San Francisco Mart Announces Gold Pass Recipients

Furniture World Magazine

The San Francisco Mart announces its Summer Market 2002 Gold Pass Recipients: Ronnie Bensimon of Dearden's in Los Angeles and Jeff Weinstein of Pacific Furniture Dealers and Mattress Factory Outlet in Vancouver, Wash. The Gold Pass is awarded to select Western retailers who have distinguished themselves by their industry participation, the caliber of their retail stores and their ongoing support of the SFM. The Summer Market 2002 winners will be honored at a ceremony at 5:45 p.m. on July 20 at the WHFA Resource Center, 7th floor of Mart 2. Ronny Bensimon, president of Dearden's in Los Angeles, began his career at Dearden's as a high school student working part time in the store's warehouse. Bensimon's mother, Raquel, an emigrant from Morocco, was employed at the store and helped give her son his start.. Bensimon has now been with Dearden's for 28 years. While studying for his bachelor's degree in economics from UCLA and a master's degree in business from California State University, Long Beach, Bensimon was exposed to all facets of the business, including shipping, cashiering, credit, sales and service. After graduating, he ascended to management in the roles of buyer, merchandise manager, general manager, senior vice president, COO and recently to president. His mother is currently the CEO and chairman of the board of Dearden's, so both have worked their way to the top and shown years of loyalty to the business. Bensimon first attended San Francisco Markets in the late 1970s and has served on numerous WHFA committees, culminating in his recent term as president. Dearden's caters to the Hispanic market with more growth on the horizon. The seven-store chain has branched out into some unique business segments, such as in-store travel agencies and a seasonal income tax service through H&R Block, as well as delivery of purchases to Mexico and Central America. Bensimon believes the key to Dearden's success is the way they treat their customers and employees, with a company vision of providing "Service Beyond Expectation". The second recipient, Jeff Weinstein, didn't want to go into the family furniture business with his dad and uncle at Vancouver Furniture. But as a new college graduate in need of money, Weinstein agreed to help out in the office until he found another job. During that time, the store needed a warehouse manager, a position that gave Weinstein an opportunity to set up systems and learn the business from the back end. He began accompanying his father, Allan, to San Francisco Markets thirty years ago and became the furniture buyer and then the merchandise manager. The popular priced store was able to generate sales of more than $600 per square foot, and Weinstein's warehouse background made him adept at flowing goods and achieving a six-time turnover. In the late 1980s, Vancouver Furniture became part of the Pacific Furniture Dealers, and Weinstein became president of the buying group in 1994. That same year, father and son left the family business and opened Mattress Factory Outlet Store, a one-store operation that specializes in the Simmons brand. In 1998, when Dave Cunningham retired as coordinator of PFD, Weinstein was hired as executive director, putting him back with his many friends at PFD and the furniture industry. As he leads the 74-store buying group to new growth, Weinstein says these are the happiest days of his home furnishings career.