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.

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.