Mettendorf brings 24 years of consumer products leadership experience, having partnered with virtually all channels of mass retail, specialty, and “omni-channel” e-commerce. For 10 of those years, he also worked in the premium casual furniture industry. From 2005-2012, he served as managing director/SVP of Sales and Marketing for New River Casual Furniture, while building its North American operations. 

He previously worked as vice president of Sales for Homecrest Outdoor Living, and senior Sales and Marketing leadership roles with Orion Ropeworks, Surya, Fox River Mills, Daka Designs, and Sara Lee Corporation.

Michael Mettendorf.

“Michael brings a stellar reputation within the casual furniture industry, with long-standing relationships, and a real appreciation for the high-quality and design capabilities of our factory,” said Joseph Yuan, CEO of Perfect Furniture/Dedans, parent company to Elizabeth+Grace Outdoor. “He is a strategic and well-respected leader and will be invaluable to our organization as we look to aggressively advance our growth plans and business initiatives. He understands how to work effectively with sales reps and specialty retailers, seeks to make an impact on the retail sales floor, has dealt with digital marketing, map policies, and e-commerce in and outside of our industry, and brings an intense desire to contribute to making EG Outdoor, its sales representatives, and valued dealers successful.

Michael will play a pivotal and critical role in defining strategic plans, sales direction and programs, overall market, and product design direction, leading our sales, marketing, and product development teams, and to closely partner with our reps and retailers to achieve aggressive sales growth in the years ahead.” 

Mettendorf adds, “In time and with industry support, I envision our young organization to become recognized as an industry leader, not just in terms of quality and design, but in overall service and value. Today’s business is about “customer and brand experience,” rather than being merely transactional! I’m quite ecstatic to “re-enter the casual furniture industry” within this authentic family company and high-quality manufacturing resource. 

“Elizabeth+Grace Outdoor has already made a strong commitment to the North American Market with a permanent showroom (#15-116) at the Chicago Merchandise Mart, distribution based in Los Angeles, Calfornia, and an absolutely beautiful 126-page catalog with high-quality, hand-selected, contemporary and transitional heirloom furniture.”

Elizabeth+Grace Outdoor invites retailers, media and reps alike to its Chicago showroom while visiting the upcoming September Casual Market. Michael is excited to re-kindle former, and develop new, friendships and for dealers and media to preview some amazing new collections of transitional and contemporary hand-crafted furniture. Our parent organization recently opened our own beautiful new factory in China, our 2019 catalog is already printed and we are currently seeking new reps and dealers!

www.egoutdoor.com