Warren, Mich. — Art Van Furniture, a leading furniture and mattress retailer in the Midwest, has named Neil Zimmer vice president of merchandising for Art Van PureSleep.
Zimmer will report directly to David Van Elslander, president of Art Van PureSleep. Zimmer will be responsible for overseeing all buying and merchandising activities, and will manage the company’s buyers and support teams.
“We welcome Neil with an eye toward growth,” says Van Elslander. “Neil’s reputation as a creative and strategic leader, coupled with his specialized expertise and proven track record in the retail bedding space, will add the needed horsepower to help us expedite our already aggressive growth plan.”
Zimmer joins Art Van PureSleep from Sleepy’s, where he played an instrumental role in product and business development, as well as the growth of the retailer to more than 1,000 stores. He began his career in 1993 by launching his own futon and mattress business with five locations, which he successfully operated for 10 years before taking on a merchandise and operations analyst role with Fortunoff, an upscale department store on the East Coast.
Art Van PureSleep has been on a path of strategic growth since its launch 7 years ago. To date, there are 46 freestanding and 56 in-store locations, and Zimmer will play an important role in the brand’s continued expansion.
About Art Van Furniture is America’s largest independent furniture retailer. The company operates 100 stores throughout Michigan, Illinois, Ohio and Indiana, including freestanding Art Van PureSleep mattress stores, Art Van Flooring stores, and Art Van Furniture franchise locations as well as a full service e-commerce website. Founded in 1959, the company is family-owned and headquartered in Warren, Mich. For more information, visit artvan.com.
SOURCE: Art Van Furniture