— Furniture Today,
Succeeds Bob Cremer of Aronson Furniture

HIGH POINT — Marc Schewel of Schewel Furniture, based in Lynchburg, Va., has been elected president of the Furniture Marketing Group for 2013-2014.

He succeeds Bob Cremer of Aronson Furniture, Chicago, who becomes chairman of the furniture buying and marketing organization. David Gunn of Knight Furniture, Sherman, Texas, was elected treasurer.

FMG members voted at their annual membership meeting during the April market here. Other directors for the group are Joel Huseby, Becker Furniture World, Becker, Minn.; Steve Stein, Grand Discount Furniture, Virginia Beach, Va.; Wendell Terry, Olum’s Furniture, Vestal, N.Y.; Tom Olinde, Olinde’s Furniture, Baton Rouge, La.; and Gary Steinhafel, Steinhafels Furniture, Waukesha, Wis.
 
FMG represents 70 large independent furniture retailers with more than 450 locations nationwide and is based in High Point. On Jan. 1, FMG entered into a strategic alliance with the Nationwide Marketing Group, the country’s largest appliance and electronic group, whose Furniture Smart division is now a member of FMG.

“The challenges facing independent furniture retailers have never been greater, and FMG is responding by creating an umbrella of leading-edge purchasing, advertising, marketing, communications and training services that can be customized, directed and implemented to the furniture industry,” said Mike Herschel, the group’s executive director.