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China leather source taps Barr to head U.S. marketing arm

Joan Gunin -- Furniture Today, March 26, 2006

High Point — Stephen Barr has been named president of China-based leather upholstery maker Man Wah Holdings' North American division, to be known as Cheers Sofa USA.

He was president of HTL International USA, an arm of another Chinese-based leather producer.

In his new post, Barr reports to John Li, managing director of Man Wah Holdings, the 13-year-old publicly traded producer based in Shenzhen, China. Both J.B. Ricci and Jon Lannartone continue in sales for Man Wah.

Formerly trading as Fiamma Leather in the United States, the company will revert to its European brand name, Cheers, with the U.S. sales and marketing arm called Cheers Sofa USA. Man Wah also sells its line in the United Kingdom, Europe, Asia and Australia.

The line focuses on motion, but a complementary line of stationary sofas and club chairs is in development.

In anticipation of significant increases in its U.S. business, Man Wah is supplementing its 1 million-square-foot factory in Shenzhen with a 2.5 million-square foot facility now under construction in nearby Huizhou.

A portion of the new facility will be subleased to Leggett & Platt, which supplies mechanisms for Man Wah's motion, home theater and sofa-sleeper products.

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Barr heads China leather maker’s U.S. arm

Mar 24, 2006

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