Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture Named Better Business Bureau Torch Award Finalist

Wed, 15 Jun 2011 17:02:15 +0000

Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture was recognized recently as a Local Torch Award for Excellence finalist by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) of Central New England. Three generations of the Rubin family, who founded Bernie & Phyl’s in 1983, accepted the award. Bernie Rubin (far right) is joined by his grandson, Alex Rubin (far left), and son, Rob Rubin, in accepting the award from Nancy Cahalen, BBB President and CEO. Bernie & Phyl’s has previously received the prestigious Torch Award, which is given to companies that embody the highest ethical standards, from the BBB of Eastern MA, RI and VT in 2009, 2007, and 2004.

Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture Wins 2008 Massachusetts Family Business Award

Wed, 21 May 2008 16:24:55 +0000

Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture has been selected as the 2008 winner of the Massachusetts Family Business Award for businesses with more than 250 employees. The Massachusetts Family Business Awards were created to recognize the achievements of the top family owned companies in Massachusetts for their excellence in business, innovation, and contributions to the community. The awards program was developed by Northeastern University Center for Family Business; the Family Firm Institute, New England Chapter; and family businesses across the state.

“It is an honor to receive this important award. Even as we have grown, our focus has been on retaining that strong sense of family and commitment to family values that has been the hallmark of our company over the years,” said Bernie Rubin, chairman and co-founder of Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture. “We will work hard to continue to earn the respect and admiration of every person who comes in contact with our company and to live up to the ideals that are represented in winning this award.”

The award that Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture received was named in honor of Paul Karofsky, the founding executive of the Northeastern University Center for Family Business and current member of the Center’s Leadership Development Forum. Awards were also given in two other categories, the Ed Tarlow Award to businesses with 50 to 250 employees, and the Marshall Paisner award to businesses with fewer than 50 employees.

Based in Norton, MA, Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture is the largest privately owned furniture retailer in Massachusetts. The family run business has six stores in New England: Braintree, MA; Hyannis, MA; Nashua, NH; Raynham, MA; Saugus, MA; and Westboro, MA. Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture received the prestigious Better Business Bureau Local Torch Award for Excellence, in 2007 and 2004, which is given to companies that embody the highest ethical standards. In 2002, the company was named “Retailer of the Year” by the National Home Furnishings Association, which is the highest honor in the retail home furnishings industry. The company ranks 69 among the Top 100 furniture stores in the country according to Furniture/Today magazine.

Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture Wins 2007 Better Business Bureau Local Torch Award for Excellence

Wed, 25 Apr 2007 20:17:35 +0000

Norton, MA, April 25, 2007 – Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture has been selected as a winner of the seventh annual Better Business Bureau Local Torch Award for Excellence. The Torch Award honors remarkable businesses committed to promoting ethical business practices. A panel of judges selected a winning company in each of four categories based on a number of criteria including their high standards of excellence towards customers, employees, suppliers, shareholders, and the communities in which they do business, and their reputation for ethical practices in the marketplace. Bernie & Phyl’s won in category III, companies with 100-999 employees. The company was also the recipient of the 2004 Local Torch Award for Excellence.

“The competition was very tight this year,” said Kevin J. Sanders, president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau, Inc. Serving Eastern MA, ME, and VT. “These four Torch Award winners exemplify exceedingly high standards of business practices, truthful sales and advertising, and a reputation for noteworthy contributions to their industries and the communities in which they do business.”

“We are thrilled to be named a winner again of the Local Torch Award for Excellence,” said Bernie Rubin, co-founder and chairman of Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture. “We work hard every day to represent the best that our industry has to offer, and it is wonderful to have our dedication to ethical business practices and high standards of excellence towards our customers, business suppliers, and employees recognized through this award.”
The awards will be presented to the winners at individual ceremonies. Winners are entered in the Council of Better Business Bureau’s International Torch Award competition. The other winners of the 2007 award are: Category I (1-10 employees) Luxbrush Painting Co., Inc; Category II (11-99 employees) The Wolfington Group, Inc.; and Category IV (1,000 plus employees) Sun Life Financial.

Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture is one of the largest furniture retailers in New England. In 2002, the company was named “Retailer of the Year” by the National Home Furnishings Association, which is the highest honor in the retail home furnishings industry. Based in Norton, MA, Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture has six stores in New England: Braintree, MA; Nashua, NH; Raynham, MA; Saugus, MA; Westboro, MA; and Weymouth, MA.

Mentoring Award from Mass Mentoring Partnership

Wed, 15 Jun 2005 15:30:55 +0000

Norton, MA, June 15, 2005 — Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture recently received the first Champions of Mentoring Award from Mass Mentoring Partnership (MMP) for their commitment to expanding high-quality youth mentoring throughout Massachusetts. Bernie & Phyl’s has sponsored National Mentoring Month for the past four years, including funding MMP’s public service campaign. Bernie and Phyllis Rubin, co-founders of Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture, accepted the award at the first Annual Champions of Mentoring Breakfast, which was held at Fenway Park and co-hosted by the Boston Red Sox. Pictured from left to right: Terry Francona, Manager of the Boston Red Sox; David Shapiro, Chief Executive Officer of Mass Mentoring Partnership; Phyllis and Bernie Rubin; Larry Rubin, President of Bernie & Phyl’s; and Rob Rubin, President of Merchandising and Marketing for Bernie & Phyl’s.

Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture Makes List of Top 100 Furniture Stores in the Country for Sixth Year in a Row

Wed, 01 Jun 2005 15:59:40 +0000

Norton, MA, June 1, 2005 — Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture, one of the fastest growing furniture retailers in the country with six stores in Massachusetts and one in New Hampshire, has made the list of Top 100 U.S. Furniture Stores for the sixth year in a row. The exclusive list is compiled by Furniture/Today, the industry’s leading trade publication. Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture has moved up the list to number 61 with $105.8 million in sales for the year 2004, representing a 21.6 percent increase in sales over the previous year. The company’s impressive 21.6 percent sales gain was the sixth highest in the country. Bernie & Phyl’s was number 70 on the list last year with $87 million in sales.

Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture also made Furniture/Today’s Top 10 lists in the important “sales per square foot” category and “average stock turns” category. The company has made both of the Top 10 lists – a remarkable feat – for the past six years. Bernie & Phyl’s was number ten in the category of sales per square foot and number five in the average stock turns category this year. They were one of only four retailers from the Top 100 to appear on both of these lists.

“We started out on this prestigious list six years ago at number 100 and have moved up almost 40 spots since then, which is a major accomplishment,” said Bernie Rubin, chairman and co-founder of Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture. “This past year, we attained another important benchmark in our company’s history – exceeding the $100 million sales mark for the first time. It is our goal to continue serving our customers at the highest levels, so that we can maintain our annual double-digit growth and continue to expand our company.”

With a focus on quality furniture at great prices, the family-run business has created a highly successful niche in a very competitive marketplace. In 2004, Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture purchased a prominent 3.5-acre site in Braintree, where they opened a 50,000 s/f store in February 2005. In 2003, the retailer bought and opened a 55,000 s/f store in Raynham and doubled the size of its Nashua superstore to 86,000 s/f – all part of the company’s ambitious expansion plans.

Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture is one of the largest furniture retailers in New England with seven stores throughout Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Based in Norton, MA, the company has large stores in Braintree, MA (50,000 s/f), Raynham, MA (55,000 s/f), Saugus, MA (50,000 s/f), Westboro, MA (50,000 s/f), and Nashua, NH (86,000 s/f). The company also has Bedding and Clearance Centers in Everett and Weymouth, MA. Bernie & Phyl’s was named the 2002 Retailer of the Year by the National Home Furnishings Association, the highest honor in the furniture industry, and the 2004 winner of the Better Business Bureau’s Local Torch Award for Excellence.

Norton Torch Award

Tue, 22 Jun 2004 15:17:15 +0000

Norton, MA, June 22, 2004 — Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture recently received the coveted Local Torch Award for Excellence from the Better Business Bureau Serving Eastern MA, ME and VT (BBB). The BBB Torch Award honors remarkable businesses committed to promoting ethical business practices. Each winning company (four are selected each year in different size categories) must consistently meet very high standards in its relationships with customers, employees, vendors/suppliers, industry peers, and the community in which it does business. Shown here receiving the award at a ceremony at their headquarters, from left to right, are: Rob Rubin, senior vice president, Robert Pepé, operations manager, Phyllis and Bernie Rubin, co-founders, Robert H. Williams, president and CEO of the BBB, and Larry Rubin, chief operating officer.

Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture Makes List of Top 100 Furniture Stores in the Country for Fifth Year in a Row

Wed, 09 Jun 2004 15:57:55 +0000

Norton, MA, June 9, 2004 — Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture, one of the fastest growing furniture retailers in the country with five stores in Massachusetts and one in New Hampshire, has made the list of Top 100 U.S. Furniture Stores for the fifth year in a row. The exclusive list is compiled by Furniture/Today, the industry’s leading trade publication. Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture has moved up the list to number 70 with a 13.4 percent increase in sales over the previous year. Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture holds the top ranking of the only two Massachusetts-based retailers to make the prestigious list.

Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture also made Furniture/Today’s Top 10 lists in the important “sales per square foot” category and “average stock turns” category. The retailer was number nine in the category of sales per square foot and number five in the average stock turns category (up from number eight last year). Bernie & Phyl’s was one of only five retailers from the Top 100 to appear on both these lists.

“We started out on this prestigious list just five years ago at number 100 and have steadily moved up,” said Bernie Rubin, president and co-founder of Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture. “We are proud of having reached where we are, but we never forget that our numbers have grown and will continue to grow by serving our customers at the highest levels. Our success is based on their satisfaction and that is our primary goal.”

With a focus on quality furniture at great prices, the family-run business has created a highly successful niche in a very competitive marketplace. In 2003, Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture opened a new 55,000 s/f superstore in Raynham and doubled the size of its Nashua superstore to 86,000 s/f – which contributed to the retailer’s double-digit growth. The company plans to open another superstore in 2004.

Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture is one of the largest furniture retailers in New England. Based in Norton, MA, the company has five Massachusetts stores, in Everett, Raynham (55,000 s/f superstore), Saugus (50,000 s/f superstore), Westboro (50,000 s/f superstore), and Weymouth, and one New Hampshire store in Nashua (86,000 s/f superstore). The company was named the 2002 Retailer of the Year by the National Home Furnishings Association and the 2004 winner of the Better Business Bureau’s Local Torch Award for Excellence.

Raynham Award

Mon, 01 Mar 2004 15:43:41 +0000

Raynham, MA, March 1, 2004 — Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture recently received one of three Community Pride Awards given each year by the Business & Economic Development Commission of Raynham. The “Turn Around” Award for site revitalization was given to Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture for the new Raynham superstore, which opened at the Ames Plaza on New State Highway in August. Shown here receiving the award for Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture, from left to right, are Rob Rubin, Senior Vice President, Deb Beresford, the Raynham store manager, and Larry Rubin, Chief Operating Officer. John Noblin, chairman of the Economic and Business Development Commission is on the far right.

Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture Wins Executive Technology Retail Community Service Award

Thu, 19 Feb 2004 15:36:45 +0000

Norton, MA, February 19, 2004 — Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture has been selected as one of ten international retailers to receive the prestigious Executive Technology Retail Community Service Award. The award honors businesses that are building a better world for people through their community service efforts. The award was presented to Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture at a gala event held in conjunction with the National Retail Federation Show in January in New York City. Bernie Rubin, co-founder and president, and Larry Rubin, chief operating officer, accepted the award on behalf of the company.

Executive Technology Magazine, which gave out the awards, said that Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture was the smallest retailer to have ever received the award. The other winners this year were Belk, Best Buy, Charming Shoppes, Dollar General, Giant Food Stores, Grupo Pão de Açúcar, LensCrafters, RadioShack, and Target.

Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture was selected because of its ongoing and strong commitment to donating furniture to organizations in need. In the last three years, the company’s Friends in Need program has donated over $1.2 million worth of furniture to Morgan Memorial Goodwill and Teen Challenge New England. Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture also has an ongoing relationship with the Boston and Nashua Habitat for Humanity organizations to help furnish for free all of the homes they build. Since 2001, the retailer has donated furniture to over 25 Habitat houses across Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

“We are honored to receive this prestigious award,” said Bernie Rubin, president of Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture. “We work hard every day to represent the best that our industry has to offer, and it is wonderful to have our dedication to community service recognized by our peers.”

Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture was started by the Rubin family in 1983 and has since grown from a small storefront into the largest independent furniture retailer in Massachusetts. Based in Norton, MA, the company has six Massachusetts stores in Cambridge, Everett, Raynham (55,000 s/f superstore), Saugus (50,000 s/f superstore), Westboro (50,000 s/f superstore), and Weymouth, and one New Hampshire store in Nashua (86,000 s/f superstore). Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture is among the top 100 furniture stores in the Unites States, according to Furniture/Today magazine. The company was named the 2002 Retailer of the Year by the National Home Furnishings Association.

Bernie & Phyl’s Gives the Needy a Seat at the Table

Mon, 15 Dec 2003 00:59:06 +0000

December 2003, from Executive Technology

Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture proves that even a small retailer can take community service a long way. The Norton, Mass. based retailer, which operates six stores in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, donates furniture to philanthropic organizations, homeless shelters and others through its “Friends in Need” program. The family run company has long-term relatinshiops with Habitat for Humanity, Morgan Memorial Goodwill and Teen Challenge New England.

“We are honored to be receiving this prestigious award,” said Bernie Rubin, president dand co-founder, with his wife Phyllis, of Bernie & Phyl’s. “We work hard every day to represent the best that our industry has to offer, and it is wonderful to have our dedication to community service recognized by our peers.”

Bernie & Phyl’s regularly assists groups in the same communities where as a boy Rubin once helped his hard-working father makemilk deliveries. The company furnishes homes built by Habitat for Humanity free of charge. Three Habitat job sites received furniture and volunteer labor from Bernie & Phyl’s in 2003. Bernie & Phyl’s also makes monetary donations to the organization.

Morgan Memorial Goodwill and Teen Challenge fund a variety of their programs with money they earn selling furniture donated by Bernie & Phyl’s. Goodwill offers assistance to people with disabilities, while Teen Challenge helps people recovering from addiction. In the last three years, Bernie & Phyl’s has donated furniture worth more than $400,000 to Morgan Memorial and more than $800,000 to Teen Challenge.

Furniture donations are a widespread, and effective, charitable approach for Bernie & Phyl’s. In addtion to Goodwill and Teen Challenge, the company in 2003 gave furniture to a home for mentally challenged adults, a counseling center for abused children, a homeless family shelter, a center for cancer patients, an affordable houseing building and an elementary school.