Bob's Discount Furniture is proud to announce that its co-founder, Gene Rosenberg, has been inducted into the American Furniture Hall of Fame in recognition of his outstanding achievements and contributions to the continued growth and development of the U.S. furniture industry.
Rosenberg was chosen for permanent membership, the industry's highest honor, by current Hall of Fame members, and was inducted during a sold-out Oct. 20 award ceremony marking the organization's 25th anniversary. As a new member, he received an "Affie" award, a handcrafted copper statuette symbolizing the furniture industry's enduring spirit, and will have his portrait placed in the Hall of Fame in High Point, N.C.
"This is a much-deserved honor for a business genius," said Bob Kaufman, who co-founded Bob's Discount Furniture along with Rosenberg. "For 22 years I have had the pleasure of calling Gene my partner, friend and mentor. He's the most charitable person I have ever known, and the brains behind our becoming a top-20 furniture retailer."
Rosenberg and Kaufman opened the first Bob's Discount Furniture store in Newington in 1991. Since then, the company has grown to become the 16th-largest U.S. furniture retail chain, with 47 stores located throughout New England, New Jersey, New York, Maryland and Virginia. Rosenberg, also co-founded Enfield-based Planned Furniture Promotions, Inc. (PFP), the country's largest furniture promotion firm, which assists retailers with special-purpose events such as store closings, reorganizations, retirement and moving sales.
"Gene has been responsible for thousands of successful promotional events," said Tom Liddell, PFP's senior vice president of sales and marketing. "Thanks to his vision and leadership, PFP is recognized today as the home furnishing industry's premier sales promotion company."
A strong believer in personal and corporate philanthropy, Rosenberg is a longtime supporter of Camp Rising Sun, a Colebrook camp for children with cancer, as well as the Bob's Discount Furniture Charitable Foundation, which benefits dozens of children's charities. He also has served on the boards of directors for numerous charitable organizations including Big Brothers Big Sisters, Hebrew Home and Hospital, the Hartford Jewish Federation and Chabad House.
Besides Rosenberg, two other industry leaders - John Bassett III and Hassel Franklin - were inducted to the Hall of Fame during the Oct. 20 event, joining 91 previously inducted members. Bassett, chairman of Virginia-based Vaughan-Bassett Furniture Co., doubled his company's sales of American-made furniture during the past two decades. Franklin is chairman and CEO of Houston, Miss.-based Franklin Corp., a family-owned upholstered recliner company that he founded in 1970 and built into one of the largest privately-owned U.S. furniture manufacturers.
About Bob’s Discount Furniture: -
Bob’s Discount Furniture provides a wide variety of quality furnishings – including living room furniture, bedroom furniture, dining room furniture, office furniture and home accents – at everyday low prices. The stores also offer a unique and enjoyable shopping experience featuring cafes in each store with free gourmet coffee, ice cream, cookies and candy. Since 1991, Bob’s has built strong customer loyalty by offering the highest-value home furnishings at the lowest possible prices. With 47 stores located throughout New England, New Jersey, New York, Maryland and Virginia, the Manchester, Conn.-based company has become the 16th-largest U.S. furniture chain. Bob’s is committed to supporting communities where its stores are located through a variety of charitable giving efforts.
Bob’s Discount Furniture Charitable Foundation has anchored the company’s philanthropic work for more than 15 years. In addition, the Bob’s Outreach program was created as a separate entity to help schools and children-related charities. Every year the company donates more than $100,000 to schools and more than $1.5 million to charities through these programs. To find out more about Bob’s Discount Furniture, visit www.MyBobs.com. For more information on Bob’s charitable programs, visit www.BobsCares.org, and follow us on Twitter @MyBobs and @MyBobs_Charity and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MyBobs.
To more details regarding the foundation and Bob's Discount Furniture, visit here at - http://www.linkedin.com/company/bob's-discount-furniture
