Rodney Tippit joins Conn's as upholstery merchandiser

Clint Engel -- Furniture Today, March 15, 2013

THE WOODLANDS, Texas — Industry veteran Rodney Tippit has joined furniture, electronics and appliances retailer Conn's here as upholstery merchandiser.

He replaces Paula Bane, who has left the company.

Tippit joins the publicly held Conn's with about 26 years of industry experience, most recently as director of product development for imports at Dickson Furniture International. Before that, he was case goods buyer for Houston's Finger Furniture and vice president of Finger's former Ashley Furniture HomeStores.

He also was a buyer for the former Lack's Furniture in Victoria, Texas.

Brad Proesch, director of furniture merchandising for 68-store Conn's, said the company will benefit from Tippit's experience in retail and with imports, a side of the business Conn's wants to expand.

Conn's, with recent growth fueled largely by its expanding furniture and bedding business, posted a nearly 10% increase in net sales for the quarter ended Jan. 31, to $208.4 million, according to a preliminary report.

The company operates stores in Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Arizona.