Rick Harrison, left, VP of Merchandising Vaughn-Bassett, Doug Bassett, President of Vaughn-Bassett, Andrew Kauffman CEO of Furniture First, Michael Haywood, CFO Furniture First
HIGH POINT – Domestic bedroom manufacturer Vaughan-Bassett will anchor the new Furniture First showroom and offices here set to open October 2023.
Vaughan-Bassett, which has shown on the 10th floor of the International Home Furnishings Center for about 25 years, will be located on the penthouse floor of the new four-story, 40,000-square-foot building. Two other Furniture First partners, Knorr Marketing and TD Retail Card Services, will split half of the third floor.
Doug Bassett, president of Vaughan-Bassett, said the new showroom will help the company expand its customer base to include higher-end retailers and designers. The company’s space in the building feature 9,000-square-feet of showroom space and a 500-square-foot covered outdoor space overlooking South Main Street that Bassett said the company will use extensively for entertaining and meals.
“I think this will be a hotspot going forward,” he said, adding that the company and Furniture First have had a seven-year partnership that has been very successful. “All of their members have the ability to buy our line and over the last several years we have opened up a lot of their members as Artisan & Post customers.”
Bassett said the buying group’s plan to have meeting space and offices in the building will make it a destination for retailers shopping the High Point Market.
Vaughan-Bassett’s current showroom in IHFC is 19,000 square feet, and Bassett said the company can show between 22 and 25 bedroom suites. With the more open space of the new showroom, he is confident that the same number of products will be shown.
Furniture First’s board of directors hosted a ground-breaking event on the site during this week’s market.
“We are excited that Vaughn-Bassett has decided to join us,” said Furniture First CEO Andrew Kauffman. “We have been partnered with Vaughn-Bassett since 2016 and the program has grown stronger every year. Their furniture aligns well with the merchandising strategies of many of our members. It will be convenient for our members who carry the line, but our building will still allow all of Vaughn-Bassett’s customers to easily visit and view their offerings. If they happen to want to learn more about Furniture First, we will be there.”
TD Retail and Knorr Marketing are also long-time partners of the group, and Kauffman said their presence in the building will make it convenient for members to stay in touch with the vendors.
“TD Retail Card Services is looking forward to our new permanent home in the Furniture First building. It will allow us to strengthen our current retail partnerships and provide an inviting space to foster new ones.” said Mike Rittler, general manager, TD Retail Card Services.
“We can’t wait to get into our new showroom. We will have the space we need to collaborate with our current clients and to welcome new friends into the Knorr Marketing family,” said Isaac Knorr, president of Knorr Marketing.
A member-owned cooperative, Furniture First’s board of directors has long sought to own a High Point property. The ambition mirrors their own business experiences – most Furniture First members own their store properties.
“Our members are known for being sharp back-end operators. It was their initiative that will turn what has been an on-going expense into an investment in an asset for the whole group, in addition to building a beautiful and comfortable hub for their High Point trips,” Kauffman said.
From left: Mike Albert, Pilgrim City Furniture, board member; Mike Moss, Bear’s Furniture, board member; Michael Haywood, CFO Furniture First; Pat Callan, Callan’s Furniture and Board Vice-Chairman; Matt Meusey, Wagner’s Home Furnishings, board member; Eric Sinclair, Montgomery’s Furniture and Board Chairman; Andrew Kauffman, CEO Furniture First; Randy Coconis, Coconis Furniture, board member; Beckey Waldrop, Miller Waldrop Furniture and Décor, board member; Jack Steger, Steger’s Furniture and Board Treasurer; Lisa Hawkin, Room to Room, board member; Bob Fiore, Fiore Furniture incoming board member
