Schnadig International Corp. has announced a new business development team to further advance recent increases in the company’s strategic market share and broaden its customer base to support its new multiple brand strategy. The team of Lenwood Rich, Jeff Katz and Phil Pfeifer will be led by Jeff Young, chairman and CEO.
“We are fortunate to be able to assemble this team of highly qualified and experienced sales and merchandising professionals. Lenwood, Jeff and Phil will be able to work strategically to better serve our existing customers and expand our distribution to new markets with our growing base of products across multiple styles, categories and price points,” Young says. “Our stated position of developing the industry’s most intelligent business model insists that we view our relationship with our customers as a true partnership. The focus of this team will be to globally develop long term relationships for all five of our portfolios.”
Lenwood Rich has joined Schnadig as one of two senior vice presidents of business development to address new markets and business opportunities. As the former President of Drexel Heritage Furniture, Rich brings strong sales and marketing leadership to the company, particularly for the higher styled brands: Schnadig Home, Compositions, and the company’s newest division, Caracole. He also held executive sales management positions while at Lexington Home Brands.
“Joining Schnadig is an opportunity to help reposition a company with a proud tradition that is now fueled by the power of its parent company, Markor International Furniture,” Rich says. “It is this ability to control the supply chain as a total manufacturing resource for several furniture categories at multiple price points that now differentiates Schnadig and makes this move so compelling and attractive for me.”
Jeff Katz, currently vice president of sales for Schnadig, has been promoted to an equal position of senior vice president of business development. Katz joined Schnadig three years ago. He brings nearly 30 years of sales and merchandising experience, most recently at Broyhill Furniture Industries and with major “big box” retailers including Sears Homelife, John M. Smyth Homemakers and Levitz Furniture. Katz will serve customers carrying all segments of Schnadig’s new portfolio of brands, with a special emphasis on the value driven Schnadig, Schnadig Home and Lauren Ralph Lauren brands.
Phil Pfeifer will serve as Schnadig’s lead international sales executive, bringing 15 years of experience managing and selling mid- to high-end U.S. brands. His experience in international sales includes serving most recently as vice president of international sales for Furniture Brands International with prior international sales positions for Thomasville, Drexel Heritage, Lifestyle Furnishings International, and Lexington Homebrands.
“It is impressive that in just six months, the new Schnadig leadership team has totally revamped and revitalized its product design while simultaneously developing strong marketing plans for opening up strategic, international accounts,” Pfeifer says. “I chose to team up with Schnadig because of its new direction, the committed support the company is now providing by reaching out to dealers in other countries and the unequalled commitment of centralized inventory for both upholstery and wood products in one location supported by its parent company, Markor.”
“In developing this team to think and work strategically, we were able to attract the best in the industry. Lenwood has excelled at all aspects of the medium-high to high-end markets for case goods and upholstery. Jeff is well known and respected in the industry for his strong retail experience and relationships. In Phil, we gain an established global presence and proven sales record in the most viable foreign markets,” Young says. “This is the team that will help Schnadig further differentiate ourselves and truly place us in a class of our own.”
With a keen sense of fashion, Schnadig International Corporation is redefining the high end and setting new standards of value through fresh design, high quality standards, in addition to new merchandising and marketing programs. The company offers five distinctive portfolios – Caracole, Compositions, Lauren Ralph Lauren, Schnadig and Schnadig Home – which cross multiple price points for all furniture categories including upholstery, case goods, occasional tables and accent pieces.
As a wholly owned subsidiary of Markor International Furniture Co., Ltd., a world class furniture manufacturing and furniture retail operation based in China, the company is a vertically integrated resource with 13 modern manufacturing plants and a state-of-the-art centrally located, global distribution center. As noted in its CLASS Pledge, Schnadig is able to deliver a simple sourcing solution: mixed containers from any portfolio in any combination, delivered on time at competitive shipping rates.
The acquisition of Schnadig by Markor was completed on January 5, 2009. Incorporated in 1952 by Lawrence K. Schnadig, the company has a solid foundation beginning with the merging of S. Karpen & Brothers, which was established in 1880, and International Furniture Company, which was founded at the turn of the twentieth century.