Importer Belvedere names Mehlman president

Thomas Russell -- Furniture Today, October 13, 2011

MehlmanDENVER - Industry veteran Cole Mehlman has been named president of case goods importer Belvedere Furniture.
     Mehlman most recently was with Odyssey International, an importer that specialized in casual dining and occasional furniture. It closed in June around the same time as its dedicated source factory in China also closed, he said.
     Mehlman, who founded Odyssey with his father, Michael, was president of that company for about seven years. Before that he was vice president of sales at Kincaid Furniture.
     At Belvedere, Mehlman will handle sales and product development and will manage a 12-member sales force. He succeeds Daryl Hudson, who has left the company.
     Belvedere sells promotionally priced bedroom and casual dining, with four-piece bedrooms retailing from $799 to $1,099 and five-piece casual dining sets retailing from $599 to $799. The bedroom and dining sets are produced primarily in Malaysia.
     "In today's retail environment, supply chain service and support are key ingredients to success," he said. "Belvedere is fortunate to have a very strong factory partner and is poised to become a leader in the promotional bedroom and casual dining categories."
     The company also has named Shawn Ng operations manager. Ng has been working for the company since it was formed about five years ago, but did not have a formal title, Mehlman said. For about seven years prior, Ng also worked in operations at the factory that produces for Belvedere.
     Belvedere has a High Point Market showroom in space 304 of Market on Green.