Manufacturing 2023: ROBERT H. SPILMAN JR.

CEO AND CHAIRMAN, BASSETT FURNITURE INDUSTRIES, BASSETT

Published August 30, 2023 by Virginia Business

Spilman, who has been CEO of home furniture manufacturer and seller Bassett Furniture since 2000, said in March that the company has fulfilled a large backlog of orders and subsequent supply chain disruptions created during the pandemic. In the second quarter, consolidated revenue declined by 22% compared with last year, although the reported $100.5 million in revenue was nearly 5% above the same period in 2019. The company plans to launch a revamped website before the end of August.

Spilman, a Vanderbilt University alum, has been with the 121-year-old company for nearly 40 years and succeeded his father, Robert H. Spilman Sr., as CEO. He also is lead director for Dominion Energy’s board, serves on the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges’ board and previously chaired New College Institute’s board.

In 2022, Bassett finalized the sale of its Zenith Freight Lines hauler subsidiary for $87 million to J.B. Hunt Transport Services, which will still deliver furniture for Bassett. The company now has about 100 retail locations in the United States.

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