Independent mattress manufacturer Gold Bond Mattress has hired Ed Gilligan, the former president of Levitz Furniture and senior merchant at Sears, to expand its market penetration in the Midwest.
According to a news release, Gilligan founded his own sales and marketing company and consulted for home furnishing brands including Flexsteel Industries and Burlington Industries. In addition to Gold Bond, he represents another family-owned company, Sunny Designs, which specializes in dining, entertainment, home office, bedroom, occasional and accent furniture.
“Ed is one of the most respected veterans in our industry with a proven track record of merchandising showroom floors that generate door swings and higher ticket sales. His contact list is extensive, and he immediately opens many new opportunities in a part of the country where our brand has been growing rapidly over the past several years,” said Bob Naboicheck, CEO of Gold Bond, based in Hartford, Connecticut.
Gilligan’s experience includes 25 years at Sears, where he held several key leadership roles, including merchandise manager, personnel manager, senior buyer and national merchandise manager. He was then recruited as president and chief marketing officer at Levitz Furniture Co., a position he held for two years, the news release said.
“I have watched Gold Bond’s success for many years. Its commitment to quality, customer service and training is very unique in today’s marketplace, and I believe it is exactly what is needed in the home furnishings industry right now,” Gilligan said. “Every dealer needs to be merchandising their floors with product that will make more margin for them. With fewer customers walking in the door, retailers must capture every sale and do it with product that they can earn a living on and will not be returned because the quality is so good. That is the Gold Bond story and I am thrilled to now be telling that narrative to my contacts in the industry.”
