Home Accents Today announces new Retail Advisory Board members

Susan Dickenson -- Home Accents Today, 9/14/2011 11:11:00 AM

Home Accents Today announces the addition of eight new members to its Retail Advisory Board, and thanks the outgoing members for their editorial insights and feedback over the past couple of years. We look forward to the same from our new board members, presented here in alphabetical order:

Maria Bailey Benson is the founder of Nyla Simone Home, an accessories and custom furniture boutique in Scottsdale, Ariz. Maria, an industrial engineer, grew up working with her father in her family's Atlanta-based furniture manufacturing factory. In 2007 she fulfilled her lifelong dream of joining the family business by launching Nyla Simone Home. Maria has lent her expertise and advice to Home Accents Today's retail panels, both at market and in print. Earlier this year, she was one of 20 business owners selected to participate in the inaugural retail "Workshop at Macy's," described by Macy's CEO Terry Lundgren as an example of Macy's "commitment to support and grow certified minority- or women-owned retail vendors." Nyla Simone Home was named to Home Accents Today's Retail Stars list in 2009.

Michael Burnes heads up the design team at Gallery Furniture in Houston where, for 21 years, he has specialized in visual merchandising, in-home design, accessory buying and furniture design. His design work has extended to several local and national television shows including Extreme Home Makeovers, MTV Cribs and Military Makeover (new homes for military families).Named 2010 Retailer of the Year by Furniture/Today, Gallery has been recognized numerous times in local and national media for its innovative, out-of-the-box advertising, promotions, events and merchandising. In addition to its main store, the privately owned retailer operates a 22,000-sq.-ft. store in the Galleria Mall area that includes a dedicated gallery of high-end goods. Gallery Furniture is ranked No. 58 on Furniture/Today's 2011 list of the Top 100 U.S. Furniture Stores.

Susan Feldman, co-founder of One Kings Lane, oversees all buying and merchandising for the rapidly growing members-only online sales site. Launched in March 2009, One Kings Lane offers designer and brand name home décor, accessories and gifts, in a curated setting, at prices up to 70% off retail. In just two years, with more than two million subscribers, One Kings Lane has hired more than 150 employees and experienced 500% sales growth year-over-year. Last month, Susan, on behalf of One Kings Lane, accepted Gifts & Decorative Accessories' 2011 Industry Rising Star Award at the publication's annual Retailer Excellence Awards gala held in conjunction with the New York International Gift Fair. Prior to One Kings Lane, Susan lived in New York and worked as a senior sales executive in the fashion industry, with stints at Ralph Lauren, Warnaco and Liz Claiborne.

Shannan Harris owns Moments on Main in Red Wing, Minn., a gift and home décor shop with a mix of seasonal, holiday and everyday merchandise. Shannan has her interior design degree and has served with Red Wing Downtown Main Street, the Heritage Preservation Commission, the Visitors and Convention Bureau and on various other committees. She is a member of Accessories Resource Team and an invited contributor to Home Accents Today's Retailer Insight page. Moments on Main was named to Home Accents Today's Retail Stars List in 2010.

Lori Konzen has been a buyer for Homemakers Furniture, Des Moines, Iowa, since 1998.Lori buys for an accessory mix that ranges from lamp and rug galleries to wall décor, vases and accent furniture. Homemakers - at 220,000 square feet - is the largest furniture store in Iowa and ranks among the top 10 largest furniture showrooms in the U.S. The store was started by Carl and Ina Merschman in 1974 and purchased in 2000 by Nebraska Furniture Mart, a Berkshire-Hathaway company. Homemakers recently added four new departments: Area rugs, lamps, accessories and a clearance center. Homemakers was named to Home Accents Today's Retail Stars List in 2010.

Eric Lackey is the owner and president of The Decorator's Edge, a 10,000-sq.-ft. interior design and retail showroom in Thomasville, N.C. In business since 1979, he and his wife Diane offer furniture, accessories, wall décor, rugs, flooring, draperies, window treatments, lighting and interior design and decorating services. In 2009 they received a Best of Business Award in Interior Design from the Small Business Commerce Association. Eric is an invited contributor to Home Accents Today's Retailer Insight page. The Decorator's Edge was named to Home Accents Today's Retail Stars list in 2006.

Niraj Shah is the CEO and co-founder of Wayfair, formerly known as CSN Stores, a $500 million home goods online retailer founded in 2002. Wayfair offers more than 4.5 million items from 5,000 brands and services customers in the U.S., Canada, Germany, U.K. and Australia. Wayfair operates three brands - Wayfair.com, AllModern.com and Joss & Main. Prior to Wayfair, Niraj co-founded Simplify Mobile, was an Entrepreneur in Residence at Greylock Partners, the COO at iXL (publicly traded Internet services firm), and co-founded Spinners (sold to iXL). He holds a B.S. from Cornell University, and lives in Boston.

Lauren Thomas has been a buyer for Grand Rapids, Mich.-based Meijer since 2009. Prior to that, she bought for Kirkland's and Sears Holdings. Privately-held Meijer, which operates 197 stores, was started by Dutch immigrant Hendrik Meijer in 1934. Today it's one of the 20 largest private companies in the U.S. Meijer offers one-stop shopping for groceries, health/beauty, fashion, automotive, home decor, electronics and pets. In May, Meijer debuted its new in-store selection of Bombay Company branded frames, accessories and clocks.