Praiseworthy, and different
Ray Allegrezza, Editor in Chief -- Furniture Today, November 2, 2009
Three very worthy people — Joe Carroll of Furniture/Today, Farooq Kathwari of Ethan Allen and Steve Kincaid of Kincaid Furniture — were inducted into the American Furniture Hall of Fame during the fall High Point Market.
At the end of the Hall of Fame gala, I found myself thinking that not only were these gentlemen worthy of the honor, but that they each represent a particular slice of this pie we call the home furnishing industry.
To me, Steve Kincaid represents all of the people who grew up in the business. His grandfather and father started the company and Steve had his first job sweeping floors there by age 10.
As Farooq Kathwari received his award, I realized he is the perfect example of someone who didn't grow up in the business, or for that matter the United States, but has been successful. A native of India's Kashmir region, he epitomizes an outsider who was quickly embraced and revered in our industry for his outstanding leadership and creativity.
He has reinvented all or part of Ethan Allen time and again, and with each new iteration, the company became better connected to the consumer.
At a High Point Market years ago, I got the chance to walk the aisles of IHFC with Farooq for a while. I naively assumed he would want to window shop furniture sources that he might consider competitors. Instead, we walked the Design Center wing and I found myself in the company of a highly focused man more intent on looking at shapes, designs and colors than finished goods.
Last, but by no means least, is my associate and friend, Joe Carroll. Joe, who came into this business by way of an ad agency in Tennessee, embodies the furniture industry's willingness to share ideas, help anybody out at any time, and to give back, both in terms of his time and talent.
I told Joe I was convinced that if everyone at the Hall of Fame dinner were asked if Joe Carroll had either helped them get a job, recommended a great hire to them, or helped them grow their business in some way, almost all the hands in that packed room would have gone up.
Congratulations to each new Hall of Famer!
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