Some very familiar faces tackle new territories
By Ray Allegrezza, Editor in chief -- Furniture Today, November 11, 2001
Change, simply for the sake of change, can be deadly. But so can maintaining the status quo simply because that's the way it's always been done.
Think about that as it might apply to a merchant. Clearly, any retailer who never alters his or her assortment or merchandising strategy is likely to be challenged when it comes to keeping customers intrigued. Similarly, a furniture manufacturer who consistently comes to market with the same type of goods essentially is inviting customers to shop elsewhere.
And it shouldn't surprise you that a newspaper serving furniture retailers and manufacturers would act on its own observation.
With that in mind, Furniture/Today is going to do a bit of remerchandising of its own. In the coming weeks, you will see some very familiar faces covering what for them will be different beats.
As one example, Larry Thomas, the paper's veteran bedding editor, will be assuming a new title — business editor — and new responsibilities. Larry will write news stories and also cover a number of core product categories, including glider rockers, recliners and motion upholstery.
In covering the bedding beat for 12 years, Larry has penned some 600 Bedding Today columns, began tracking manufacturer's market share and also began tracking the largest bedding retailers, which evolved into the Top 25 Bedding Retailers list that runs about every other year in Furniture/Today.
As a writer who knows how to dig for and uncover news, Larry is sure to be an asset to his new beat.
Taking over the bedding beat will be Executive Editor David Perry. Dave, who at one point covered bedding for the paper, affords Furniture/Today a rare blend of perspective and vision in taking coverage of the category to the next level.
In fact, without stealing any of his thunder, I can tell you Dave already is mapping out a plan for covering the category that is sure to raise more than a few eyebrows.
Similarly, Gary Evans, who had been business editor, will bring his formidable writing and interviewing skills to his new beat: upholstery. As Furniture/Today's upholstery editor, Gary will be digging deep into the fabric of the upholstery community to keep you in the loop about this important segment of the business.
Gary also is taking the retail technology beat from Staff Writer Jeff Linville. This will allow Jeff, who currently reports on youth bedroom, occasional and home entertainment furniture, to deepen his coverage of case goods by adding the casual dining beat to his responsibilities.
I've always felt the luckiest people in baseball were those managers fortunate enough to have true veterans and team players that could be called upon to play different positions for the benefit and betterment of the team.
Did I mention that I feel like the Joe Torre of trade publishing?
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