BrandSource member Mo Museitif opened Prime Furniture in Columbus, Ohio, with his retail-savvy dad.
BrandSource’s Mo Museitif runs two furniture stores and counting
By Janet Weyandt, YSN
When he was a kid, Mo Museitif thought he would go to law school and eventually get into environmental law. While he worked toward that goal, he put going into business with his entrepreneur father on his “maybe” list.
By the time he graduated from Ohio State University in 2021, he’d had a change of heart. Museitif went into business with his dad Jamal to open Prime Furniture, a furniture, appliance and mattress store in Hilliard, Ohio, and put law school on the “maybe” list.
Last year, Museitif partnered with his dad again on another furniture business, and at 28, is eager to see what life brings him.
“Of course, no matter what, as a young adult, your mind is constantly thinking what’s next?” Musteitif said.
Nepo-Free Zone
Though his dad is a retail entrepreneur and his extended family is firmly established in retail, Museitif, the youngest of six, didn’t work for his dad when he was young. Instead, his father wanted him to work regular part-time jobs and play sports like other kids.
“He always wanted me to focus on studies and sports, building relationships outside of school,” he said. “He never had me working full time for him. He was like, ‘I don’t want you feel like you can come in whenever want, work whenever you want because I’m the owner.’”
Museitif took that seriously. He sold lawn care services door-to-door when he was 15, then worked in a mom-and-pop shoe store for commission and eventually in a pharmacy.
“It was smartest way of going about things,” he said. “I had to learn punctuality, professionalism, respect. I see a lot of kids working for the family, they kind of take it lightly, they don’t have a boss. They don’t really worry about losing their position, they feel can get away with doing whatever they want. That’s exactly what he was trying to keep from happening.”
Paternal Partner
Now that he’s working with his father, it’s a whole new world. He started out with a 10% stake in Prime Furniture, which has now become 30%. And that’s where it’ll stay, because he and his dad also co-own Family Deals Furniture in Columbus, a two-store chain that began as a furniture liquidation shop that’s still owned by his father.
Museitif manages both businesses and goes back and forth wherever he’s needed. He also attends national BrandSource events and tries to soak up every tidbit of knowledge he can find.
“I like to meet like-minded individuals, people who have a lot to share, great experience and knowledge,” he said. “You meet people who are wise, who have done things you haven’t done. It’s encouraging and motivating.”
Region Manager Mike Porter, who recruited Museitif two years ago, said he has grabbed onto the benefits of membership with both hands.
“Since joining BrandSource he has started to sell appliances,” Porter said. “He has jumped into BrandSource initiatives feet first, utilizing our technology, our financing options [including TD Bank’s waterfall financing] and by attending region meetings and national shows. He has really become a champion for what BrandSource has to offer.”
Outside Interests
When he’s not busy running two stores, Museitif finds contentment on the golf course and the gym, and also by growing in his Muslim faith.
“I constantly want to grow in that aspect in my faith,” he said. “Physically, mentally or spiritually, I just want to evolve.”
Whether or not there’s a law degree in his future, Museitif is plenty busy now, growing his businesses and continuing to work with and learn from his father.
“I’m at the point where I feel like no matter what, I want to continue to grow,” he said. “Any opportunity that presents itself, absolutely I’ll jump on it. I want to get to the point where I’m not micromanaging one or two locations; I want to get to the point where I’m overseeing three, four, five locations and delegating.”
And as far as Porter is concerned, it’s only a matter of time.
“Mo has been a fantastic addition to BrandSource,” Porter said. “He is a model member, doing right by his employees and customers. His integrity is admirable and he definitely has a bright future in the furniture business.”
YSN publisher AVB BrandSource is the nation’s largest merchandising and marketing co-op for independent appliance, mattress, furniture and CE dealers.
