Sauder Completes Progressive Acquisition; Dountas And Manley Promoted

Furniture World Magazine

Sauder Woodworking Co., the nation's largest manufacturer of ready-to-assemble (RTA) furniture, completed the purchase of Progressive Furniture, creating a company poised to benefit from synergies offered by combining an RTA and a traditional wood furniture manufacturer. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. While Progressive will operate as an independent subsidiary, the two companies will maximize the production and marketing strengths offered by the other. "At Sauder, we're anxious to share the experience we've developed in the home office category as Progressive expands into that market," Kevin Sauder, president and CEO of Sauder, said. "Likewise, we're looking forward to benefiting from Progressive's activities by broadening our line, getting us into new markets and educating us to import trends and opportunities. " To take full advantage of the potential resulting from the partnership, Sauder has promoted Susan Dountas to vice president of merchandising with responsibility for coordinating strategic product planning and merchandising synergies between the two companies. Additionally, Paul Manley has been named to the new position of director of inter-company synergies. Both report to John Yoder, vice president of sales and marketing for Sauder. In her new position, Dountas, formerly director of marketing, will retain responsibility for directing product design and marketing communications. She joined Sauder in 1992 as sales manager for the company's furniture division, bringing with her 18 years of experience in marketing, advertising and buying for Sears, Roebuck and Company. With a bachelor's degree from Dana College in Blair, Nebraska, Dountas earned a doctorate in law from Loyola University of Chicago School of Law. "Susan's excellent retail experience, which includes seven years as national furniture buyer for Sears, and her strong performance in management positions at our company combine to provide a valuable vision as Sauder and Progressive join forces," Sauder said. "Susan is especially qualified to recognize and appreciate the benefits to be gained from interaction between the two companies. Manley joined Sauder in 1999 as a process manager after having held various engineering and manufacturing positions with Rockwell International, Letts Industries, Pioneer Forge and Ohio Art, where he served as vice president of manufacturing. With a bachelor of science degree in engineering from The Ohio State University, Manley's education and manufacturing experience uniquely qualify him to direct and capitalize on the manufacturing and operational synergies that exist between the two companies. "Paul and I look forward to exploring the opportunities the two companies can offer each other," Dountas explained. "There has been tremendous enthusiasm on both sides for sharing product and marketing strengths. Now that the deal has closed, we can really start moving. " Sauder Woodworking, headquartered in Archbold, Ohio, had revenues, including Sauder Manufacturing Company, in 2000 of $575 million. Progressive, with headquarters in Swanton, Ohio, and a plant in Claremont, North Carolina, produces and imports wood bedroom, dining room, occasional and entertainment furniture. The company had sales of $125 million in 2000. For more information on Sauder, visit their Web site at www.sauder.com.