United buys, renames Kiss Furniture
By Gary Evans -- Furniture Today, August 5, 2002
OKOLONA , Miss. — OKOLONA , Miss. — Promotional upholstery producer United Furniture Inds. has acquired Asheboro, N.C.–based Kiss Furniture, an upholstery maker founded earlier this year by industry veteran Pamela Hughes.
Kiss has been renamed Worthington House and becomes a subsidiary of United. Hughes, a 23-year industry veteran, is Worthington House's general manager.
United President Larry George said the acquisition allows the parent to branch into additional price points and, with the North Carolina location, solidify its position in the eastern United States.
United will cover the $299-$399 price points for a sofa, and Worthington House the $499-$599 range, George said. He wouldn't disclose volume figures or details of the purchase.
He said a 50,000-square-foot warehouse/distribution center has been added in Asheboro. Some 30,000 square feet of manufacturing space will be added at Worthington House in January, bringing its total to 80,000 square feet. The North Carolina warehouse and a Mississippi warehouse will handle both companies' products.
The acquisition comes two years after the former Comfort Furniture merged with Parkhill Furniture and United Lift Chairs, assuming the United name. Since then, United has grown from 600 to 1,000 employees and has doubled manufacturing space to slightly over 1 million square feet. The company has five plants in northeast Mississippi, including new plants for recliners and leather.
As part of its growth plan, United has named several executives to what George said are "overhauled" positions. They are:
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Jay Quimbly, who joins United as national sales manager for rent-to-own accounts. He most recently was vice president of RTO sales at Bushline Inds., and has 12 years experience in the RTO industry.
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Doug McDowell, who joins Worthington House as plant manager. He is an industry veteran and most recently was director of operations for Klaussner Furniture Inds.
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Jean Webb, who joins United as manager of quality control. She has been in the quality control departments at Alan White and Action Lane.
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Peggy Pettit, who joins United as credit manager. She previously was with the Lane Acceptance Group as a regional credit manager.
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John Cox, who becomes United's vice president of manufacturing, responsible for all manufacturing operations, including Worthington House. The 30-year industry veteran has been vice president of manufacturing at Alan White for the past 12 years.
