The long-anticipated opening of Home Furnishings Association member Sheely’s Furniture and Appliance’s new store in Aurora proved a hit for customers in northeast Ohio over the Labor Day weekend.
General Manager Jeff Curry said the store has been “well-received” by the community and that sales have been brisk.
Sheely’s held a soft opening with a friend-and-family promotion. The store is amid its grand opening, which runs through Sept. 26 and features $100 off a $1,000 purchase or more along with 12-month special financing. “We have a door counter, and the number of customers that came through the door so far in seven days has exceeded our expectations,” Curry said. “We have been received very well by the Bainbridge and Aurora communities.”
Earlier this year, Sheely’s announced it was expanding its footprint with the opening of its second storefront location just outside Cleveland, the first expansion in the company’s 68-year history.
Sheely’s is hoping the success of its flagship store in North Lima can be replicated in the new store. Curry said the North Lima store is far and away the leading furniture and appliance store in the Youngstown-Warren, Ohio, metropolitan market, and that nearly 40 percent of its customer base drives an hour or more from Pittsburgh to do business with the family-owned company.
Sales across all categories
Curry said all categories – upholstery, stationery and motion, bedroom, dining, accents, accessories, mattresses and appliances – have been selling well so far in the new store.
Curry said the company hired 25 people to open the store. He’s expecting more hires soon for additional sales staff and for warehouse and delivery workers, service technicians and front office staff.
For the most part, supply has not been an issue, said Curry. “The majority of vendors made their commitment to making the grand opening deadline,” he said. “Out of all our vendors, only three did not ship in time. Our overall inventory levels were high, as they should be in September. Nonetheless, we have stock, and the consumer is buying our stock.”
On the other hand, said Curry, if customers want to special order or buy from long-lead-time vendors, there is a wait and, in some cases, a long wait for that product. That is true for most furniture stores right now. Curry said Sheely’s, like most furniture stores, is doing its best business with what it already has in stock. “A store that has stock during this uncertain time will sell their inventory, and that’s what we’re doing,” he said.
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