Susan M. Andrews — Furniture Today,
NORWALK, Ohio — Furniture manufacturer and retailer Norwalk Furniture has hired three executives as it prepares to get more


stylish, add product categories and beef up its sourcing capabilities.

Retail veteran Joan Ferman has joined the company as president of retail, replacing Bill Gerken, who has been named vice chairman.

Ferman has operated a wine store in Wisconsin since 1999 but previously was president of Arhaus Furniture. She had started with Arhaus as a sales associate in the Cleveland franchise, when the company was called Workbench.

Jim Gerken, Norwalk president and CEO, said Ferman “will play an instrumental role in how we decide to differentiate Norwalk from other home fashion retailers. With her unique retail vision and understanding of the changing, sophisticated home fashion customer, we couldn’t be more excited to bring her to Norwalk.”

Rick McKirahan, a longtime UPS executive, has joined Norwalk as vice president of strategic planning and operations, a new position. He reports to Jim Gerken and will oversee and manage production, transportation, product development and supply chain, including sourcing, purchasing, logistics and inventory.

“We see him taking Norwalk from Point A to Point B,” Gerken said. “Our vision for growth at the retail level empowers him to start with business processes that are in need of being re-engineered.”

A 22-year veteran of UPS, McKirahan rose from part-time employee to vice president of business development for the Asia Pacific region, based in Singapore.

His wife, Deb McKirahan, left a merchandising position at Norwalk two years ago to accompany him when UPS transferred him to Singapore. She has returned to Norwalk as director of retail merchandising, reporting to Ferman.
Gerken said the McKirahan/Ferman team will be key to expanding the custom upholstery producer’s fashion image.
“With her heightened level of energy and experience, Deb has a keen eye for home fashion and great insight into customer buying habits — including what’s hot right now,” he said.

While she was living in Singapore, Gerken asked McKirahan to look into international sourcing opportunities for the company. She learned about sourcing and got an in-depth look at buying behavior across cultures and categories.

“It’s very interesting to see how people in different parts of the world shop,” she said.
In her new role, she will set the merchandising program for Norwalk’s nearly 80 franchise stores in the United States and Canada, focusing on expanding their product assortment with additional categories, from lighting and wall art to home accents and soft goods.

She also will be in charge of sourcing these categories domestically and internationally, and will assist with fabric buying.