Furniture First Hires Director Of Merchandising

Furniture World Magazine

Furniture First, a geographically exclusive buying group acting as a cooperative, has hired Tommy Patterson as the new director of merchandising. Patterson comes to Furniture First from Bruener's Home Furnishings, Lancaster, Pa. Previous employers include Mathis Brothers Furniture, Oklahoma City, Okla., and Hilco / Great American Group, Chicago, Ill. Patterson's primary responsibilities will be to develop, communicate, and sell merchandising programs to the membership; help grow current supplier partner programs; handle budgeting; develop and maintain relationships between member stores and the cooperative, supplier partners and potential supplier partners; and oversee and accomplish objectives for the Bedding, Case Goods, Occasional, Upholstery Committees and the newly created Technology Committee. The goals of the Technology Committee will be to utilize an Internet based Web site for the purpose of channeling leads to their brick and mortar stores, act as an advisory committee for their internal membership Web site, and investigate a "business-to-business" ordering / central billing system. According to Bill Hartman, president of Furniture First, "Tommy's drive, enthusiasm, communication skills, and vast knowledge of the furniture industry bring a practical hands-on approach to our buying group." For additional information on Furniture First, or on how you can become a member, contact Bill Hartman at: (800) 411-3477. Currently, there are 85 members representing 173 store fronts nationally, doing an estimated $500 million in sales annually.