Gary Evans
BATON ROUGE, La. — Manufacturer and distributor Fraenkel has entered the upholstery business with the takeover of Advantage by Lucky Star, a manufacturer based in Nettleton, Miss.


The transaction comes after Advantage ceased operations after the July 4 holiday.

Fraenkel has acquired Advantage’s 240,000-square-foot factory. The company will operate under the name Advantage, and will show at the Tupelo furniture market, Aug. 17-20. Fraenkel also shows in Tupelo.

“Fraenkel has been looking for the right opportunity to enter the (upholstery) manufacturing sector for several years,” said Brian Akchin, Fraenkel’s president and CEO. “Advantage gives us the proper mix of product and entrée into many of the Top 100 retailers. Everyone involved is extremely excited about this acquisition.”

Revenues for the two companies should top $100 million for 2014, he said.

Fraenkel, a 100% employee-owned company, has three furniture distribution centers in the Mid-South and three bedding manufacturing plants. The company’s bedding division is a partner in Top 10 producer Englander Sleep Products.

Advantage, in business since 1999, makes sofas in the $399 to $799 retail price points.

Fraenkel also owns a 30% stake in upholstery maker Hillcraft Furniture and buys upholstery from other companies for distribution.

Greg Burks, former president of Advantage, will stay with the company as national sales manager. Jim Burris, Fraenkel’s vice president of merchandising, also will handle merchandising duties for Advantage.

Kim Harper will be administrative manager and Clyde Smithey will be plant and production manager at Advantage.