A conversation with J.R. Marzilli at Decor-Rest

This week at market, Canadian home furnishings supplier Décor-Rest is welcoming buyers into its new 22,000-square-foot showroom.  HNN Editor-at-Large Ray Allegrezza sat down with Décor-Rest President and CEO J.R. Marzilli to discuss the new showroom, new initiatives for the company and more.

What follows are excerpts from that interview.

HNN: Congratulations on the new showroom, J.R. Decor-Rest has been in the passing lane of the fast zone these past few years. The company has made multiple major acquisitions and has expanded its workforce and product offerings. It seems like at a time when the industry is struggling somewhat, your company certainly seems to be outperforming the sector. How are you making this happen?

J.R. Marzilli

J.R. Marzilli: That’s nice to hear, but let’s not get too ahead of ourselves, OK? The economy is still challenged and if we are knocking it out of the park we are doing so with our ambitions, our goals, our ongoing focus on our customers and by continuing to be a part of the furniture mecca here in High Point.

What do you see as some of the benefits of having invested in High Point?

J.R. Marzilli: I believe that by continuing to invest in High Point we are sending a message to our dealers that we are here for the long haul for them. We are a family business that believes in family values and that includes investing in High Point as a means of remaining important to and committed to our customers.

Your new showroom at 212 Jacobs Place gives you some 22,000 square feet and is adjacent to your previous 8,000-square-foot showroom. How will you utilize all the space?

J.R. Marzilli: For us, the beauty of having a dedicated building is that it allows us to create a beautiful and relaxing environment including a beautiful garden as opposed to having our customers walk through endless buildings and hallways.

Now, we also have the room to show all our brands in dedicated portions of our building, something we could never really do before. So this market is also special because it represents the first time in North America that we are able to show all three brands, Décor-Rest, Superstyle and Trendline, all under one roof.

What will buyers see when they come to the new showroom?

J.R. Marzilli: In addition to seeing new products from each of the brands, they will also see a completely new line of motion furniture, new functional furniture including hideaway beds and so much more.

How would you describe each of your brands to someone who may not be familiar with your company?

J.R. Marzilli: I would tell them that Trendline would be described as our entry-level line of some seven groups and 20 fabric choices.  Great pricing and great construction and look.

Then, you move up to Décor-Rest and/or Superstyle. Both are very strong in stationary, and they have their own unique looks and fabrics and virtually identical price points.

Our three brands give us the flexibility to satisfy any design appetite. For example, products in our Superstyle line are perfect for condo living. But we also have some traditional looks in Superstyle for customers preferring that look. Then, for those wanting more of an urban look, Décor-Rest fits those needs.

How will you utilize your previous location at this market?

J.R. Marzilli: That is a great story as well. We’ve done a nice presentation of the best of the best, and we’ve grouped them into two floors because we have 4,000 square feet on each floor. The first floor is what we call our Furniture First Membership. Furniture First members can see bestsellers from that group.

The second-floor features bestsellers for the members of the Mega Group, a Canadian buying group. Again, the space features bestsellers from that group.

To wrap up, how does it feel as the second generation now directing the business?

J.R. Marzilli: I have to say that when I was named president in 2017 and my parents passed that title on to me, it was at once humbling and a badge of honor. My dad started this business 52 years ago and was president for 45 of those years.

My parents were and still are great mentors. My dad is very strong on the shop floor and great with people, and my mother is very strong in merchandising and marketing, so I was very lucky to learn from the best. All our major decisions are still collaborative and despite the growth and new initiatives, one thing never changes — we are a family business with family values.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Subscribe to our Newsletter for breaking news, special features and early access to all the industry stories that matter!


Sponsored By: