Jerome’s named WHFA Retailer of Year
San Diego-based chain to be honored May 20
By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, February 20, 2008
ROSEVILLE, Calif. — San Diego-based Jerome’s Furniture has won the Western Home Furnishings Assn.’s Retailer of the Year Award.
Lee Goodman, president and CEO of the Top 100 company, along with store owners Jerry Navarra, chairman, and Ann Navarra, vice president of finance, will be honored during a dinner celebration May 20 at the Loews Ventana Canyon Resort in Tucson, Ariz., as the grand finale to WHFA’s 2008 Conference & Expo.
Jerome’s selection as Retailer of the Year was based on its contributions to the industry, service to the community and personal business achievements and company leadership, the WHFA said.
“It’s such a special feeling, frankly, to be recognized by the industry you love so much and enjoy being such a part of,” Goodman said. “For each of our employees, this is a tremendous honor that everyone greatly appreciates.”
Jerome’s was founded in 1954 by Jim and Esther Navarra and is still owned and operated by the Navarra family, with seven members working there, including four third-generation retailers. The company employs 370 people.
Jerry and Ann Navarra joined the business in the early 1970s and oversaw the opening in 1979 of their first satellite store in San Marcos, Calif. Over the next 10 years, new Jerome’s locations were added in Chula Vista, El Cajon and Scripps Ranch, Calif. In 2000, the original store in downtown San Diego was replaced with a large-format store on Morena Boulevard.
In 2005, the company streamlined its operations by opening a 450,000-square-foot distribution center.
“The strong intra-family ties and commitment to ethical standards are heavily infused into the company’s foundation,” Jerry Navarra said in a release. “Our success resides in our long-term commitment to our customers, community, employees and their families.
Goodman is a fourth-generation member of the industry, having entered it at age 7, emptying ashtrays and filling coffee cups in his grandfather’s store in Boston.
“When you grow up in this industry, it becomes part of your DNA. It’s just in your blood,” he said. “My earliest childhood memories all involve my grandfather’s store and family celebrations at Washington’s Birthday sales. The industry has been my family ever since I can remember. It was always such a natural feeling. Through my family, I really gained a great exposure to the industry.”
Goodman worked his way through the ranks at the store of his father, Joe Goodman, then at Manchester, Conn.-based Bob’s Discount Furniture. He joined Jerome’s in 2006 as chief operating officer and was named president and CEO in July 2007.
Jerome’s is active in its community in several civic and charitable ventures. It recently partnered with the local ABC television news affiliate on the station’s program “Extreme Makeover My Hometown,” with a donation of more than $10,000 worth of furniture for the renovation of a San Diego women’s shelter.
Goodman is active with the San Diego Furniture Bank and the National Home Furnishings Assn. Ann Navarra sat on the board of both the NHFA and WHFA throughout her career of 35 years and was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the City of Hope in 2001.
WHFA is the largest affiliate of the NHFA, representing more than 1,100 independent home furnishings retailers in more than 2,800 stores in 12 western states.
-
WHFA recognizes Jerome's
Feb 24, 2008
Merinos Home Furnishings opening display room, Boyles addition
Ernest Warsaw, founder of Sheffield Corp., dies at 91
‘Mega vessels' likely to boost capacity, stabilize freight rates
HOM Furniture adds flooring to six Twin Cities stores
21 companies from Turkey, Taiwan and China to exhibit at Showtime
Featured Company
-
Wright Labels
Bill and Tom Wright founded Wright of Thomasville in 1961 on the idea that printing was a creative medium and the belief that "a promise made is a promise kept." The Wright brothers focused their attention on providing exceptional printing for the... more
VIEW ALL GALLERIES
