La-Z-Boy Announces Marketing Department Promotions

Furniture World News

La-Z-Boy, the nation’s leading manufacturer of upholstered furniture, has announced the promotions of Mark Wagner and Leslie Verral in its marketing department. Wagner, the former La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries“ advertising manager, has been named director of retail marketing, a newly created position. Verral, formerly retail advertising manager, will assume Wagner’s post as La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries advertising manager. As director of retail marketing, Wagner will be responsible for leading, directing and creating all retail marketing programs and communications relating to La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries, La-Z-Boy In-Store Galleries and general dealers. Beyond advertising programs for each retail channel, Wagner will also manage the creation and development of national retail promotions, point-of-sale, product collateral materials, selling aids, product photography and literature. He will report directly to Kurt Darrow, president of La-Z-Boy Residential, until a new vice president of marketing is appointed. "Throughout the past five years, Mark has helped elevate the quality and clarity of the overall Furniture Galleries advertising message throughout our system while developing a strong relationship with the Furniture Galleries dealer organization," said Kurt Darrow, president of La-Z-Boy Residential. "This move will allow him to build and expand upon these relationships, while providing synergies and consistencies across our retail advertising efforts." Wagner first started with La-Z-Boy in 1996 as retail advertising manager. He was promoted in April 1999 to the position of La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries advertising manager, managing and developing communications programs for the La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries stores, a growing network of more than 300 independently owned and operated La-Z-Boy licensed home furnishing stores. Wagner has more than 15 years of sales and marketing experience, having previously been a territory manager for Peoria, Ill.-based Multi-Ad Services, Inc., and a partner and sales and marketing manager for Key Multimedia in West Bloomfield, Michiga Taking over as La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries advertising manager, Verral assumes responsibility for developing Furniture Galleries advertising strategies and support. She will report to Wagner in her new role. Having joined La-Z-Boy in 1999 as retail advertising manager, Verral played a significant role in the creation and development of advertising materials for La-Z-Boy In-Store Galleries while working on national retail promotions and increasing the quality of participation among North American dealers. Verral came to La-Z-Boy from Desmond’s Formalwear in Toledo, Ohio, where she developed and implemented sales and store promotions for more than 100 stores as marketing communications manager. Prior to joining Desmonds, she was promotions/marketing director for WKKO-FM, WTOD-AM, WYHK-FM and WRQN-FM in Toledo. "Leslie is a valuable asset to our marketing department," said Darrow. "She has dedicated herself to improving the level of professionalism and dealer participation in our programs. In her new role, she will work in tandem with Mark to develop our Furniture Galleries advertising program to its fullest potential." Headquartered in Monroe, Mich., La-Z-Boy Residential is the nation’s largest single manufacturer of upholstered furniture and the world’s leading producer of reclining chairs. The company manufactures a full line of products for the living room and family room, including the company’s world-famous recliners, reclining sofas and love seats, sleep sofas, modular furniture and leather upholstery, as well as stationary sofas, love seats and chairs. It is a division of La-Z-Boy Incorporated (NYSE, PCX: LZB), the nation’s largest furniture manufacturer.