Robert Kirchmeyer to launch furniture retailer

Will start with 90,000-square-foot store in Birmingham, Ala.

Thomas Russell -- Furniture Today, June 11, 2010

Robert Kirchmeyer

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Robert Kirchmeyer has stepped down as a senior vice president at case goods and upholstery resource Emerald Home Furnishings and will launch a furniture retail venture.

Stacks Furniture Outlet will open its first store in Birmingham, Ala., in this year's last quarter and will grow to seven or eight stores over time, Kirchmeyer said.

The venture is supported by an investment group whose members he declined to name, although he said they have experience in furniture retailing.

Kirchmeyer will be CEO of the company. He said the stores will be around 100,000 square feet or larger, and will carry a mix of starting, middle and upper-priced, branded and non-branded case goods and upholstery.

Stacks also will have a full-service sleep department with a mix of national, second- and third-tier brands.

"We intend to be a destination location," Kirchmeyer said. "We want to make sure we have something for everybody that comes to see us."

He chose Birmingham as the first location because it "is a good market that represents the customer demographics that we are looking at and is central to a very good supplier base."

For its first store, it is leasing space in a former 125,000-square-foot Wal-Mart. The initial showroom will be about 90,000 square feet and could be expanded over time.

Once the Birmingham store has proven effective, the company will announce future cities and locations, Kirchmeyer said.

"We have identified markets we want to go into, but want to make sure the model is right operationally and merchandise-wise," he said.

The venture marks a return to Kirchmeyer's retail roots. From 1983 to 2005 he worked at Atlanta-based Top 100 retailer Havertys in areas ranging from warehouse operations to vice president of merchandising.

He has been on the supply side of the business for five years, first as president of Canyon Mill Furniture, a supplier of wood furniture to mass merchants, and since mid-2008 with Emerald. He said his experience on the wholesale side of the business has helped him witness some of the best retail practices in the United States and around the world.

He added that despite the soft economy, he believes the timing is right for a new furniture retailer.

"The economy is starting to have signs of recovery and the real estate market has plenty of opportunities to capitalize on," he said. "I am really excited about this. It's going to be a great opportunity."

In a statement, Emerald Home Furnishings President David Beckmann said the company will miss Kirchmeyer. A replacement was not immediately named.

"Robert has brought a tremendous amount of experience and influence to the company and leaves the company in a better place than when he started," Beckmann said. "Everyone at Emerald wishes Robert the greatest success with his new venture. The challenge for us will be to find someone with the same kind of talent and dedication that Robert has shown."