Larry Thomas
Hope to increase importer’s sales, distribution

NORCROSS, Ga. — Former Southern Textiles executives Bob and Rob O’Neill have joined Acme Furniture, an importer of leather upholstery, dining room and bedroom furniture, in newly created management posts.

Bob O’Neill is vice president of the company and will be involved largely with new business development and product development. His son, Rob, is vice president of sales and marketing.

They are based at Acme’s distribution center here but also will have offices at the company’s South Brunswick, N.J., distribution center, and its headquarters in City of Industry, Calif.

Bob O’Neill said he has been a friend and business associate of Acme owner George Chen and executive vice president Marvin Ruben for years, and he and his son decided to join the company in hopes of increasing its sales and expanding its distribution.

“It’s amazing what they have accomplished on the West Coast these past 10 years,” he said. “We look forward to bringing the company to a different level within the furniture industry.”

Bob O’Neill was a part owner of Southern Textiles, a supplier of top-of-bed products to furniture stores, from 1993 until the company was sold to Leggett & Platt in 2004. Rob O’Neill was the company’s product manager.

Earlier, Bob O’Neill was a sales executive at Rosalco, a now-defunct importer of metal furniture.

For the upcoming High Point market, the O’Neills will be in Ac