Sean O'Connor reflects on new leadership role at Universal Furniture - Home News Now
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Sean O’Connor reflects on new leadership role at Universal Furniture – Home News Now


Brand-new business president presumed obligations Jan. 1, changing veteran executive Jeff Scheffer, who retired in late December

PEAK– On Jan. 1, Sean O’Connor started his brand-new function as president of Universal Furnishings, taking control of a position from veteran executive Jeff Scheffer, who retired from the business at the end of 2022.

O’Connor has actually been with Universal because 2011, most just recently as senior vice president and prior to that, senior vice president sales, and vice president of sales.

Prior to signing up with Universal, he was at upholstery resource Rowe Furnishings for simply over 14 years, working as nationwide sales supervisor and prior to that, marketing agent for western North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia and likewise for Tennessee and main Arkansas.

Sean O’Connor

At the time Universal revealed the modification in management in mid-September, O’Connor stated he was concentrated on a particular objective for Universal– “continuing to focus on the advancement of home furnishings that resonate with merchants and interior designers.”

” More than anything, we desire Universal Furnishings to continue to be called the simplest business to do service with,” O’Connor stated. “We eagerly anticipate continued success in the future as we develop on the relationships, workmanship and style competence that has actually brought us this far.”

In an interview with House News Now, O’Connor just recently broadened his ideas about this brand-new chance for him and the business and what it suggests to its existing and broadening client base.

HNN: To begin with, congratulations once again on your brand-new position. While this is a brand-new management function for you at Universal, you likewise have actually remained in management positions formerly. How do you believe these management functions have prepared you for the task?

O’Connor: I have actually had the opportunity of dealing with excellent coaches over the last ten years, who have actually been shining examples of what it suggests to lead. Viewing them and dealing with them has certainly ready me for the presidency. In this brand-new, much bigger function, I want to the sharp executive group I have actually produced as we make choices about what is finest for the business and the client.

What do you think about the greatest difficulty the business deals with as you start this brand-new function?

O’Connor: While we are definitely viewing the economy carefully, we had an excellent 2022 and are bring that momentum into 2023. We remain in stock on 95% of our entire house variety and are seeing a go back to regular in regards to the general circulation of items. Our factory in Conover, North Carolina, is back to 8 to 10 weeks on bench-made special-order items, so we remain in an excellent position to support our consumers entering into 2023.

And what would you state is the greatest chance?

O’Connor: Special-order upholstery and outside represent 2 essential locations for development. We introduced these 2 organizations throughout the pandemic and have actually seen supply chain challenges and boosts on products and labor because the first day. We are now in stock on outside and have actually gone back to our regular preparations in Conover, North Carolina, for our unique- order upholstery.

Outdoor was a classification that was currently acquiring momentum in 2019 and the pandemic has actually sustained this classification as time has actually gone on. We think we are well placed to support the client and assistance present brand-new consumers to these offerings in the year ahead.

Undoubtedly, a business like Universal has other strong leaders in its rank, a few of whom have actually simply recently been promoted. How do you believe the group you have in location will assist the business be successful in the brief and long term?

O’Connor: Both Neil MacKenzie and Shannon Lookabill have excellent management capabilities on top of the particular discipline experience they give the table. And each has a various point of view. All of our strengths integrated will provide well-reasoned choice making. The majority of us have actually been interacting for a while now and we feel great in the functions that we play and how each people affects the business in moving us forward.

Heading into 2023 what do you believe will be amongst the greatest problems dealing with not just Universal, however the market at big?

O’Connor: A few of the unpredictability relating to the economy, inflation and rate of interest and its possible influence on service as a whole. And although realty is slowing, we still see a huge need for house tasks that will keep interior designers hectic in 2023.

Your business is distinctively placed as both an importer and a producer. How does this position the business for the future?

O’Connor: We seem like we have the very best of both worlds by integrating these proficiencies. From a functional and monetary point of view, it constructs business stability due to the fact that we can manage our supply chain, quality and expenses much better than business who mainly source items. From an item perspective, it offers us amazing versatility to be imaginative issue solvers and establish items without being bound by one method of working.

Can you mention any huge strategies the business has from an item perspective, whether in specific design classifications or item sections?

O’Connor: Just like every year we have brand-new intros in the works and will have the ability to share more on that as we get closer to spring market.

And for those who have not done much, or any, service with Universal in the past, what would you inform them about the business and why it’s ending up being a more crucial resource in the market?

O’Connor: We remain in business of bring in and maintaining consumers. All our workers comprehend this. And we make every effort to be the simplest business that our consumers deal with. No matter what part of our service you communicate with, all of us have a typical objective of putting the client initially.

In conclusion, inform us something about yourself that individuals in the market do not understand about you

O’Connor: I played football for Lenoir Rhyne University up until I was hurt my junior year and ended up being the captain of the college golf group my senior year. I have 3 kids I like to hang out with. My youngest is a 6th grader, my child is a junior graphic style significant at HPU and my earliest is a commercial style significant at James Madison University. Both of the older kids have actually been working furnishings markets for the last 3 years and desire be the 4th generation of O’Connors in the furnishings market.


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