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Steven Lush named president of Robb & Stucky International

Company owns intellectual assets of former furniture retailer

Thomas Russell -- Furniture Today, June 20, 2011

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Robb & Stucky International has named 30-year industry veteran Steven Lush as its first president.

Steven Lush

The company was formed recently by Samson Holding CEO Samuel Kuo and his family, which acquired the name and other intellectual assets of bankrupt Florida retailer Robb & Stucky in a May 25 bankruptcy auction.

For the past two years, Lush has been vice president of sales for the Eastern United States for Universal Furniture, one of Samson Holding's U.S. case goods resources. Before that, he was vice president of sales for manufacturer Hickory Chair and executive vice president of former Top 100 retailer Hendricks Furniture Group. He also has held sales and management posts with La-Z-Boy and Thomasville Furniture.

In his new role, he reports to Samuel Kuo.

Lush said Robb & Stucky International is working on its operating plan and merchandising strategy. He said he could not yet reveal specifics, such as the number or locations of stores the company might open.

"Our goal is to re-establish Robb & Stucky as the premier retailer of high-end furniture," he said. "Once we establish a successful model in the United States, we look forward to expanding into China."

It also is in the process of naming an executive team and is looking at existing Robb & Stucky employees.

"They had a lot of talented and experienced people. We plan on beginning our recruiting process by speaking to the former employees first," Lush said.

Lush started his career in the retail side of the industry about 30 years ago at the family owned Lush Brothers Furniture in the Northeast. His new job marks his return to the retail side of the business.

"The Robb & Stucky opportunity really mirrors a lot of what I did at Hendricks' Thomasville division, which was also a start-up," he said, noting that the Conover, N.C.-based company had opened 17 Thomasville stores in about four years. "We do not have a specific number of stores in mind yet. Our goal is to open locations where the market can support a full-service, high-end store."

He added that as with any new venture, "There are challenges involved and in the high-end area, that is the case as well. But we see a lot of opportunities in the high-end, design-oriented furniture business."

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