Wrench to lead FBI retail development
By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, September 5, 2005
St. Louis — Drexel Heritage veteran Blain Wrench has been promoted to vice president, retail development, for Drexel parent Furniture Brands International.
The position is a new one for the manufacturer and importer. Wrench will oversee location and construction of the company's single-brand stores, coordinating activities that have been handled separately by each FBI division.
Operation of the stores, once open, will continue to be in the hands of independent owners or, in the case of company-owned stores, with retail operating personnel at FBI's various brands.
Wrench has worked at Drexel Heritage since 1993, most recently as senior vice president of retail development. Previously, he was president of Brittain's Fine Furniture, a Houston-based retailer with four high-end stores.
"Blain has proven himself an outstanding manager with extensive experience in retail development," said Mickey Holliman, Furniture Brands chairman and CEO. "The proper distribution of our products is one of the company's strategic initiatives, and I am pleased that Blain has agreed to undertake this important role to help us drive this strategy."
The company's brands include Lane, Broyhill, Thomasville, Henredon, Drexel Heritage and Maitland-Smith.
Wrench, who will report to Holliman, will remain based in North Carolina for now. Wrench's position at Drexel won't be filled immediately, but he probably will have a point person for retail development at each operating company, a Furniture Brands spokesman said.
