An anniversary

This week marks my 10-year anniversary with Furniture/Today. And even though that’s a mere drop in the bucket for many FT staffers, it’s one I’m proud of.

I grew up in a furniture store. My father was a sales manager, designer and later owner of Butler Furniture Company in Huntington, W. Va., from the 1960’s to 1990’s. While my Dad is now retired and the store has since closed - along with so many other wonderful independent retailers - it is forever etched in my mind.

As a little girl, I remember hop-scotching down the store’s black and white tiles. And one year, while redecorating my room, my Dad let me choose a mirror to hang over my brand-new Pennsylvania House dresser. I labored over the decision and eventually fell in love with one. The intricate design was absolutely beautiful - it hangs in my house today.

As a teenager, I filled in for the receptionist when she took vacations and spent several Christmas vacations taking inventory. As I wrote down product numbers for Sherrill sofas and Drexel Heritage dining room suites, I learned the lesson of hard work and unbeknownst to me, gained an invaluable introduction to the furniture industry.

I then left for college in North Carolina and graduate school in Kentucky, far away from the industry. I found my back to North Carolina and entered the market research field. A couple of years later I interviewed for a market research job with a publishing company.

After the interview, I told my Dad the job was actually for Furniture/Today, a weekly furniture trade publication. Dad’s immediate reaction told me all I needed to know. He said, “Furniture/Today, that’s the Bible of the industry.”

I am proud to be part of Furniture/Today, the undisputable leader within the industry. It’s our goal to continually provide our readers with the information they need to be more successful in their businesses. Here’s to the next ten!