After more than 50 years in the home furnishings industry, Martin Ploy, President of AICO, is announcing that he has will retire this year in early November. Ploy has been part of AICO’s executive leadership team for the last 20 years, coming on board as Vice President of Sales & Marketing in 2002, and has served the past 12 years as AICO’s President.
“Martin’s manufacturing, retail, sales, marketing, managerial background and unique communication skills have been a great asset to our company and our industry. His broad breadth of experiences has always provided us with a unique and solid perspective as to how we should value our employees, customers, and our suppliers, with an aggressive drive and critical eye on building our business for the future,” said CEO Michael Amini.
Ploy’s impact on the home furnishings industry has been monumental. He has had a diverse career in the industry with his experience in retail as well as wholesale. Prior to AICO he formerly was the Executive Vice President for retailer RB Furniture, Key Accounts Executive for Kanowsky Furniture, and Executive Vice President of Sales for BenchCraft Furniture.
As Ploy’s career started to take shape, he decided it was time to give back. As a store manager for RB Furniture in 1974 he became President of the Ventura Chamber of Commerce and then served as a volunteer ‘listener’ for the Ventura Hotline. In 1980 he got involved with the Home Furnishings Chapter of City of Hope and eventually served as President in 1984 and 1985, in 1989 was honored as the Humanitarian of the Year by the Home Furnishings Chapter of City of Hope and was presented the prestigious Spirit of Life Award.
His passion and work for City of Hope has continued and grown. He currently serves as member of the International Home Furnishings Industry Advisory Board. He is active in generating support for both The Spirit of Life Dinner in High Point and the West Coast Golf outing in Southern California. Also, he is always a leading fund raiser for City of Hope’s Walk for Hope where Ploy has served as captain of the AICO All-Stars for the past 12 years.
Another important and philanthropic effort of Ploy’s has been his unwavering support and active participation as a member of the Board of Directors of the American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame Foundation. He was a member of the Executive Committee for four years and served as Chairman last year. Ploy continues to be an important advocate and fund raiser for the Hall of Fame.
Ploy has always appreciated his time as a salesman and will ever be grateful for those experiences and lessons that helped shape his career. His impact on sales professionals has been profound over the course of his career. In 2018, he was awarded the Pillar of the Industry Award by the International Home Furnishings Representatives Association.
AICO Executive Vice President, David Koehler, states, “Martin has had an indelible impact, not only as the President of AICO, but throughout his illustrious career in the home furnishings industry, and in the charitable work he has done. He has always been an action-oriented leader with a resolute focus on ‘doing it now.’ It has been my good fortune to work with and learn from Martin. He is truly a unique, one-of-a-kind leader who has given so much to so many people. I am extremely thankful for Martin Ploy.”
Retirement has not come easy for Ploy, but now he says, “I am anxious to spend more time with my wife and do some long missed traveling. Aside from travel, I need to get out on the golf course again, catch up on my reading and possibly do some writing too. Also, I will continue to always do volunteer work.” Ploy continues, “Stepping away from the world of furniture after 55 years will certainly be an enormous change for me. I have enjoyed this industry so much, and the extraordinary people that make this home furnishings community so special. Throughout my career I have been so fortunate to work with great leaders and teachers that helped me grow and develop… I hope in some way, I’ve been able to do the same for others. I guess the hardest part about leaving is missing the truly dedicated and caring people of AICO, especially Michael.”
“Martin’s leadership and strategic thinking over these past 20 years has been invaluable to our success. He is not only a world class executive, but also a special and unique person and I am fortunate to call him my friend. Martin, thank you for everything you have done for me personally, for our company, and for the industry. I am most grateful,” said Amini.
AICO will celebrate Martin Ploy’s career at High Point Market with a cocktail reception in their Showroom on Saturday, October 22nd, from 4:00-6:00PM IHFC-C802.
