Schmitt Furniture of New Albany, Ind., has joined the Furniture First buying group.
With the addition of Schmitt, a family-owned full-line furniture retailer with a 76-year history in New Albany, Furniture First now has 194 members with 414 stores in 47 states and $1.5 billion in annual sales.
Bill Hartman, president of the Harrisburg, Pa.-based buying group, said Furniture First offers independents a competitive advantage in a difficult economy.
"Our programs add to their bottom line with rebates, discounts and operational efficiencies. But the other benefits we offer, like our exclusive merchandise and private labels, also help them improve their margins and stand out from the competition in their local markets," he said.
Furniture First members are full-line independents that have been in business for more than five years, although the average age of member businesses is more than 45 years. Member retailers are required to have good credit and meet minimum volume requirements.
The buying group said it will present the new lineup for the group's private label Mattress 1st at the Las Vegas Market, which runs Jan. 28-Feb. 1. The exclusive private label bedding line, manufactured by Serta, focuses on the promotional end of the mattress market. Members can see the products in the group's World Market Center space, B-962.