Norton, MA, June 12, 2001 — Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture, one of the fastest growing furniture retailers in the country with stores in Cambridge, Everett, Saugus, Westboro, and Weymouth, has made the list of Top 100 U.S. Furniture Stores for the second 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 93 with $54.1 million in sales for the year 2000, representing an 18.8 percent increase in sales over the previous year.  Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture made its debut at number 100 on the list last year with $45.5 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 retailer was number 10 in the category of sales per square foot and number six in the average stock turns category.

“This has been an incredible time for our company with an astounding 258% growth over the past five years.  We are growing so quickly because we give customers what they want – beautiful, stylish, high quality furniture that they can afford; an unparalleled sales experience; and great customer service.  Our continued success and inclusion in these prestigious Top 100 and Top 10 lists confirms that we are doing everything right,” said Bernie Rubin, president and co-founder of Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture.

Last year when Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture made the Top 100 list for the first time, Furniture/Today called the company a “from-out-of-nowhere story.”  Today, the company continues to impress the industry.  With its 18.8 percent sales increase, the retailer is growing rapidly compared to the average sales increase of 9.3% for all of the Top 100 companies and a 7% sales increase for all furniture stores.

Started by the Rubin family in 1983, Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture has grown from a small storefront into the largest independent furniture retailer in Massachusetts with five stores (including two 50,000 square foot superstores in Saugus and Westboro) and over 200 employees.  With a focus on high quality furniture at great prices, the family-run business has created a highly successful niche in a very competitive marketplace.  Last year, Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture was named “2000 Retailer of the Year” by the Retailers Association of Massachusetts.

However, the company does not plan to rest on its laurels.  Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture recently completed a major expansion of its Westboro superstore and a large-scale addition to its distribution center in Norton.  The retailer is actively searching for another “superstore” location in Massachusetts and has already purchased 10 acres of land adjacent to its Norton headquarters so that additional buildings can be added as the company continues its fast-track growth.

“We’ve been able to achieve exceptional growth with our existing stores and we are very proud of these accomplishments.  However, it is our goal to continue moving up that Top 100 list and opening another superstore is an important part of our future growth strategy,” added Rubin.