BIRMINGHAM – Standard Furniture Co., a Birmingham-based fourth generation, family chain furniture company, was honored today by the Alabama Retail Association as an Alabama Centennial Retailer, a retailer with 100 or more years in business in Alabama.
“For businesses to survive despite the dramatic changes of the past century is a remarkable achievement,” said ARA President Rick Brown. “It is fitting to celebrate the enduring first-century contributions Standard Furniture has made to the 13 communities where it has stores.”
Standard Furniture Co., an Alabama Retail member since 1989, was honored at the 2012 Retail Day Luncheon at The Club in Birmingham. The business received a bronze plaque to place outside its flagship Birmingham store and a certificate suitable for display inside.
Standard Furniture Co. was founded as Standard Furnishing Co. in 1912 by Felix Shevinsky, great-grandfather of the current president. It later became known as Standard Clothing Co. and sold installment clothing and house furnishings. In 1935, the company bought the furniture store next door and became Standard Clothing and Furniture Co. The clothing operation was discontinued in 1957, and the business has been known as Standard Furniture Co. ever since. Over the course of 100 years, the business has seen dozens of mergers, acquisitions, relocations and new store openings. Today, Standard employs 100 at 13 stores, 12 in Alabama and one Tennessee. Its stores can be found in Bessemer, Birmingham, Center Point, Cullman, Fayette, Gardendale, Graysville, Hartselle, Leeds, Moulton, Pelham and Talladega in Alabama; and in Fayetteville, Tenn.
Until April of this year, the head of the family company for 34 years had been Stuart Shevin, grandson of the company’s founder and an Alabama Retail board member (2009-2012). Shevin died April 18 following a three-year battle with lung cancer. Shevin’s son, Jacob, succeeded his father as company president. Completing the management team are Mark Crayne, executive vice president of sales, and Greg Troncale, vice president of operations. Stuart Shevin and the other members of Standard’s management team were the 2011 Silver Alabama Retailers of the Year in the Annual Sales $5 Million to $20 Million Category.
“One trait my Dad left with me was this: He felt a responsibility to take care of the customers and treat the employees like family,” Jacob Shevin told The Birmingham News in an interview earlier this year. “That’s how we’ve been in business for 100 years.”
The Alabama Retail Association presents awards annually to Centennial Retailers. To notify ARA of a retail business that has been in operation for 100 years or more, please contact Nancy Dennis at (800) 239-5423 or ndennis@alabamaretail.org.
ABOUT ALABAMA RETAIL
The Alabama Retail Association represents retailers, the largest private employer in the state of Alabama, before the Alabama Legislature and the U.S. Congress. Our 4,000 independent merchant and national company members sell food, clothing, furniture and other general merchandise at more than 6,000 locations throughout Alabama. ARA promotes what is best for the retailing industry in Alabama and has been doing so since 1943. From legislation to education, through communication and member services, ARA members benefit from the value of membership in their association. Retail works!
