Biltrite Furniture to receive Retailer of the Year award from HFA

GREENFIELD, Wisc. – Biltrite Furniture‐Leather‐Mattress has been named the 2023 Retailer of the Year (under 50 employees) by the
Home Furnishings Association (HFA). BILTRITE is the first Wisconsin Furniture retailer to earn this distinction. This recognition as one of the industry’s highest achievers is amongst the most prestigious awards in home furnishings.

Biltrite was judged by a panel of industry professionals on eight categories: Customer Experience, Company Culture, Social Responsibility, Innovation, Adaptability, Industry Contribution, Marketing and Achievements.

In 2022 Biltrite celebrated 94 years in business as Wisconsin’s highest volume, single‐store, family and locally owned and operated furniture and mattress store. Randi Komisar, a fourth generation family member in the business, said the company is honored to win Retailer of the Year and calls it “the team’s award,” crediting the entire Biltrite team for helping earn this.

“We are very honored and humbled by being named HFA’S Retailer of the Year for 2023,” Komisar said. “It is very touching as
we embark upon our 95th year in business and would like to thank our family, past and present employees, our loyal customers, HFA, Furniture First Buying Group and the many vendors and Amish builders that we have nurtured relationships with over the years. We have come a long way since 1928 and look forward to continuing to be a locally and family‐owned Metro Milwaukee‐area institution. We do what we do because we love and have passion for what we do!”

Mark Schumacher, CEO, of the Home Furnishings Association, will be on hand to present the award to the Komisar Family in an awards celebration on Wednesday, March 1. In appreciation of this honor Biltrite said it would like to give back to the community that it serves, by donating $5,000 to the Milwaukee Homeless Veterans Initiative and $5,000 to the Grand Avenue Club of Milwaukee.

“Biltrite Furniture has been a steadfast supporter of the Grand Avenue Club since 2007,” said Philip Connelly, executive director. Biltrite has been instrumental in providing employment opportunities to our members and has allowed our members to find purpose and meaning in their lives. The continued generosity of Biltrite has enabled the Grand Avenue Club to create an array of attractive opportunities for hundreds of Milwaukee residents who face the challenge of mental illness. The GAC is transforming lives and building brighter futures, but none of this would be possible without the support of Biltrite.”

“The Milwaukee Homeless Veterans Initiative is very excited to be the recipient of a $5,000 gift from Biltrite Furniture that will be restricted to one of our largest programs, Home Support, which assists veterans in helping to secure safe, stable and affordable housing,” said Debbie Buchanan, executive director. “Once new housing is found, oftentimes the veteran has nothing to furnish it with. Home Support provides these items free of charge to veterans. We have been very appreciative of the many in‐kind furniture items Biltrite has donated in the past. With this $5,000 donation, we will ensure veterans have the items they need to start off on the right foot and maintain their highest levels of independence, which is part of our mission.”

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