Coon Rapids, Minn. (February 2024) HOM Furniture was pleased to announce the recipients of its 2023 Vendor of the Year award and Manufacturer’s Representative of the Year honor at its recent awards banquet.

· 2023 Vendor of the Year Recipient: Simon Li, is a manufacturer under HOM’s Thomas Cole label, working with the company for the last several years. Simon Li offers high-quality, thoughtfully designed stationary and motion leather upholstery produced in state-of-the-art factories in Asia.

· 2023 Manufacturer’s Representative of the Year Recipient: Matt and Chuck Thiele, who have a long history working with HOM and representing factory partners, including long-term vendors such as Howard Miller and brand-new vendors like DA International.

These two awards are announced by the company yearly to acknowledge some of HOM Furniture’s key partners who have shown a commitment to product and service excellence, as well as product category growth. Kyle Johansen, Executive Director of Merchandising and Marketing for HOM Furniture, presented this year’s plaques at HOM’s Annual Awards Banquet, which took place at The Depot in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in January 2024.

The Vendor of the Year Award is given to a vendor that demonstrates the highest level of commitment to HOM Furniture and its success in the marketplace. Simon Li, a company that has been a partner with HOM since 2009, was selected due to their long-term commitment to growth, product selection and quality, and impeccable service.

Several of the offerings that set Simon Li apart from others are their custom order assortment of fine leathers, flexible shipping and ordering program that supports special orders, and work in providing high-value products that benefit HOM Furniture’s customers. Additionally, Simon Li’s representatives, Brandon Francois, and Rob Bauer, bring valuable insight to HOM Furniture’s team.

“Simon Li has been one of the most significant partners HOM has had over the past decade,” said Johansen. “Since introducing them into our showrooms, the sales volume for their products has grown significantly. They have done this by continuing to improve and expand their product offerings, which are now part of our main showroom, Fine Furniture Gallery, Uptown Gallery, and DOCK86 brand. It is partners like Simon Li that allow HOM to continue to be the leader in our marketplace.”

Larry Little, VP at Simon Li with Representatives Brandon and Rob accepted the award for Simon Li.

The Manufacturer’s Representative of the Year Award is given to the representative/s that offers outstanding service in all aspects, including timeliness, detailed training, meticulous follow-up, and an overall professionalism that is second to none. Matt and Chuck Thiele meet and exceed this criteria through their vast industry experience of 30+ years, and valuable insight into how the industry operates and how to make a furniture line successful at retail.

Some of the many ways that the Thiele’s have become valuable partners to HOM Furniture include: working with HOM Furniture’s training team and offering expertise to the training process, working with HOM’s buying team, and identifying furniture lines that could be successful at retail.

“We have given out the Manufacturer’s Representative Award for more than 25 years and every year represents a special partnership, but tonight stands apart as the first time this award goes to representatives with such deep roots with HOM. Matt and Chuck are former HOM employees who joined our St. Paul, Minnesota, HOM Oak and Leather showroom when they started their furniture careers. They were fantastic HOM teammates then—and now are two of our finest reps, still advocating for and putting HOM first,” said Johansen. “We are blessed to have these two gentlemen on our team, and I’m incredibly grateful for all the work they have done for HOM for so many years and in so many different ways.”

Matt and Chuck Thiele attended HOM’s awards banquet to accept the award.

In addition to these awards for HOM Furniture’s partners, the annual banquet was a chance to celebrate HOM’s valued employees and their hard work throughout the previous year. HOM awarded Lisa Thies as the company’s 2023 Employee of the Year. Additional award recipients went to Stacy Czapiewski, Unity Award; Michael Schroeder, Community Service Award; Russell Evans, Safety Award; and Hans McCarthy, Showroom Manager of the Year.

More than 500 people attended the event at the long-standing venue, The Depot. The banquet was decorated according to the theme for the year: the Red Carpet Awards Theme; and many employees chose to dress according to the festive theme. The evening included dinner, photo opportunities, and entertainment.

About HOM Furniture

HOM Furniture ranks as one of the nation’s largest furniture retailers serving customers in the upper Midwestern states of Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota, Iowa, and Wisconsin and the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. Stop in yourself and find out why “There’s No Place Like HOM.”