Two Rivers Retail Category Management was founded in 2002 by Thom J. Miller, a former merchandising and marketing executive at Target Corporation. Two Rivers’ philosophy of connecting manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers is rooted in the importance of creating sound merchandising strategies. Rather than simply selling merchandise, our team analyzes the home-furnishings category in question and then works to create merchandising ideas that produce the best sales, margin and turnover results possible for all parties.

In many cases, the merchandising solution may include sourcing goods for direct import from overseas factories. Two Rivers’ global manufacturing network includes factories that meet and exceed expectations in capacity, capability, working conditions, quality, packaging, design and more.

Other merchandising strategies may require such supply chain services as freight forwarding, repackaging, labeling and EDI. All are available through our Minneapolis-based warehouse.

Some of Two Rivers’ clients take advantage of our consulting services, born of years of retailing experience. We provide integration into the home-furnishing industry's trade shows, retail contacts, pricing strategies, packaging design, product design, trade media and more.

Two Rivers even operates a showroom-cum-retail store in the historic International Market Square building, the recognized headquarters of home furnishings products in the upper midwest. IMS, with its blend of traditional brands such Baker furniture to contemporary kitchens from Partners 4 Design, is located in downtown Minneapolis and is convenient for buyers of all retail channels to visit. This showroom is open to the public and the trade, and highlights the unique merchandise collections we represent.

This complete suite of services ensures that Two Rivers not only offers solutions for our clients but truly understands every aspect of successful retail merchandising, from origin to completion.

Associates:

To best serve Two Rivers’ manufacturing clients and their partner retailers, Thom Miller travels extensively, visiting a wide range of U.S. retailers, keeping abreast of trends in Europe and Asia, visiting factories, and negotiating deals on behalf of clients. Formerly a high-level merchandising and marketing executive at Marshall Field’s (a Target Corp. company), Thom founded Two Rivers in 2002, quickly developing an extensive list of clients, which benefit from his 20-plus years in retailing and his longstanding relationships with such retailers as Target, Sears, Dillard’s, Sur La Table, Amazon.com and Belk. An in-demand speaker, Thom has been a featured presenter, discussing the state of U.S. retailing, in Chicago, Frankfurt, Istanbul, Bangkok and Hong Kong. Thom, whose alma mater is the University of Minnesota, lives in Minneapolis with his family.

Janice Bednar has flourished in all aspects of retail, beginning her career on the selling floor of Marshall Field's Department Stores. Moving on to the corporate offices, Janice coordinated the efforts of Field's merchants, then worked on the dot-com side of the business before joining Two Rivers. Janice now calls on the specialty store trade for Two Rivers concentrating on independent gift, housewares, and tabletop stores in Minnesota, Iowa, and the Dakotas.