Tri-State group names Andy Bernstein Person of the Year

Will be honored at Nov. 15 dinner in Philadelphia

Clint Engel -- Furniture Today, July 14, 2011

Andy Bernstein

AMBLER, Pa. — Tri-State Home Furnishings Assn. will honor Andy Bernstein, president and founder of FurnitureDealer.net, with its Person of the Year Award during a Nov. 15 dinner at the Crowne Plaza Downtown in Philadelphia.

The annual award by the association of retailers, sales representatives and furniture and allied industry suppliers recognizes individuals who have gone above and beyond to help build business for home furnishings retailers, reps and their companies, according to a release.

Bernstein started FurnitureDealer.net in 1996 with the vision of leveraging Internet technology to improve the way home furnishings consumers do business through local brick and mortar stores.

"He and his team have pioneered and continue to innovate upon what is arguably the most successful approach to local, full service, multi-channel Internet for big ticket home furnishings retailers," the association said. "They refuse to do business with retailers who have no showroom, and/or who want to use the Internet to market and ship products nationally."

FurnitureDealer.net operates 850 websites, focusing exclusively on big-ticket furniture, mattresses, appliances and electronics.

Bernstein grew up in a family-run retail furniture business and has spent most of his 25-year career in retail, technology and big-ticket home furnishings.

Each year, Tri-State HFA honors member and others in the industry from its territory of eastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and Delaware with various awards voted upon by its members. They include:

• Retailer of the Year. Nominees this year are Hitchener's, Salem, N.J.; Mastroieni Furniture, Montgomeryville, Pa.; Dwelling, Manyunk, Pa.: Just Cabinets, Harrisburg, Pa.; Lebow's Furniture, Royersford, Pa.; Beiter's, Williamsport, Pa.; and Design Spree, Lawrenceville, N.J.

• Representative of the Year. Nominees are Shawn Weiser; Ron Adelman; Kevin Creede; Rich Fusco, Bobby Schwartz; Jay Ferber; Ron Kershner; and Bill Jennings.

• Congeniality Award. Nominees are Jim Bellezza, Bell Home Furnishings, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.; Mike Holmes, Home Furnishings Market, Phoenixville, Pa.; Michael Dornblum, Dwelling, Manyunk, Pa.; Alan Cooper, Diamond Furniture Outlet, Clifton Heights, Pa.; Jim Rivera, Raymour & Flanigan, Lawrenceville, N.J.; and Ernie Digiacomo, Raymour & Flanigan, King of Prussia, Pa.

A Tri-State committee also honors individuals for innovative advertising and display, and presents two youth recognition awards, representative and retailer, respectively.

Committee-chosen honors are the Senior Service Award to Larry Mastroieni, Sr., Mastroieni Furniture; Young Representative Award to Chris Clarizio; Young Retailer Award to Bob Todd Jr., Nehlig's, Stratford, N.J.; Retail Display to Mealey's, Warminster, Pa.; and Retail Advertising to Diamond Furniture.

Invitations for the dinner will be sent later this summer. For more information, contact Cathy Reed at tshfa_Cathy@hotmail.com or tshfaCathy.reed135@gmail.com or by phone at (215) 646-5831.