Women's Month

Rose Blumkin was born Rose Gorelick on December 15th, 1893 in Schedrin, Russia, into a one room house with 3 brothers and 4 sisters. Her 28-day journey to America to reunite with her husband took her through Siberia and Japan, with a stop at the Russia border where we learn about Rose's bravery and determination early on. When questioned by a Russian soldier, Rose claimed she was buying leather for the Russian army and promised a bottle of vodka for him upon her return. He let her pass and in 1917 she finally arrived in the US. She moved with her family to Omaha in 1919 and stayed there to raise her family but what she ended up doing over her 104-year life was so much more.

In articles written about Mrs. B later in life, people joked about her indefatigable work ethic and dismissal of ever retiring. At 13, she worked 16-hour days 6 days a week for only a single ruble. Her inherent responsibility started young and her drive to build her own successful business carried for decades after. Nebraska Furniture Mart began in basement of her husband's shop in 1937 built upon Mrs. B's mantra of "Sell cheap and tell the truth". Over its 85-year history, Nebraska Furniture Mart established itself as the single best source for furniture, flooring, appliances and electronics with a footprint in 4 different regions and no signs of slowing down.

The famous handshake deal between Rose Blumkin and Warren Buffet in 1983, adding NFM to the elite roster of Berkshire Hathaway companies, solidified the upward trajectory of success that Mrs. B had built. Their deal is the stuff of legends because Buffet didn't run an audit prior to purchase. He based his deal on the trust he had for Rose Blumkin as a businesswoman. Her word and reputation were enough to satisfy one of the most savvy and successful men in modern history.

People remember her honesty, dedication to service, and eagerness to always provide an incredible deal while zipping around the store on her scooter. Her vision serves as a foundation to the core values at NFM and she continues to be an inspiration to a new generation of intelligent businesswomen out to make their dreams a reality.