hand, rattan as a valued, natural material with a sustainable story is making a comeback, particularly with designers seeking accent and specialty items that can add an organic feel to a space. On the other, Watermark Living is so much more, with products to furnish any environment. Our exclusive designs are extensively tested for UV and salt-water environments and we are leading the way with new materials like PoliSoul, a poly lumber with the texture and heft of solid wood.”

“Watermark Living is a natural fit for me and I’m very excited to be a part of a new entity operated by a young, innovative and tech-savvy team of merchants with computer and reporting systems far beyond anything I’ve seen in our industry,” Telleysh continued. “They have created a spot-on product line based on their knowledge of exactly what turns on the consumer. Long before they ever bring the products to Market, they know what will sell. And that is an approach I expect that dealers will, no doubt, find extremely refreshing.”