Florida reps honor Badcock’s Marks
Named Distinguished Retailer of the Year
By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, May 1, 2008
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Don Marks of Badcock Home Furniture & More, Mulberry, Fla., has been named 2008 Distinguished Retailer of the Year by the Florida Home Furnishings Representatives Assn.
Each year FHFRA honors a retailer whose creative skills, management expertise, hard work and loyalty to the furniture industry have enhanced or influenced the furniture industry in Florida. A luncheon to honor Marks drew more than 70 reps, retailers, manufacturers and family.
Marks spent more than 10 years with fast food king McDonald’s, ultimately as national operations manager, overseeing 10,000 stores. He later worked in operations for Taco Bell and as president of Thorn/EMI of London, with responsibility for stores in Europe and also the company’s 600 Rent-A-Center stores in the United States.
Since September 1998 he has been president and CEO of Badcock Home Furniture & More. Under his guidance, the retailer has increased its revenue by 28% and profits by 280%, according to FHFRA. The company has undertaken a significant project to upgrade its image and is in the process of expanding from seven states to 10.
Marks is vice president of the American Furniture Hall of Fame. He also is a recipient of City of Hope’s Spirit of Life Award and serves on that organization’s board.
