Joe Bright has been named president of HFA member Dunk and Bright Furniture, the fourth generation of Brights to run the Syracuse, N.Y., store.
“It’s an incredible opportunity,” said Bright. “I’m thrilled to be working with my dad every day in this business.”
Bright’s father, Jim, has been the sole owner of New York’s largest furniture store the past 25 years. “I couldn’t be more excited to name my son as President of Dunk and Bright Furniture,” Jim Bright said. “I know we are well positioned for growth under his leadership.”
Joe Bright joined the family business in September of 2017 as vice president. Before that he worked in Los Angeles for Danaher Corp., a science and technology Fortune 150 company where he held various management positions in marketing, business development and finance. He previously worked as a district manager for the German-owned grocery chain Aldi, managing stores in New York and Pennsylvania.
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Joe said he always envisioned one day working with his father. The deal to make that happen came in 2016 during a Thanksgiving ski trip when father and son were riding a ski lift. “I guess when you think about it, it’s a weird place to make a job offer, but I jumped at it,” Joe Bright says.
Joe says the biggest challenge in his new job is not unlike his father’s biggest challenge when he was president. “We need to learn how to keep getting customers coming to the store and buying on the website,” he said. “Digital marketing is tough to get the right handle on. How do we reach customers who are much more fragmented today than ever. That’s the challenge.”
Jim Bright said he’s working less now that his son now handling the store. “If and when I feel that I can add value, or if I think that some historical perspective will be helpful to a decision that Joe is considering, we chat about it,” Jim said. “Joe is a quick learner, so we seldom discuss the same things more than once. I’m very fortunate to have him at Dunk & Bright.
