As we enter 2025, Furniture Leisure marks a significant milestone in our company's journey. After more than a decade of outstanding service since March 2013, we bid a fond farewell to Charlene, whose dedication and expertise have been instrumental in shaping our company into the trusted commercial outdoor furniture provider it is today.
While we celebrate Charlene's well-deserved retirement, we're excited to introduce Chris Quigley, our newest team member who brings over two decades of valuable industry experience to our family. To help our customers get to know Chris better, we recently sat down with him for an insightful Q&A session:
Q&A with Chris: Getting to Know Our New Team Member
Could you tell us about your professional journey in sales and what led you to Furniture Leisure?
Chris: After spending close to 20 years in front-line retail environments, I transitioned to the manufacturing side, specifically in outdoor furniture, covers, and BBQ tools. I spent five years operating across Southeast Asia and the US, procuring new business accounts and managing accounts exceeding $40 million. When COVID-19 lockdowns began, I was in Cambodia, and after quarantine, I decided to make a change. I moved my family to Bunnell, Florida, where I successfully established and later transferred a real estate firm to my daughter. Then, I was fortunate enough to come across Furniture Leisure.
What's your philosophy when it comes to building and maintaining customer relationships?
Chris: In my experience, being accessible and responding in a timely manner is a cornerstone. Through engagement, we can understand our customers' pain points, anticipate them, and help avoid them whenever possible. Most importantly, I believe in approaching every opportunity with the same enthusiasm and grateful heart as we did with our first.
How do you envision contributing to Furniture Leisure's growth and success?
Chris: Having such an amazing foundation, the contribution isn't as challenging as some I have faced. My intention is to provide sales strategy, structure, and support to this wonderful team. With consistent efforts, the growth and success will follow.
What trends do you see in the outdoor furniture industry, and how do you plan to keep our company ahead of the curve?
Chris: As with most industries, the trends can be cyclical. From colors to styles, if you're around long enough, you'll see some things come back around. Our intention is to continue what has made us successful and then, with our extensive experience, begin to actively pursue business to drive us forward.
Could you share your approach to understanding and meeting customer needs?
Chris: I like to visit our customers whenever possible. When that isn't possible, I focus on understanding how our products 'live' in their respective spaces. This understanding enables us to make better-informed recommendations to our customers.
How do you plan to ensure a smooth transition as you take over from Charlene?
Chris: Charlene and I have been working practically shoulder to shoulder since December 3rd. Her depth of knowledge is not easily replaced, and I fully expect to be lacking compared to her. Fortunately, we have a terrific team of tenured sales professionals and amazing manufacturing relationships that I can lean into to fill any gaps.
The transition process has been carefully planned, with Chris and Charlene working closely together to ensure continuity in our service and relationships. Chris's customer-centric approach and extensive experience in understanding product applications align perfectly with our company values, emphasizing accessibility and proactive customer service.
As we move forward, we remain committed to maintaining the high standards of quality and customer satisfaction that have become synonymous with the Furniture Leisure name.
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