Retail furniture stores trends

[Twpchair]

Hello, just curious how other Retail furniture stores and decor are doing so far in 2024? I'm in Central Michigan and it has been our best winter season so far. I should also add its been warmest winter I can remember. We have been really selling a lot of home decor items as well! I started a couple of years ago adding more and decor to the store and it really does help. Not everyone needs a new kitchen table or couch, but they usually never leave empty handed. Just curious how others have been doing? Have a great day and an amazing 2024!

[maxpete]

Great to hear that this has been your best winter season so far!

Tagging @Candlestore, @TCSlaguna, @homeprogreen, @DinaLRosenberg, and @coteaucottage to weigh in too!

[Twpchair]

Thank you! 😊 like I said it's just been an odd winter for us and was curious if other retail furniture stores were experiencing the same thing?

[homeprogreen]

I added some small home decor items to the lineup in the shop over the last year or so and while they won’t pay the rent it’s been a nice little stream of additional revenue 

[Twpchair]

The additional decor really did help with my business as well. It dresses the store up, I can group different couches and chairs together with coffee tables and end tables with just dressing them up a bit. I've noticed a good 50% of my customers tend to buy the whole grouping. You are 💯 correct it doesn't pay the lease but it adds up fast! Good luck to you and have a great 2024.

[DinaLRosenberg]

We had a really good February which made us happy.. glad to hear that you had a good winter season!

[Bronze_Palms]

Curious what factors you think have positively impacted this?

[AdamB]

I'd be curious to know this as well; is it a general improvement over time Year-over-Year or do you think there are other factors that contributed to it being a really good winter season?

[Twpchair]

For us honestly we didn't have our so called snowbirds leave Michigan for Florida or Arizona. We had our warmest winter since 1889 and the same for snow records broke there as well. We plowed 1 time this year! People want to get out and our store is big and they can look for hours. The decor and mixture of new and used really kicked it in for me.

[AdamB]

I used to live in the Upper Peninsula, so I'm very familiar with the exodus of folks down to the south every winter. That's really great that people stuck around and cam into your store!

[Twpchair]

Honestly, adding in more decor, doing not just brand new or custom built furniture. Not every one needs or can afford a new table set or sectional but they still want a little something different. A picture, a lamp, a cannister set. I watch and listen a lot and now hardly ever does someone walk out with a little something. Those little somethings added up fast! And opened a whole new window or market for us! 

[tranguyen]

So glad to hear business is doing well! I'm just curious, Is there a particular decor item that has been more popular than other @Twpchair 👀? 

[Twpchair]

We are selling more decor than every! Lamps, pictures, shelves down to little decor items. 

 

 

 

[Twpchair]

We sell brand new furniture,  custom built like the white washed table and decor new and used as well. It's works great for us in Central Michigan. 

[Twpchair]

Believe it or not lamps and big pictures are ones I'm ordering every week? I never thought lamps were so popular or needed 🤔 I hear most women say they just built a new home or moved into a newer house and they have less windows and lighting? So lamps seem to fly out. I use to have them mostly for decor in the store but not now I sell them everyday! 

[doc_choc]

Hi @Twpchair, we are based in the UK.  It's so nice to hear that things are bouyant for your sector. We are not in the field of selling furniture but we deal with a few interior designers who purchase products from us and they say business has been really bouyant.

[Twpchair]

That's good though. Money is money! I was curious if other countries was trending up or stagnant. Good luck to you! 

[Twpchair]

Do other businesses go through stages of a week or 2 of 95% all-cash transactions vs cards and then boom right back to nothing but cards? I thought I would start looking at my spreadsheets and the dates and days and I don't know if I am on to something or just coincidence. At the beginning of the month, I do have a lot of retired or older adults who come in frequently, and I am sure most get their checks around the first of the month. That couple of weeks it is charged away on everything. The weekend is my younger couples buying bigger purchases and im not sure if they bring in X amount of money to stay within their budget which im guessing. Most go over and I have to split the transactions. Just a huge change from 4/5 years ago and 85% of all purchases were cards. Could be interest rate cards are charging individuals now. Just curious if others are experiencing this. I know cash is king but not for my location! 3-way interstate connection 1/4 of a mile from my store. At every Chamber of Commerce, the Sheriff's Department references us as a prime example of the perfect business to rob!😳😳😳 I might be the reverse of most and would love to offer a 5% discount for you to use your card vs cash! 😆 and yes, I do have a drop box and cameras everywhere! Hope everyone is doing great!