Wednesday 8th February 2012 10.16am
Post your Events Jeff Is Sitting Pretty In New Role
The North East's premier luxury sofa retailer has strengthened its sales team with the appointment of an experienced store manager.
Jeff Hunter, 45, joins Stockton-based Sofaitalia.co.uk. The leather sofa specialist recently opened a 10,000 sq ft retail showroom on Portrack Lane, where Jeff will be heading up the sales team.
Sofaitalia.co.uk, set up as web-based business from headquarters in County Durham almost three years ago. The £250,000 retail showroom in Stockton is the first of a planned network of 15 or more furniture stores around the country within the next five years.
Prior to his appointment at Sofaitalia.co.uk Jeff worked at Barker and Stonehouse for over 20 years and was general manager there for 16 years. Jeff, from Redcar, has worked across a network of stores across the region and brings with him a wealth of retail experience.
Executive chairman of Sofaitalia.co.uk Steve Adams said: "Jeff's appointment is major coup for us and he will be a key asset as we look to grow our presence regionally and nationally.
"His extensive experience and broad expertise will be invaluable in helping us to develop the business further while adding to our reputation for providing customers with the highest standards of service and quality."
Jeff will be responsible for motivating and training new and current members of staff as well as helping customers pick the perfect sofa. He also helps to arrange furniture displays demonstrating how chairs and suites will look in a home setting. Jeff will also be handling all sofa orders from customers and the warehouse.
Jeff said: "The chance to join a company with fantastic growth potential and to help make it a major player in the retail sector was a challenge I couldn't resist.
"The guys at Sofaitalia.co.uk are very forward thinking with big plans for the future both regionally and nationally, and that is something I am really excited to be a part of.
"I was massively impressed with the products; only the finest Italian leather is used on our sofas. They are high-quality and stylish - these sofas could almost sell themselves."
Sofaitalia.co.uk was initially established by Durham businessmen Paul Smith, Karl Utley and Robert Hall, the management team was boosted last year by the appointment of executive chairman Steve Adams. While developing the existing online business the management team quickly realised that many customers wanted to experience the products in a better setting than their existing Durham warehouse.
The move created several new jobs and expects to generate sales of more than £1million in the first year. Further sites are now being identified across the North of England.
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