Bob's Discount Furniture
Encyclopedia
Bob's Discount Furniture is a privately owned regional chain of furniture stores along the Eastern United States, primarily in the Northeastern United States
. , the company had 40 stores located in Connecticut
, Massachusetts
, Maine
, New Hampshire
, New Jersey
, New York
, and Rhode Island
. Bob's Discount Furniture has started moving down the east coast, opening the chain's forty-third store on November 10, 2011 in Rockville, MD.
The company was founded in 1991 with its first store in Newington, Connecticut
. Bob's Discount Furniture is based in Manchester, Connecticut
and is ranked 30th among U.S. furniture stores, with estimated 2006 sales of $329.3 million. In addition to being known for its distinctive advertisements, the company is also known for offering amenities at many of its stores, which may include in-store home theater
s, video arcades, and complimentary refreshments. Many of the stores have a back room where people can get items that are considered imperfect; this area is playfully called The Pit.
accident; Bob discovered the benefits of a waterbed
for recuperation. The experience inspired Kaufman to become involved with waterbed sales, and during the 1980s, he had rented space in 24 New England stores for selling waterbeds. By 1990, waterbed sales had dwindled and Kaufman partnered with Gene Rosenberg (owner of Wholesale Furniture, where Kaufman had rented space for waterbed sales); at this point, Rosenberg acquired a building in Newington, Connecticut previously owned by a furniture company that had become bankrupt. In 1991, the Newington, Connecticut location became the first Bob's Discount Furniture store. The company was initially co-owned by Rosenberg (two-thirds) and Kaufman (one-third). As time progressed, the company expanded to additional locations, often acquiring buildings that had been vacated by tenants that had become bankrupt during recession. By 1997, the company operated a dozen stores in Connecticut and two in western Massachusetts. The ability of the company to grow during its early years in spite of unfavorable economic conditions has been partially attributed to the company's extensive use of commercials. In early 2005, the investment firm Saunders Karp & Megrue acquired 70 percent ownership of Bob's Discount Furniture; subsequently, Saunders Karp & Megrue was acquired by Apax Partners Worldwide
in March 2005. In November 2006, Edmond (Ted) English, former president and CEO of TJX Companies
, became the CEO of Bob's Discount Furniture, replacing Stan Adelstein, who became chairman. By this point, Bob's Discount Furniture had recently expanded into Rhode Island, New Jersey, and New York.
& New York Mets
games. The commercials usually feature company president Bob Kaufman, typically wearing jeans and a golf shirt or turtleneck, and have also included Cathy Poulin, the company's Director of Public Relations. Recently "Clay Bob" has been added to the company's commercials. The commercials have been characterized as "amateurish", "unconventional", and "wacky", and viewer reaction to the commercials is mixed, with some disliking the advertisements. The advertisements often feature catchphrases, including "Gotcha!", "Untouchable!", "Lickety-split delivery!", "It's a no-brainer!", and most famous (in Bob's early years), "Come on down!". "Spanish Bob" William Newton appears in Bob's Discount Furniture commercials on Spanish stations, such as Telemundo
.
for its blood drive
s and financial contributions to the organization. Bob's Discount Furniture has also been involved in food drives, charity walks, and conducts a "Celebrate the Arts Contest" to provide grants to regional schools. Once a month Cathy Poulin (Bob's commercial sidekick) drives the "Random Acts of Kindness" van to places in need throughout the communities served by the stores. People can submit suggestions for people or organizations in need of help through the outreachvan@mybobs.com email address. As of 2005, the company's charitable contributions totaled about $1 million a year. In December 2008 Bob's Discount Furniture donated a household full of furniture to the family in Voluntown, Connecticut
receiving an ABC Extreme Home Makeover
. In March 2011 the Rhode Island Hospital Intensive Care Unit waiting rooms received $25,000 worth of furniture donated by Bob's Discount Furniture.
Northeastern United States
The Northeastern United States is a region of the United States as defined by the United States Census Bureau.-Composition:The region comprises nine states: the New England states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont; and the Mid-Atlantic states of New...
. , the company had 40 stores located in Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
, New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, and Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
. Bob's Discount Furniture has started moving down the east coast, opening the chain's forty-third store on November 10, 2011 in Rockville, MD.
The company was founded in 1991 with its first store in Newington, Connecticut
Newington, Connecticut
Newington is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. As of the 2000 census, it had a total population of 29,306. The Connecticut Department of Transportation has its headquarters in Newington....
. Bob's Discount Furniture is based in Manchester, Connecticut
Manchester, Connecticut
Manchester is a township and city in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town had a total population of 58,241.- History :...
and is ranked 30th among U.S. furniture stores, with estimated 2006 sales of $329.3 million. In addition to being known for its distinctive advertisements, the company is also known for offering amenities at many of its stores, which may include in-store home theater
Home cinema
Home cinema, also commonly called home theater, are home entertainment set-ups that seek to reproduce a movie theater experience and mood with the help of video and audio equipment in a private home....
s, video arcades, and complimentary refreshments. Many of the stores have a back room where people can get items that are considered imperfect; this area is playfully called The Pit.
History
In 1976, future company co-founder Bob Kaufman was injured in a motorcycleMotorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
accident; Bob discovered the benefits of a waterbed
Waterbed
A waterbed, water mattress, or flotation mattress is a bed or mattress filled with water. Waterbeds intended for medical therapies appear in various reports through the 19th century...
for recuperation. The experience inspired Kaufman to become involved with waterbed sales, and during the 1980s, he had rented space in 24 New England stores for selling waterbeds. By 1990, waterbed sales had dwindled and Kaufman partnered with Gene Rosenberg (owner of Wholesale Furniture, where Kaufman had rented space for waterbed sales); at this point, Rosenberg acquired a building in Newington, Connecticut previously owned by a furniture company that had become bankrupt. In 1991, the Newington, Connecticut location became the first Bob's Discount Furniture store. The company was initially co-owned by Rosenberg (two-thirds) and Kaufman (one-third). As time progressed, the company expanded to additional locations, often acquiring buildings that had been vacated by tenants that had become bankrupt during recession. By 1997, the company operated a dozen stores in Connecticut and two in western Massachusetts. The ability of the company to grow during its early years in spite of unfavorable economic conditions has been partially attributed to the company's extensive use of commercials. In early 2005, the investment firm Saunders Karp & Megrue acquired 70 percent ownership of Bob's Discount Furniture; subsequently, Saunders Karp & Megrue was acquired by Apax Partners Worldwide
Apax Partners
Apax Partners LLP is a global private equity and venture capital firm, headquartered in London. The company also operates out of eight other offices in New York, Hong Kong, Mumbai, Tel-Aviv, Madrid, Stockholm, Milan and Munich. The firm, including its various predecessors, have raised...
in March 2005. In November 2006, Edmond (Ted) English, former president and CEO of TJX Companies
TJX Companies
The TJX Companies, Incorporated , is the largest international apparel and home fashions off-price department store chain in the United States. Based in Framingham, Massachusetts, the company originally evolved from the Zayre discount department store chain, founded in 1956, which opened its first...
, became the CEO of Bob's Discount Furniture, replacing Stan Adelstein, who became chairman. By this point, Bob's Discount Furniture had recently expanded into Rhode Island, New Jersey, and New York.
Advertising
Bob's Discount Furniture is widely recognized for its idiosyncratic advertising. Bob Kaufman has been characterized as "something of a celebrity in the Northeast, thanks to his quirky television commercials". As of 1997, the company broadcast roughly 500 commercials a week in Connecticut on network and cable television stations. More recently, the commercials have become common during broadcasts of Boston Red SoxBoston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
& New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
games. The commercials usually feature company president Bob Kaufman, typically wearing jeans and a golf shirt or turtleneck, and have also included Cathy Poulin, the company's Director of Public Relations. Recently "Clay Bob" has been added to the company's commercials. The commercials have been characterized as "amateurish", "unconventional", and "wacky", and viewer reaction to the commercials is mixed, with some disliking the advertisements. The advertisements often feature catchphrases, including "Gotcha!", "Untouchable!", "Lickety-split delivery!", "It's a no-brainer!", and most famous (in Bob's early years), "Come on down!". "Spanish Bob" William Newton appears in Bob's Discount Furniture commercials on Spanish stations, such as Telemundo
Telemundo
Telemundo is an American television network that broadcasts in Spanish. The network is the second-largest Spanish-language content producer in the world, and the second-largest Spanish-language network in the United States, behind Univision....
.
Community involvement
Bob's Discount Furniture has received significant attention for its community involvement. The company has been recognized by the American Red CrossAmerican Red Cross
The American Red Cross , also known as the American National Red Cross, is a volunteer-led, humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief and education inside the United States. It is the designated U.S...
for its blood drive
Blood Drive
Blood Drive may refer to:*Blood donation at a special event where donors come to give blood*Blood Drive , the sixteenth episode of the fifth season of the television series The Office...
s and financial contributions to the organization. Bob's Discount Furniture has also been involved in food drives, charity walks, and conducts a "Celebrate the Arts Contest" to provide grants to regional schools. Once a month Cathy Poulin (Bob's commercial sidekick) drives the "Random Acts of Kindness" van to places in need throughout the communities served by the stores. People can submit suggestions for people or organizations in need of help through the outreachvan@mybobs.com email address. As of 2005, the company's charitable contributions totaled about $1 million a year. In December 2008 Bob's Discount Furniture donated a household full of furniture to the family in Voluntown, Connecticut
Voluntown, Connecticut
Voluntown is a town in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 2,528 at the 2000 census. From 1726 to 1881 Voluntown had been part of Windham County.-Geography:...
receiving an ABC Extreme Home Makeover
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition is a reality television series providing home renovations for less fortunate families and community schools etc...
. In March 2011 the Rhode Island Hospital Intensive Care Unit waiting rooms received $25,000 worth of furniture donated by Bob's Discount Furniture.
External links
- Bob's Discount Furniture website
- Company profile from Google FinanceGoogle FinanceGoogle Finance is a website launched on March 21, 2006 by Google. The service features business and enterprise headlines for many corporations including their financial decisions and major news events. Stock information is available, as are Adobe Flash-based stock price charts which contain marks...