Furniture Row now open
Furniture Row, Grand Forks' newest furniture store, officially opened on Saturday. I'm thinking there still has to be a group of people who don't even realize there is a huge new store just behind Lowe's...it's very "cleverly hidden"...at least for now.
I walked into the store a few days ago (stupidly) thinking it was already open. Although I was made to feel very welcome, I only stayed for a couple of minutes. What I saw looked very nice. With this new store and the opening of Ashley Furniture a couple of months ago, Grand Forks seems to now have lots of choices when it comes to furniture.
I also can't help but wonder what other new businesses might line those streets leading to the Furniture Row development. Any rumors, ideas, or suggestions?
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I stopped there yesterday, and while impressed with the furniture and selection, I was driven crazy buy the sales people. While looking at some office desks, a salesperson greeted us, was very nice and after we told her that we were just browsing to see what they had to offer, etc., she would not leave us alone! We had to finally tell her that if we needed any help we would ask for her. I believe she was one of the people who come to train the local help, as she said she was from Denver. Anyway, she was very annoying.
Other than that, it looks as though they have a nice selection, and I did overhear someone getting a "better deal" on a couch as I walked by, so even with the "sale price" on the items, it appears they will go lower. Perhaps it is a Grand Opening thing.
Oh, and while from the outside it looks like 4 different stores, it is all open on the inside, making it more like 4 different departments in the same store.
" I was driven crazy buy the sales people."
I had the same experience some years ago at Zimmerman's. I chalked it up to the fact they worked on commission.
We stopped by after church today and really liked what we saw. One guy that I talked to said that they stock one or two pieces of many items, so, unlike the other stores in town, if you buy it, you may not have to wait until it ships from a warehouse.
The sales staff was, to us anyway, fairly unobtrusive, beyond the greeting, the "explanation of how the store works" and one or two "how are things going" encounters. Fairly standard for commissioned sales people at a time of day where there are lots of them, and few customers.
The only thing I'd suggest is lose the "garage sale" signs on the berms that tell of the store being open. That was more amusing than informative.
Corporate sales training programs and staff are often so unrealistic and out of touch as to what customers really want that they often drive out more business than they keep, if followed rigidly. This goes double for this area.
Most customers want to be acknowleged, checked in on every once in a while, and helped if they need it. And they want genuine sales people, not flashy robots. It's all about relationships.
I got the "unwanted attention" as well after saying I was just browsing. It seems you can never find a salesman when you need them, and never get rid of them when you don't. Hint, if I'm milling around your area for a long while, I need help.
Having been at several furniture stores in GF, the one not guilty of over-zealous salespeople is Home of Economy. And they have quality furniture too.
Quality furniture at Home of Economy, yes; economy...not even close! (Even the kids that deliver the stuff talk about how over-priced it is.)
And service? Other than the manager of the department---a terrific guy who has been there for years---no one wants to hear any complaints or make any concessions for the occasional defect.
Home of Economy stuff is stuck in "80s College Dorm" style. I can't believe companies still manufacture that stuff.
Furniture Row delivers most of its furniture from one of its warehouses, so its usually 3 to 4 weeks delivery time. There is not taking it home that day. They do have some chairs and other miscellaneous stuff that you can take home, but not sofas.
They do have some chairs and other miscellaneous stuff that you can take home, but not sofas.
Not according to them. The guy that I talked to (who was a transfer/trainer from Denver, not a noob,) said that anything with a star sticker on it had at least one in the back. There were several sofas that he pointed to as an example, bearing said stickers.
I guess the furniture I looked at was 3 to 4 weeks delivery time.
Went there today but found mostly microfiber and leather furniture and I didn't see much variation in style. I ended up buying at Conlins after checking out other stores.
We've been out of the country for a year (this blog has kept me informed of what's going on in town. I love it) and just came into town a couple of weeks ago. My husband I decided to go to Target one day. While we were driving through the parking lot we noticed some tiny signs that said,"Furniture Row now open." We looked around the shopped center for the store but didn't see it so we figured Target or one of the other stores opened a Furniture Aisle. The other day I decided to drive behind Target and that's when I saw the big ol' store back there...and that's when I realized that must be Furniture Row. I was sooo happy I finally figured out what it meant (Hubby and I looked around Target for the new furniture row) that I called him at work to give him the news. Still haven't been there but we are in desperate need of new bedroom furniture so that's the first place I'm going to look.
I was so excited when I saw that land being developed by Lowe's, I was thinking it was going to be something actually interesting...but no it's a giant furniture store.... I was also excited when they started building the store right next to Kohl's...and oh joy, another furniture store... is furniture really in THAT high of demand in Grand Forks?!? There are so many other things this city needs, and damned furniture stores are not one of them.
like what?
I am thinking maybe a new Subway.
Give me a break... I hear all these complaints about people being "hounded" by sales people. Then you hear of people complaining that they can't find anyone when they need someone. When you go buy a car you know you are going to be greeted by someone so understand that in the furniture business is the same way. Be HONEST and tell them you aren't interested in anything and you are just browsing and they will leave you alone. But don't expect people to get lost if you aren't being honest. I NEVER have a problem with stuff like that. LEARN HOW TO COMMUNICATE.
Speaking of people who can't communicate. I was in the store a couple of weeks ago, and I witnessed a rather bizarre episode. This couple had come in near me and when the sales person came over to say "hello" to them or whatever, the husband got really rude with the kid. It didn't seem to bother the kid, but later I was looking at a bed near their service counter and the wife came over complaining to the manager that nobody would help them. The manager apologized and said it was their policy to try and greet everyone that came through the door as quickly as possible. The husband said, "Well, apparently we're not good enough to be greeted." I started laughing, and I probably should have kept my mouth shut, but I had to let the manager know the truth after the couple had left. The manager smiled and said, "It goes with the job."
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