GNYHFA honors three Pillars of the Industry
By Clint Engel -- Furniture Today, 12/1/2008 12:00:00 AM
NEW YORK — More than 300 people were on hand to honor Joe Bograd, Ray Simonetti and Julius Feinblum as Pillars of the Industry during the Greater New York Home Furnishing Assn's. annual dinner-dance here.
Bograd, president of high-end Bograd's Fine Furniture in Riverdale, N.J., was presented with the David Druckman Lifetime Achievement Award recognizing his “years of tireless involvement in the industry.”
Simonetti, longtime sales representative for Broyhill in New York, and Feinblum, CEO of Julius M. Feinblum Real Estate in Plainview, N.Y., received the Jerry Gans Memorial Award, given to “individuals who have distinguished themselves with deeds and services in our industry.”
In their acceptance speeches, all three noted the strength and support they've received over the years from their family and industry friends, the tough times the industry faces now and the hard work it will take to get back on track.
Bograd's father and uncle founded Bograd's in 1930, when “things were worse than they are now,” Joe Bograd told guests gathered at Terrace on the Park in Flushing Meadow Park.
“We survived the gas crisis of the '70s, the turmoil of the '80s and '90s and the dot-com bust of the early 2000s. And we'll be around when the current mess comes to an end because we'll continue treating people fairly — customers, suppliers and employees — and continue to give good advice, good value and good service.”
Simonetti said the recent downturn is sending a message to the industry that it needs to return to the basics — “price, product, performance and punctuality.”
“And when you really think about it, this is an opportunity for growth,” he said.
Feinblum, who started in his father's furniture store, rose through the Wall Street ranks, later became a furniture rep and finally a real estate specialist in the furniture industry (still with a keen interest in Wall Street) noted several ups and downs both in his personal life and in business.
“Stay focused, don't lose your drive and try not to get depressed,” he told the crowd. He added that he was proud to be from this country and part of this industry, “and we will all have the opportunity to grow again.”
