Mr. & Mrs. Harris with their grandchildren Sydney and Tanner
Furnitureland South is announces the induction of its founders Darrell and Stella Harris into the American Furniture Hall of Fame. Mr. and Mrs. Harris were nominated by Jeff Young, President of Schnadig Furniture, and the nomination was seconded by Steve Kincaid, President of Kincaid Furniture. The Harris’ nomination represents the first time in the American Furniture Hall of Fame’s 22-year history that a couple has ever been considered for inclusion on the ballot. Mr. & Mrs. Harris were inducted with Bob Timberlake and Manuel Capo.
Each fall, the American Furniture Hall of Fame Foundation hosts a gala banquet to honor the individuals who are inducted into the Hall of Fame. The “Affie” is presented to each inductee, who then becomes a permanent member, the industry’s highest honor.
More than 400 industry leaders attended this year’s gala dinner, emceed by celebrity Jane Seymour, and held in the ballroom of the International Home Furnishings Center in downtown High Point. Mr. and Mrs. Harris were praised for the steady stream of innovations they’ve brought to the furniture shopping experience, for their emphasis on consumer value, and for the many philanthropic projects they have supported.
“We’re just blown away,” Darrell Harris said in accepting the award. He attributed the achievement to prayer and hard work. He acknowledged his friends, family and employees. “I was told early in my career you didn’t have to be the smartest, you just had to hire the smartest team. And I was told you don’t have to be the best looking, and so I hired and married the best looking woman.” Stella Harris’ remarks focused on three ideas: being blessed, thankful and the importance of relationships. She deflected credit for the honor being bestowed and insisted, “I don’t think we’re any more deserving than anyone else in this furniture business. I’m kind of the background person. Darrell is the visionary.”
Darrell and Stella Harris founded Furnitureland South in 1969 with the goal of providing value to furniture customers in North Carolina. They started the company with a few catalogs, several showroom samples and an old truck. For years, Darrell personally sold, delivered and serviced furniture, while Stella divided her time between caring for their two young sons and picking up the mail, making bank deposits and doing the payroll. Furnitureland South is now the single largest furniture store in the world, delivering quality home furnishings to countries around the world.
About the American Furniture Hall of Fame: The American Furniture Hall of Fame is an international, industry-wide effort organized to honor those individuals whose outstanding achievements have contributed to the continued growth and development of the U.S. furniture industry, as well as to research, collect and preserve the industry’s cultural, economic, and artistic history.
About Furnitureland South: With more than 1 million square feet of home furnishings and accessories, Furnitureland South provides acres of exquisitely designed vignettes, expert designers and a white-glove national delivery service. The store is a multi-day destination for discerning consumers from every state and many foreign countries.