Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, August 18, 1995 TAG: 9508180029
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: A11 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MEGAN SCHNABEL
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
As part of the deal, Barrows also has become the sole dealer of Steelcase office furniture in Southwest Virginia, a franchise previously held by Joyce.
The office-supplies portion of Joyce's business will remain under the control of the Broomfield, Colo.-based Corporate Express, said Harold Manning, a former Roanoke Joyce salesman who now works for Barrows. Manning is one of six Joyce employees who were involved with the company's furniture business and now will work for Barrows. The rest of Joyce's employees will remain with Corporate Express.
Michael Turner, chief executive officer of Barrows, declined to discuss the financial terms of the deal. Barrows last year saw sales of $2.7 million; Turner said he expects sales to reach $8 million next year as a result of the acquisition. Calls to Corporate Express headquarters in Colorado were not returned.
Barrows started out in 1988 as a health-care consulting firm that specialized in the development of nursing homes. A year later, it began selling office furniture, Turner said. Acquiring the Steelcase dealership was a logical step, he said, because the Michigan furniture company sells more than $2.5 billion annually and has a reputation as a stable, well-respected company.
Because both Barrows and Steelcase are familiar names in the Roanoke area, other local office furniture dealers are predicting a smooth transition.
"Barrows was already a player in the market," said George Reimer, owner of Harris Office Furniture Co. Inc. "It will be a change, but as far as we're concerned, this shouldn't increase competition."
Gary Mitchell, owner of Office Supplies Inc., agreed. "We don't anticipate anything strange," he said.
by CNB