Levitz, Seaman's to consolidate buying
By Clint Engel -- Furniture Today, January 6, 2003
Woodbury, N.Y. — Levitz Home Furnishings Inc. has promoted Loreen Epp to senior vice president of merchandising for the company, the latest consolidation move for the aggressively streamlining retailer.
In the new position, Epp heads up merchandising for the 55-store Seaman's and Seaman's Kids chains and the 73-unit Levitz chain. She previously was senior vice president of merchandising for Levitz stores.
Tom Martinez, who was senior vice president of merchandising for the Seaman's chain, is leaving to pursue other interests, the company said.
The move follows the layoff late last year of more than 300 LHFI employees, mostly in warehouse positions but also at the store level and corporate office.
In previous consolidation steps since the merger of Levitz and Seaman's under common ownership in early 2001, LHFI opened a 1 million-square-foot distribution center in New Jersey to serve Levitz and Seaman's East Coast stores, and consolidated and updated systems at Levitz's West Coast warehouse operations.
Epp's appointment is "the next logical step in our evolution as an organization," said Alan Rosenberg, LHFI president and chief executive officer.
"We felt as we finish the conversion of the West Coast warehouses, that we could handle it with one central merchandising philosophy and get the most for both companies that way."
Rosenberg said the move should make the company a more effective and efficient buyer. Previously, he said, the merchandising heads for Levitz and Seaman's were bumping into each other at furniture markets and were confusing suppliers who weren't sure how selling to one LHFI chain might affect doing business with the other.
While LHFI will continue to keep the offerings of Seaman's and Levitz distinct, having one person in charge of both "will allow us to differentiate our brands more effectively in our markets and strategically position our vendors within each brand," Rosenberg said.
"This will bring focus and clarity in our offering to the customers of Seaman's and Levitz," he said.
Epp joined Seaman's in 1998 as vice president heading development and strategic marketing for the successful rollout of the now 10-store Seaman's Kids. She was promoted to senior vice president of merchandising for Levitz in 2001. Before joining Seaman's, she was corporate marketing director for Palliser.
The consolidation of merchandising under one leader "reflects the synergies and efficiencies we have already achieved in combining two very different organizations," as well as "the strength Loreen brings to our organization and our confidence in her ability to function as our chief merchant," Rosenberg said.
Martinez was with Seaman's in the early 1980s and rejoined the retailer in 1990 as upholstery buyer. He was named vice president of merchandising in 1992 and senior vice president of merchandising in 1999.
Martinez said he has no definite plans, but will remain in the furniture industry on either the retail or wholesale side.
"I have an extensive background in imports," he said. "I'm probably going to pursue that avenue first because it's what I know best."
Rosenberg said he wishes Martinez the best, calling him a close friend and noting, "It was a very difficult decision to have to make. I'm sure he will do well wherever he goes."
