|
 February
17, 2010 - This past week in
what amounts to a major
leadership change and
positioning for the future,
Mattress Firm, Inc., one of
the nation’s leading specialty
mattress retailers, made major
changes to the company’s senior
management team. These changes
are an integral part of the
succession plan that was put
into place in 2007. Steve
Stagner has been promoted to
President and Chief Executive
Officer and Gary Fazio has been
elevated to Chairman of the
Board of Directors. Both changes
were effective February 3, 2010,
the beginning of the company’s
new fiscal year. With these
changes, Stagner will assume the
direct leadership of all
day-to-day operations of
Mattress Firm, while Fazio will
focus on strategic growth
opportunities for the company.
Fazio joined Mattress Firm in
2001 and guided the retailer
from a regional player to the
nation’s leading multi-brand
mattress retailer, more than
tripling store count. Mattress
Firm is now over $500 million in
sales, and ranks in the Top 15
companies in the broader
Furniture and Bedding Industry.
Many of Fazio’s initiatives
launched nine years ago are now
a part of Mattress Firm’s
differentiating concept such as
the company’s innovative store
design, expanded merchandise
assortment, luxury product
leadership position, Red Carpet
delivery service and highly
efficient warehouse and delivery
system.
“In January 2007, we began a
process designed to empower our
key leaders to accelerate
Mattress Firm’s growth
objectives and move the company
into a leadership position in
the industry,” said Fazio. “That
aggressive approach has allowed
us to grow quickly yet
strategically and establish
ourselves as an industry leader.
We have a strong foundation, a
proven retail model, and a great
team for future growth and Steve
is the perfect leader to execute
on this opportunity.”
Stagner has been with Mattress
Firm since 2005 when his
franchise group, Mattress Firm
Elite, was acquired by Mattress
Firm corporate. Named President
in 2006, Stagner’s leadership
role has included operations,
merchandising, sales and
marketing and training, as well
as real estate, where he led the
creation of a proprietary,
metrics-base decision making
program that has become a model
in the specialty retail
industry. Stagner began his
career on the manufacturing side
of the bedding industry prior to
opening his first Mattress Firm
franchise store in 1996 in
Atlanta. He and his high
performance team built the
franchise group to become the
company’s largest with 50 stores
in six markets and over $60
million in sales making it an
attractive acquisition for
Mattress Firm.
“In the last three years we have
made six acquisitions, opened
five new markets, and opened
more than 200 stores under the
Mattress Firm banner,” said
Stagner. “We gained market share
during the downturn. I am
looking forward to my expanded
role with Mattress Firm and to
the challenges of maintaining an
aggressive growth strategy while
also continuing to provide our
customers with the unmatched
shopping experience that has
defined Mattress Firm. I have
never been more excited about
our potential.”
About Mattress Firm
Houston-based Mattress Firm is
the nation’s premier specialty
bedding retailer, offering a
broad selection of both
traditional and specialty
mattresses from leading
manufacturers including Simmons,
Sealy, Tempur-Pedic. Founded in
1986, Mattress Firm’s purpose is
to Improve Lives One Night at a
Time. With more than 500 stores
in 38 markets, Mattress Firm
offers consumers the benefit of
highly-trained, knowledgeable
sales professionals, a broad
product offering and competitive
prices in an attractive and
comfortable store environment
For more information, visit
www.mattressfirm.com. |
