W.S. Badcock Corporation Honored For 100 Years In Furniture Retailing

Furniture World Magazine

W.S. Badcock Corporation, one of the nation’s largest home furniture retailers, was honored today by the city of Mulberry who officially declared January 13th “Badcock Day” in honor of the Company’s 100th anniversary. Badcock, which first started in 1904 as a general mercantile store, is the oldest home furniture retailer in Florida and consists of more than 320 stores located throughout the Southeast. The Badcock Day event, which marks the kick-off of the year long celebration, featured an exhibit of memorabilia from the Company’s history, including a mock storefront of the first Badcock store as well as furniture from various eras including 1930s furniture that belonged to Mr. and Mrs. Wogan S. Badcock, Sr. and a table that Stanley Furniture custom made for Mr. and Mrs. Wogan S. Badcock, Jr. in the 1970s. The event also included presentations by Badcock executives and community members, including George Hulan the Postmaster of Mulberry, Florida, who presented Badcock with the first of 2004 numbered commemorative envelopes. Upon an individual's request, the Mulberry post office will cancel personal mail with the Commemorative Cancellation stamp today, Tuesday, January 13, 2004. Any collector may come in to the Mulberry Post Office through February 13, 2004 and request the special Badcock Commemorative Cancellation. For the next 30 days, the Lakeland Post Office will have a special Badcock 100th Anniversary die hub to cancel any mail generated from any zip code starting with "338." In addition to honoring employees, customers and the community, the event featured a special recognition of those dealers who have owned Badcock stores for 25 years or longer. Seventy-five percent of Badcock’s stores are individually owned through their unique dealer system, which grew out of necessity during the Depression. Henry S. Badcock, the Company’s founder, took the furniture to trusted friends in different locations and offered them a percentage of what they sold. The concept evolved over time into the current dealer program, which continues to be a cornerstone of Badcock’s success. The dealer model offers entrepreneurs quicker start up and less capital expense by providing dealers with consigned merchandise and eliminating franchise fees. Today, Badcock continues a pattern of growth and modernization and plans to expand into Kentucky, West Virginia and Eastern portions of North Carolina. They are also attracting new dealers who are interested in signing a Limited Area Development Agreement to open several stores. In addition, Badcock recently embarked on a new information technology initiative and in 2002 began Phase One of this strategic plan. The modernization began in 2000 with the beginning of the conversion to the new Badcock &more concept, which features an expanded product line, new store logos and a new floor display. To-date, 128 stores have converted. About W.S. Badcock Corporation: Badcock has 330 locations throughout the southeast and is headquartered in Mulberry, Fla., where the company was established in 1904. More than 270 of Badcock’s stores are dealer owned and operated. Dealerships are similar to franchises in that they are individually owned and operated, but require less capital (dealers do not pay franchise fees or monthly royalties) and allow for quicker start-up than a traditional franchise. Badcock provides all stores with total inventory at no cost to the dealer and all account financing through the parent company. For inquiries or dealer opportunities, go to www.badcock.com or call 1-800-BADCOCK.