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Wang named president of Legacy Classic Kids

Thomas Russell -- Furniture Today, November 28, 2011

Wang WangHIGH POINT - By naming Earl Wang to the new position of president of Legacy Classic Kids, the company is looking to reemphasize its status as a distinct business unit devoted to a growing category.
     It's the first time in recent years that the company has had a dedicated leader for the youth furniture division of Legacy Classic Furniture.
     Samson Marketing, which oversees Legacy Classic and Universal Furniture, named Wang to the new position last week. He comes to the company from case goods importer American Drew and sister company Lea Inds., a youth bedroom manufacturer and importer, where Wang was a senior merchandising executive for the past nine and a half years. Earlier, he held merchandising roles at manufacturers Riverside and Universal.
     Kevin O'Connor, president and CEO of Samson Marketing, estimated that youth furniture today makes up roughly a third of Legacy Classic's sales.
     Lee Boone, who remains president of Legacy Classic, had been general manager of Legacy Classic Kids from 2003 to 2007. Since then, product development specialists largely were responsible for new product and related growth initiatives in the division.
     The news also comes on the heels of sister company Universal Furniture's launch of the Smartstuff youth furniture line. Universal's line represents the "best" portion of Samson's youth lineup, while Legacy is at better price points, O'Connor said.
     "We see youth furniture as a very important part of our growth in the future," he said. "What we are really saying at Samson Marketing is that we want to position ourselves as the premier supplier of youth furniture to the industry.... We will never be the cheapest guy on the block, but we can still do product in good, better and best." Wang, who reports to O'Connor, said he was excited about the opportunity.
     "I am fortunate to be with a company that has a reputation of being forward thinking and that has a reputation for fresh ideas and that has a lot of enthusiasm," he said.
     Wang said he believes youth furniture has a bright future.
     "It is a very dynamic category that is constantly changing, and it is a category where we can be outside the box," he said. "You can break the rules a little bit and try some new things."

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