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According to Moray, at their highest
point, the stores employed a total of 135
people. From the first location, which
netted $200,000 in its first year, to the
$25 million the Gorman's chain made in
a recent year, the stores have been major
players on the Detroit area's retail furni-
ture scene. Optimistic about Gorman's
future, Moray turned over the presidency
to Tom Lias. His son John is one of the
company's two vice presidents and the
other is Jeff Roberts.
"Throughout my 34 years of involve-
ment with him, I couldn't have asked
for a nicer, more professional mentor
and partner than Bernie," said Roberts.
"He's seen on the national home-furnish-
ings scene as a real icon. It has been an
absolute pleasure."
One can only speculate about Moray's
exact age. Many years ago, he decided
that being 48 seemed a good idea and
he has viewed himself as that ever since.
He exercises daily, plays tennis and
works six days a week. He and Muriel are
members of Temple Shir Shalom in West
Gorman's Home Furnishings' Jeff Roberts, Bernie Moray and Tom Lias
Bloomfield. They have three children.
He remains committed to the furniture
industry. Over the years, he has served
`A Real Icon'
on the board of the National Home
Furnishings Association (NHFA), hold-
ing various leadership positions including
Veteran furniture retailer reflects on Gorman's
more than 60 years in business.
He was promoted to buyer, followed by
Robyn Gorell
Special to the Jewish News
B
merchandise manager and afterwards a
stockholder, before leaving the company
ernie Moray of Franklin prob-
ably knows the furniture
in 1965.
That's when he bought a small
store called Gorman's on Livernois in
retail business better than
anyone in the Detroit area.
Detroit. Two years later, the building
burned down during the 1967 riots, but
the presidency. In 1993, the organization
named him Retailer of the Year. He has
served on the executive committee of the
nishings."
In 1977, a third Gorman's store — a
Interior Design Society — NHFA's affiliate
design group. He also is on the visitors'
board of Wayne State University Business
Drexel Heritage furniture franchise in
Troy — was added in partnership with
Jeff Roberts. Continuing to expand,
School.
Explained Steve DeHaan, NHFA's
executive vice president, "Bernie is still
Gorman's opened a store in the early
'80s at Fairlane in Dearborn, operating it
for about 15 years. About the same time,
involved, responding to issues and advo-
cating for businesses that operate with
integrity and treat their customers well.
He has worked with the attorney general
the company took
over another Drexel
Heritage franchise
Currently the chairman of Gorman's
Home Furnishings, he has devoted
more than six decades to the industry,
Moray had already
opened a second
store, Gorman's
starting out as a salesman on the road,
convincing customers to buy sofa beds.
Born in Detroit, Moray attended
Contemporary Gallery
on Telegraph Road
in Southfield. At the
Central High School and graduated from
Wayne University with a degree in busi-
ness administration. At 13 years old,
time, the post-war
furniture industry in
the Detroit region was
he worked as a stock boy for Colonial
Department Store. Through high school
and college, he worked in menswear
thriving, with pos-
sibly 700 stores. His
friends thought him
at Ernest Kern Department Store. He
entered the armed forces as a private,
moving up through the ranks to captain.
crazy to consider a
second store, but
Moray had vision and
He later served in the ferrying division of
the Air Force, which sent him to Harvard
Business School, where he learned about
determination.
"I realized the
Southfield store should
IBM equipment and tracking inventory.
In 1947, Moray joined Robinson
Furniture. His first job there, selling
have a niche market to attract custom-
ers, so I gave it a contemporary focus,"
explained Moray. "To this day, that is
locations and a warehouse in Farmington
Hills. Moray's wife, Muriel, brought her
interior design expertise to the business;
Robyn Gore!! is a vice president at Marx Layne
sofa beds, provided him with a valu-
able education in upholstered furniture.
how we run it. All Gorman's stores are
known for their quality furniture and fur-
she bought accessories for the stores for
& Co. in Farmington Hills.
"I realized the
Southfield store
should have a niche
market to attract
customers, so I gave
it a contemporary
focus.
"
- Gorma n's Chairman Bernie Moray
in Grand Rapids.
It was closed in
1998. In 1995, the
largest building in
Gorman's inven-
tory, about 50,000
square feet, was
opened in Novi,
followed by the
store at Lakeside
Mall in Sterling
Heights in 2000.
Nowadays, there
are four Gorman's
stores in strategic
and state legislators to create laws and
regulations that protect customers and
help the home furnishings industry."
Moray was instrumental in orchestrat-
ing civic and philanthropic endeavors
in his stores, generating more than $1
million in financial support for charitable
organizations such as Children's Hospital
of Michigan, Toys for Tots, HAVEN,
American Cancer Society, Karmanos
Cancer Institute and American Diabetes
Association.
Moray supports many Jewish organi-
zations, including the Jewish Federation
of Metropolitan Detroit. He was active
in its Annual Campaign. These days,
Friendship Circle in West Bloomfield is his
"number one charity."
❑
many years.
Juiy 16 ,* 2009
A41