NEWSLETTERS - Furniture "godfather" Curtis Beavers dies

Furniture "godfather" Curtis Beavers dies

Rent-to-own industry professionals were saddened to learn long-time rent-to-own vendor and industry pioneer Curtis Beavers, 68 -- a sales representative with Serta -- died of a massive heart attack May 30 on vacation with his family in Destin, Florida.

Industry leader Curtis Beavers.

Beavers -- a former baseball pitcher with Georgia Tech -- entered the industry in 1972 when he started his own furniture rental company, Beavers Furniture Rentals, in Atlanta, Georgia. 

It was during this time John Blair, vice president of marketing for C.M. Jewelry, first met and befriended the affable Beavers.

Blair, who at the time worked for a competing rent-to-own furniture company, says Beaver's aggressive marketing campaign -- which included around 20 "Rent from the Beaver" billboards around the city -- made an impression and hinted at the drive and determination that would earn Beavers the respect of industry leaders across the country.

"Curtis to me was the 'godfather' of the furniture rental industry," Blair says. "He jumped right in and was successful because he knew the RTO industry was going to be good to him and he could teach the RTO dealers a lot about furniture. RTO lost a true pioneer and great supporter of this industry."

Beavers later went to work for Charlie Loudermilk as one of the original furniture buyers at Aaron's and the two became close friends. He later became an independent furniture salesman and sold for Dixieland Upholstery along with a major case goods line strictly for rental.

Blair also says Beavers made his mark introducing rent-to-own dealers to formica tops for bedroom furniture, a major selling point for dealers trying to cut down on wear and tear.

"Everybody was buying from him because Curtis was a very smart guy," Blair says.  "He was honest and he knew how to market and how to sell."

Blair became executive director of TRIB Group in 1984 and says Beavers was the first person he called about furniture for case goods. He notes it was Beavers and Dixieland Upholstery that made a TRIB Group Cadillac drawing possible during a national advertising push in the mid-80's.

"I don't know if there is anybody left at TRIB that knows this," Blair says. "Dixieland Furniture and Curtis Beavers were the major sponsors for that Cadillac. Without him we could have never done that promotion."

Beavers first joined forces with current partner Jim Thompson in 1995 when the two went to work in the mattress industry as sales representatives first for Sealy then Simmons and most recently Serta Bedding, in 2007.

Thompson, who has known Beavers for 17 years, says Beavers did not sleep well and as a consequence would work odd hours, often sending off e-mails to colleagues and customers at 2, 3 and 4 a.m.

"He was at work at all hours," Thompson says. "People who know him know about his e-mails on bedding issues at two in the morning. He was the kind of guy that when he told you he was going to do something you could count on him to do it. He knew if it was something that would benefit the dealer it would benefit us."

Part of that commitment included keeping dealers across the country updated on the latest rules and regulations relating to the treatment of used bedding. This required first educating himself on applicable state regulations.

In 1999 Beaver teamed up with industry veteran David Gradick, a 30-year friend, and began compiling the rules for their mattress customers in easy to use manager's booklets and posters for staff detailing the specific requirements needed to comply with laws for each individual state.

"That was all his idea and no small task," Gradick says. "Dealers with stores in several different states were really at a loss. That was an invaluable service and why many people do business with us. That was Curtis' idea and something he saw a need for immediately once he got into the bedding business."

Perhaps even more than Beavers' commitment to the industry -- he was an APRO supporter since the inception of the trade association  -- Gradick says it was Beavers "supreme people skills" that allowed him to talk to anyone, anywhere, anytime that endeared him to his customers and friends.

"He was a larger than life figure," Gradick says. "He never shut anyone out and I didn't know anyone who knew him who didn't like him. He knew everyone. At shows everyone wanted to come by and talk to Curtis, even the floor sweeper. When I asked him about why he felt like he needed to talk to everybody, he would say, 'because that's how you do it.'"

Funeral Services for Curtis Beavers are as follows:

Visitation will start this afternoon and run through Wednesday at Vondel-Smith & Son Mortuary in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
 
Funeral services will be held at Antioch Christian Church, Thursday at 10 a.m.
 
Flowers and cards may be sent to Vondell-Smith & Son Mortuary.
 
Vondell L. Smith & Son Mortuary
6934 S. Western Ave.
Oklahoma City, OK  73139
(405) 634-1439
 
Antioch Christian Church
3616 SW 119th Street
Oklahoma City, OK  73170
(405) 691-2115

mevans@rtohq.org