Jeff Linville — Furniture Today,
DALLAS — Keely Rhodes has been promoted to president of sales for case goods importer Lee Furniture.


He had joined Lee in September as manager of the Midwest region and key accounts, and reports to Jessey Lee, senior vice president.

Previously, he was briefly president of importer Masten Furniture. Earlier, he was director of national accounts at J. Miles & Co. and was national sales manager for KCB Enterprises, a Sealy futon licensee.

Rhodes said Lee is strong financially and has a good product line, with annual sales nearly doubling from 2004 to 2013, to $25 million last year. First-quarter business has the company on track for another increase $12 million to $15 million increase this year, he said.

He said the five-year-old company’s rapid growth led it to create the new president of sales position. Bedroom has been strong from the beginning, and the introduction of pub table sets in April 2013 helped push last year’s growth.

At the recent High Point Market, Lee showed at 142 S. Main St. During this summer’s Las Vegas Market, the company will again show in an offsite space near Walker’s Furniture. During the January show, Lee had limos transporting buyers to the WMC or their hotels.

Rhodes said owner Jim Lee has more than 30 years in the industry and owns a half-interest in the Chinese plants that make Lee Furniture’s goods, giving the company more control of the final product.

Among Lee’s clients are Finger Furniture, Houston; R.C. Willey, Salt Lake City; and Badcock Home Furniture & More, Mulberry, Fla.