The Maxim Group Companies has purchased the assets and name of the Harris Marcus Home Companies.

The purchase, finalized July 9, includes HMH Furniture, Harris Lamps, Jaru Accessories and Rembrandt Lamps.

The Harris Marcus Home division will be operated as a separate entity and Maxim plans to keep the HMH sales force because Maxim's sales force calls on lighting showrooms rather than home accents and gift stores.

"So it wouldn't necessarily fit into their package and vice versa," said Stan Drake, director of sales for Maxim. "We're not really into furniture and decorators right now. Most of our business is with lighting showrooms and builders. We've always been looking to get into that end of the business so it's a great opportunity for us with Harris Marcus."

Jacob Sperling, president of Maxim Group, said Steven Kottler of Harris Marcus will be a part of the Maxim Group design team as vice president of merchandising for the Maxim Group Companies. David Marcus, president of Harris Marcus, will leave the company that bears his name after 32 years of service. Marcus said he leaves with "mixed emotions," but expects to find a new opportunity in the furniture business.

The Maxim Group companies will now have showrooms in High Point under the Harris Marcus Home and Eurotech brands as well as separate showrooms in the Dallas Trade Mart under the Harris Marcus Home, Eurotech Lighting and Maxim Lighting International brands.

"The opportunity to acquire such a well known and successful lamp and accent furniture company as Harris Marcus Home has given the Maxim Group Companies a great entry into the retail furniture and decorator business as well as expanding our offerings to our current customer base," said Zvi Sperling, executive vice president of Maxim Lighting.

"We'll add some of our product into the mix, but we're probably going to keep the Harris Marcus Home name, too," Drake said. "It's a good name and there's no reason to make it go away. We have some good ideas and some good products so it should be even a better company."

Steven Kottler