Furniture First hosting market party
By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, April 12, 2004
HIGH POINT — Celebrating its 10th anniversary, buying group Furniture First will host a market party and dinner here for members and suppliers.
Following the group's regular market meeting at 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 21, at the Airport Marriott, the cocktail party will start at 6 p.m. and the dinner will follow.
The member-owned buying cooperative was started in 1994 by Jerry Fried, who died shortly afterward. Several original members remained convinced that small and midsized independent retailers could increase their competitive advantages if they worked together as buyers. They brought in industry veteran Bill Hartman to build membership and develop new programs.
Over the decade, the group has developed a private-label merchandising program, started a direct-from-Asia container program that members can share, and a specialty-shop bedding concept, Mattress First.
