Robert Spilman on supply chain
From C-Suite Interview with Bassett Furniture (BSET) President & CEO Rob Spilman · · channelchek
“The global shortage of containers and increased freight costs have forced us to increase prices. We have added freight brokers and a full-time logistics team, but the container situation remains a tough challenge to overcome.”
On , Robert Spilman, President, Chief Executive Officer & Chairman at BASSETT FURNITURE INDS, spoke about supply chain during C-Suite Interview with Bassett Furniture (BSET) President & CEO Rob Spilman on channelchek.
About Robert Spilman
In a September 2021 interview, Bassett Furniture President and CEO Rob Spilman discussed the company's response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its operational changes. Spilman said that during the early pandemic, the company instituted daily crisis meetings to manage cash flow, and that by Memorial Day 2020, sales had reversed and remained strong. He noted that the company had reduced retail staff and shifted marketing entirely to digital channels, moving away from traditional television advertising. Spilman also stated that the company had increased prices due to global container shortages and higher freight costs, and that it had added freight brokers and a full-time logistics team. Spilman outlined several strategic initiatives, including the opening of a new 125,000-square-foot manufacturing plant in Newton, North Carolina, and the acquisition of the Lane Venture brand in 2018 to enter the outdoor furniture market. He acknowledged that Bassett had been behind in e-commerce because 80% of its products are custom-made, but said the company was working to simplify online transactions with a new system expected to debut in early 2022. Spilman also noted that the company owned Zenith Logistics, which provides trucking services to Bassett and outside customers, and that its Asian vendor base remained tight and efficient, with production of motion furniture moved from China to Thailand to avoid tariffs.