Kleist, Fridley join Ameriwood team as part of refocused furniture effort
By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, May 19, 2003
Wright City, Mo. — Ameriwood Inds., the ready-to-assemble furniture division of Dorel, has reorganized its sales and marketing team.
Ted Kleist, a longtime consumer products and retail executive, has joined Ameriwood as senior vice president for business development. Filling many of the duties formerly held by Dennis Brinly, who has left the company, Kleist reports to Bob Classen, president.
D. Todd Fridley, formerly with Bush Furniture, is the new national sales manager, a new position.
Jeff Sternklar continues as director of marketing.
Fridley and Sternklar report to Kleist.
Kleist said the new team is responsible for maintaining Ameriwood's position as a leading furniture supplier to discount chains and to help the company develop new channels of distribution.
"We're looking to enhance our product line and offer value to a broader range of retailers," Kleist said. Targets include national chains, mass merchants and home furnishings retailers.
With these goals in mind, Ameriwood introduced more than 90 SKUs at the recent High Point market, including several home entertainment collections with solid-wood fronts and laminate cases, along with matching occasional tables in solid wood.
The company also is changing its production pattern, with plans to carry more unsold or uncommitted goods. "If we're going to sell to the furniture trade, we're going to have to stock merchandise," Kleist said.
