by Middletown, PA: Furniture First approved Brown’s Furniture of Orrville, Ohio as a member last month. John and Carol Brown opened their furniture store in 1977 after working in the furniture industry for a number of years. After five years, the store relocated to its present address, where showroom space was nearly twice the size of the original. Over the years, additional nearby properties were purchased, enabling further expansion. Today the store fills 57,000 square feet with furniture displays in downtown Orrville.
Brown’s Furniture president Jarrod Brown grew up in his parents’ store, doing odd jobs and delivering furniture. He formally joined his family’s business in 1992, after completing college. His wife, Dawn, followed a year later. John Brown continues to work in the store he founded and currently, there are three members of the third generation working in and learning the business.
Prior to their application, Brown’s was able to attend a Furniture First member event held during the recent High Point Market. Approximately 80 members gathered in the private VIP lanes at Spare Time in Greensboro. The event was sponsored by several Furniture First vendor partners, including Tempur+Sealy, Guardsman, Emerald Home and Snap Finance.
“We were thrilled with the event and it was a great way for Brown’s to get to know some of our members,” said Andrew Kauffman, CEO of Furniture First. “Our members genuinely like one another and that was evidenced by the attendance at the event. This was the first time since things shut down that they were able to gather, catch up, share notes and have some fun. Brown’s even commented to us about how friendly everyone there was.”
Furniture First members and vendors are gathering next week for the return of the buying group’s popular annual symposium. Attendance will be 330 members and sponsors at the Omni Orlando Resort at Championsgate.
Furniture First is a cooperative national home furnishings and mattress buying group serving full line independent retailers with sales over $2 million. Collectively, the group sells $3 billion at retail with their approved merchandise programs in the 534 member storefronts. Furniture First occupies showrooms in Las Vegas (B530) and High Point (IHFC G-770) where they display products from several of the group’s approved vendors. For more information on Furniture First Membership, please visit or call 800-411-3477.
