DirectBuy taps Morris for merchandising post
By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, January 31, 2005
Merrillville, Ind. — Industry veteran Andy Morris has joined wholesale membership club DirectBuy, formerly UCC TotalHome, as international director of merchandising.
In the new post, Morris will oversee merchandising for the entire 107-franchise showroom network in North America. He also will be responsible for sourcing merchandise from home furnishing suppliers worldwide.
With more than 30 years of industry experience, Morris most recently was merchandise manager of Coconut Creek, Fla.-based Carls Furniture. He also has been merchandise manager for the Homemakers Furniture division of John M. Smyth Co. in Downers Grove, Ill., and was vice president of merchandising for Levitz when it was based in Boca Raton, Fla.
At Carls, Morris was replaced by Jayson Friedman, formerly upholstery and bedding buyer, a 12-year Carls veteran and son of Carls President Fred Friedman.
"We're very excited to have Andy join our team," said Jack Gagan, senior vice president of merchandising and co-owner of the Merrillville DirectBuy location. "His knowledge of the home furnishings industry and management experience will be a tremendous asset."
To join DirectBuy, consumers pay a membership fee ranging from about $3,000 to $4,000. The company says members can buy direct from hundreds of brand-name manufacturers and authorized distributors, avoiding retail markups.
DirectBuy changed its name from UCC TotalHome about three years ago under a new marketing strategy that included larger showrooms with more of a design center format, Gagan said. It also has been known as United Consumers Club.
