Grow joins Ladlow's team
By Clint Engel -- Furniture Today, March 21, 2004
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Longtime furniture manufacturing executive Dan Grow has moved to the retail side, joining Ladlow's Fine Furniture here as president, with plans to acquire an ownership stake in the store.
Grow, who has ties to the area, replaces owner Dan Roark as president. Roark remains chairman and principal owner of the one-store, high-end company.
With 22 years in the industry, Grow most recently was CEO at Fine Furniture Design & Marketing, leaving in late 2003. Before that, he was president and CEO of Drexel Heritage for 10 years, and prior to that spent 10 years at Thomasville Furniture Inds. in various management roles.
"I looked very closely at the manufacturing side and had some opportunities there, but frankly, I've had that experience," Grow said. "I love Arizona, and the opportunity to live in Scottsdale is something I had thought about."
Grow, who attended Arizona State on a football scholarship and still has many friends in the area, said he also was attracted by "the tremendous growth this market enjoys, and Ladlow's strong name and reputation, which has been here almost 30 years now.
"Dan Roark has built a great business, and the growth has been so fast-paced, he has been looking for someone to join him," he said.
Roark noted the store's big expansion two years ago "presented the usual challenges, and to have someone on board with Dan's background, experience and people skills will be a definite plus and help us continue to grow."
Roark said the goal is to share management responsibilities and future ownership, but details haven't been worked out.
Grow has known Roark for years as a friend and business partner. Roark was a former Drexel dealer through his partnership with Steve Mehagian in a standalone Drexel Heritage store in Scottsdale. That store closed last year when Drexel changed distribution in the Phoenix market.
Roark opened the 80,000-square-foot Ladlow's showroom, with an attached 60,000-square-foot warehouse, in North Scottsdale in May 2002, replacing the 17,000-square-foot store.
Founded in 1954, Ladlow's was acquired by Roark in 1976. Key suppliers include Henredon, Bernhardt, Lexington, Fine Furniture and Sherrill.
Last year, Minneapolis-based retailer Gabberts explored buying Ladlow's, but no deal was struck.
Grow quipped that he looks forward to talking to Ladlow's suppliers "about distribution and advertising support and good value for the price of the product — all the things I've been seeing from the other side for 22 years."
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