TOWACO, N.J. — Past president of the International Home Furnishings Representatives Assn., William Alan Richmond died on Oct. 2. He was 77 years old.

Richmond was born in Elizabeth, N.J., to Benjamin and Eleanor Richmond. He attended Fairleigh Dickinson University and began a career on Wall Street before entering the furniture industry with former business partner Albin Grundner.

He was a member of the Greater Metropolitan Furnishings Assn., member and past president of IHFRA, and received the Dean of IHFRA award in 1997.

Richmond is predeceased by his parents and his wife, Joan, to whom he was married for 42 years until she died in 2014. He is survived by a daughter, a brother and sister, his partner Pam, and several nieces and nephews.

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TROY, N.C. – Jesse Smith Capel, who worked in his family’s rug business from 1957 to 2007, has died at the age of 90.

Born on Nov. 17, 1932, Capel graduated in 1954 with a degree in textile management from N.C. State University. He served in the U.S. Army for several years before joining the family business. During his 40 years with Capel Rugs, he made significant contributions in the areas of finance, importing and manufacturing. Company leaders say Jesse Capel’s contributions to the company legacy are irreplaceable.

The Capel family started its namesake rug company with braided rugs in 1917 and during the past 100-plus years collaborated with major brands such as Sears, JCPenney, L.L. Bean and Pottery Barn.

In addition to his leadership role in the family business, Capel served on a number of boards in the community, including the Virginia Episcopal School, St. Mary’s School, the Duke Heart Center, the Montgomery County Fund, Pfeiffer University, the N.C. Museum of History and the N.C. Museum of Art. He also served as chairman of FirstBancorp’s board of directors and as president of the North Carolina State Ports Authority Foundation.

Capel served  16 years as chairman of the Montgomery Community College Board of Trustees, as district chairman for Boy Scouts of America and as a former president of Troy Rotary Club.

Capel is survived by his wife of 68 years, Julianne Boone Capel; three daughters, Mary Clara Capel, Julie Williams and Sarah Kea Capel; 10 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; two brothers and a sister. He was preceded in death by his son, Jesse Smith Capel Jr.

Visitation with the family will be held 5-7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 25, at Bumgarner Funeral Home, 620 Albemarle Road, Troy, N.C. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 26, at Trinity United Methodist Church, 239 N. Russell St., Troy, N.C.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Jesse Capel’s memory to The Trinity Fund at Trinity United Methodist Church in Troy.

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DORAVILLE, Ga. – Bedding industry veteran Shawn Slattery  is making a return to the bedding brand he worked with for more than 23 years.

Slattery has been named senior vice president for Eastern region for Serta Simmons Bedding. He worked with the Simmons Bedding Co. from 1995 until 2019 as a regional vice president of sales. From Simmons, Slattery joined Peak Living as executive vice president of sales and most recently has been vice president of national accounts for Resident Home.

In his new position with Serta Simmons, he reports to Dominick Azevedo, chief sales officer, who joined the company earlier this year.

“Shawn is a leader in the industry and drove big success in his previous time at our organization,” Azevedo said. “I’m excited for him to hit the ground running, motivating our team, connecting with our retail partners and igniting our sales.”

Slattery leads Eastern region sales for the company, and Erik Brandt, senior vice president, is responsible for the company’s sales in the West region. He also reports to Azevedo.

See also:

• Charlie Eitel in as CEO, Huff out as Serta Simmons reshuffles management
• Serta Simmons updates and expands key lines, adds new marketing campaign

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HIGH POINT – Andmore has hired Adam Tracey in a newly created role of senior vice president of operations for the High Point campus, reporting to Greg Avitabile, executive vice president, chief operations officer.

In this new post, Tracey will lead the cross-functional team that manages both the building operations and market operations for Andmore’s 17 High Point properties. He also will be a key member of Andmore’s senior management team, contributing to the development and execution of strategic plans, initiatives and objectives that impact the whole organization.

“I’m thrilled to have Adam Tracey onboard. His prior real estate and operations experience are a great fit for Andmore,” said Avitabile. “Adam’s emphasis on customer service, team dynamics and process improvement are certain to make him an effective leader for the High Point operations team and beyond.”

Most recently, Tracey was vice president, field operations at Tanger Outlets in Greensboro, N.C., after serving in management roles for Tanger Outlets and Westfield Malls in Maryland. Additionally, he brings trade show and events experience from his work with SWANA, the Solid Waste Assn. of North America.

Tracey joins Andmore as it is streamlining its operations team. Customers now have a single point of contact for operations with one lead overseeing both Building Operations (property management and tenant relations, security and facilities) and Market Operations (logistics, tradeshow, event sales and event operations) on each campus. He joins Mike Magnotta, senior vice president of operations for AmericasMart Atlanta, and Jennifer Muna, senior vice president of operations for World Market Center Las Vegas and Shoppe Object.

See also: Andmore realigns leadership in operations, marketing and digital teams

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PUEBLO, Colo. – The growing sleep franchise network Snooze Mattress Co. has named mattress retail veteran Darrell Bain to its team as maximization coach to lead sales training and to ensure brand consistency throughout the nine-store retail operation.

The coach position is a new slot for the company. Prior to joining Snooze, Bain spent 20 years with Denver Mattress Co., part of Denver-based Furniture Row’s family of retail brands, where he helped expand the company to more than 100 stores in 31 states. As the retailer’s regional manager, Bain was engaged in training and developing teams throughout the retailer’s network of stores. He retired from Denver Mattress in 2018. Before joining Denver Mattress, Bain worked in sales for Frito-Lay and Entenmann’s.

Bain’s appointment marks Snooze’s second executive appointment this year. Joe Paviglianti  joined the company in July as its chief success officer.

“This is one of the best guys in the world, and one of the best sales trainers,” said Matt Smith, CEO and founder of Snooze Mattress Co. “His superpower is helping people find their why, making stores successful and changing their lives. Darrell’s ability to manage people from all backgrounds is the best in the business. He is all about the customer’s needs, not just selling a bed. He’s data-driven, full of love and hugs, and he understands people, plus he is on the same mission as Snooze: to make the world a better place through sleep.”

Smith and Bain worked together at Denver Mattress in the late 1990s when Bain was Smith’s boss. George Winn, Snooze president, and Eric Thompson, the company’s sales and marketing president, also worked for Bain at Denver Mattress.

Bain said he jumped at the opportunity to come out of retirement to work with Smith, the Snooze leadership team and the retailer’s franchisees.

“We have a great core group of people; they’re all good human beings,” he told Furniture Today. “It’s a different ballgame working with franchise owners and coaching their teams to success. If someone is going to go to a mattress store and buy a mattress, there’s no reason they shouldn’t buy it from us.”

Founded in 2019, the company has ambitious growth plans targeting 1,000 stores. Smith said Snooze will have 13 stores opened by the end of this year.

See also: Pajamas, pillows and bouncing on the bed: Think Snooze

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GAFFNEY, S.C. — Global fabric and home fashions manufacturer Home Furnishing International is adding two home fashions sales and marketing veterans to its management team: Bally Faudar joins as senior vice president sales, and Erin Gallagher-Brinskele joins as vice president kitchen textiles, a new position for the company.

Both report to Amy Bell, executive vice president and chief merchandising officer.

“We have added the capacity to produce 100,000 bed pillows a day in South Carolina, and we felt we needed a real leader to leverage our growth in utility bedding,” said David Li, chairman and CEO. “Bally has the knowledge, expertise and retail relationships to take us to the next level in the basic bedding category.”

Faudar has been in the home fashions industry for more than 30 years, serving in sales and merchandising positions at companies including Newport-Layton Home Fashions, Jay Franco & Sons, Excell Home Fashions and Bess Manufacturing. He will work out of the New York showroom and his home office, covering all categories with select accounts with an emphasis on bed pillows, mattress toppers, and mattresses.

Chair pads and kitchen accessories are another major growth opportunity, according to Li. Taking on the new vice president post for the category, Gallagher-Brinskele previously served as vice president of sales for 11 years at chair pad specialty supplier Klear Vu Corp. and also previously worked for the manufacturing group formed by Glenoit Mills, Excell Home Fashions and Croscill Home Fashions. She will work out of the New York showroom and her home office, responsible for indoor chair pads and accessories for all accounts.

“We have always prided ourselves on our personal relationships with our customers, and Erin is really a category specialist,” Li said. “She is well-known and respected throughout the industry and will be a valuable addition to our team.”

HFI has invested close to $50 million in its U.S. manufacturing and distribution facilities over the past three years, and it has more than 3 million square feet of manufacturing facilities in Rugao, Jinjiang and Hangzhou, China, currently producing more than 300 million yards of fabric every year.

See also: HFI opening LV showroom for mattresses, sleep accessories

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HIGH POINT – High Point University students learned more about their future profession as they worked alongside industry leaders during this week’s High Point Market.

Attracting thousands of buyers and manufacturers from across the globe, the market provides students with experiential learning and opportunities to network with professionals from different industries.

“I have loved working at the market, and I know it will be very beneficial for me when I graduate,” said Meghan West, a senior interior design major from Walpole, Massa., who worked in the Hooker Furnishings showroom. “I have made great connections with some amazing companies and individuals. It has allowed me to see and experience what my future career will look like.”

Hayley Bracci, a senior interior design major from Stow, Mass., enjoyed working as a sales assistant and connecting with other HPU students at the Sunpan showroom.

“Through my High Point Market experience, I have been able to supplement my interior design knowledge with a bit of sales and supply chain knowledge, making it easier to understand how lead times work and how long it might take to receive ordered pieces once I become a practicing designer,” said Bracci.

Kari Lambert, a senior interior design major from Stillwater, Minn., worked at the Century Furniture showroom for the second time this year.

“While working at Century Furniture, I am often in the fabric selection room. This has allowed me amazing insights on current styles, patterns and colors,” said Lambert. “It provided me with an understanding of the current trends. I also have learned so much about the industry and the actual day-to-day business of interior design.”

Working for a third time at the High Point Market with Norwalk Furniture has been a valuable learning experience for Jade Harloff, a senior interior design major from Apex, N.C.

“It has allowed me to immerse myself in the world of furniture design and sales, and I’ve been able to keep up with the newest trends and innovations Norwalk has to offer,” said Harloff.

Kaylin LaFleche, a senior interior design major from Severna Park, Md., gained knowledge about furniture and design through working as a market associate for Caracole and Jonathan Charles. She toured designers around the showroom, answered questions about products and helped them place orders.

“Through this experience, I have been able to speak with designers from all over the world and pick their brains for what life after college will entail,” said LaFleche, who was recently elected president of HPU’s new American Society of Interior Designers student chapter.

“Overall, working at the High Point Market has been one of my favorite opportunities,” said LaFleche. “I will truly miss it, but I can’t wait to attend in the future as a designer.”

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ISSAQUAH, Wash. — Warehouse retailer Costco Wholesale Corp. announced that CEO Craig Jelinek is stepping down, effective Jan. 1, 2024.

Ron Vachris, who has served as president and chief operating officer since February 2022, has been elected president and CEO, also effective Jan. 1, 2024. The company says Jelinek and Vachris have worked together over the 21 months in Vachris’ role as president and for many years before that. This is the culmination of the long-standing succession plan that Jelinek has discussed with the board.

Vachris is a Costco veteran with more than 40 of service to the company, starting as a forklift driver and subsequently serving in every major role related to Costco’s business operations and merchandising activities.

“Costco has a very strong culture and a deep bench of management talent,” said Jelinek. “I have total confidence in Ron and feel that we are fortunate as a company to have an executive of his caliber to succeed me.”

Jelinek will remain with Costco through April 2024, serving in an advisory role and assisting Vachris during the transition. He will also continue to serve on the board of directors and will stand for reelection at the January 2024 annual meeting.

See also: What is growing in 48,000 recalled FXI mattresses sold through Costco?

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HIGH POINT — During its board meeting at the recent High Point Market, the High Point Market Authority (HPMA) announced updates to its board of directors, effective Oct. 18.

Christi Barbour, co-founder at Barbour Spangle Design, is board chair and president of the executive committee after serving as its vice president through 2023. Barbour is the board’s first woman to hold its top spot and also its first interior designer professional in the position. She succeeds Alex Shuford III, CEO of Rock House Farm Family of Brands and Century Furniture, who will transition to the role of immediate past chair.

“The High Point Market Authority serves at the intersection of the home furnishings industry and those that sustain it,” said Barbour. “As this term’s board chair, I’m excited to not only fortify, but also expand the connection between the communities creating and purchasing within our industry.”

Jeremy Hoff, CEO at Hooker Furnishings, will step into the vice chair role, and Blake Millinor, CEO, Valdese Weavers, will become treasurer.

The board of directors is responsible for support and guidance of the operations and marketing initiatives managed by HPMA.

The next High Point Market is scheduled for April 13-17, 2024. Registration will open in January.

See also:

• High Point Market Authority gets major state funding to improve Market District
• Market Authority campaign highlights High Point area’s Southern hospitality

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HIGH POINT — Manwah has expanded its management team as of Oct. 1. Bo Morrison has joined Manwah as vice president of sales, reporting to Gabriele Natale, CEO.

Morrison has previously worked with companies including Moto Motion, HMI and Ashley. Manwah officials said that he will play a “crucial role in steering Manwah toward continued growth and success” and noted that “his leadership, combined with his deep understanding of consumer trends and market dynamics, will undoubtedly give Manwah a competitive edge.”

“We are confident that Bo’s vast experience and business relationships will further strengthen our position as the powerhouse in motion upholstery,” said Natale.

“I am thrilled to embark on this exciting journey with Manwah,” Morrison said. “Having this opportunity to leverage my experience with the world’s largest motion company will allow me to forge new opportunities for myself as well as Manwah.”

See also: Manwah continues to expand leadership team with 2 key hires

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