Comments & Closeouts

   I really care about what you have to say about Gates Furniture.  I guess it’s the main reason we try to leave the postage paid response card with every home delivery we make.  I personally read every comment and appreciate both positive and negative accounts.  I’m happy to report most comments are very positive, but the one area I receive complaints about is our delivery charge.  So, after listening to you, I’m happy to announce starting in February we are changing to “free delivery”.  Deliveries will be made on stock items within 14 days of purchase anywhere in Jackson or Josephine counties.  For those customers needing same day, next day or special day deliveries we still be able to accommodate those requests for a competitive fee.

 A little insider tip I want to pass on to you is some gates sale pricing on two companies who never allow any discounting: Ekornes and Tempur-pedic. Both companies are very rigid on their pricing which they set for all dealers.  So, why can we give you a discount now? Well after over a decade of selling Ekornes leather reclining chairs and ottomans we are calling it quits and selling off all our remaining floor models. We will still handle any service needs but quite frankly service is rarely required. Ekornes makes a wonderful, high-quality, and subsiquently high-price piece of furniture. Unfortunately price increases over the years have put the chair beyond the reach of most of our customers finances. So if you’ve always wanted to own an Ekornes leather recliner now is the time.

 The other unique buy is our Tempurpedic 2008 model twin extra long delux mattress. Tempur-pedic changed the mattress cover recently making the 2008 model obsolete. Save $500 on this last floor model.

 If you happen to be a customer who loves Lodge or Western style home furnishings you have to check out the recent arrivals from Shadow Mountain.  You’ll find new living room, bedroom and dining room introductions.

 Oh, and check out the new round copper top dining room table and server from Hooker Furniture Manufacturing. Soon I’ll be off to the international furniture market to look for other great values in home furnishings.

Please feel free to ask Nick or myself any home furnishings questions you may have.

-Giff

Furniture, Advertising & People

 

 It’s a new time and an exciting time chock full of changes. This is my 36th year here at Gates Furniture.  63 years ago my father opened the business shortly after World War II. Last week I sat down with my older son Nick, now 22 years old, and we discussed how advertising and marketing has changed these past few years. I told him I needed help in understanding the new directions in marketing.  I explained I understand TV, radio, circulars, newspaper direct mail, you know, all the traditional media. Our company has a decent website and I am beginning to see the it’s value.  But, I still needed to see new marketing thru younger eyes. 

 Nick tried to put it in plain language:  It seemed to boil down that the old marketing went only one way.  That is to say the advertiser was sending out his message when he wanted to and the product he wanted to feature. All the control was in the businesses hands.  Then things started to change.  Newspaper subscriptions were in many cases decreasing or stagnating, satellite radio was gaining popularity, Tivo was becoming a household fixture…consumers seemed to enjoy controlling what messages they wanted to see or hear and when! Nick also explained that marketing was becoming more consumer directed, and, potentially, more of a two way exchange (also see David Lively’s article “Social Media”). 

I can now better see the need of a great website, that the consumer of today may want to invest some of their shopping time from the comfort of their home at the hour of their choice. 

And now at Nick’s recommendation it is time to initiate a Blog.  The timing couldn’t be more perfect.  Nick is graduating from college and entering our family business.  As the transition unfolds I get more time to focus on this new aspect of our business.

I hope you will use and enjoy this Blog and if you haven’t already done so, please consider joining our Email family.  It includes a short monthly newsletter with decorating tips, our community involvement, family recipes, special offers, advance notice on promotions and more. 

In all, I hope this Blog can be a gateway between us all. Feel free to leave comments and questions on the Blog. Hope to hear from you with any of your furniture questions or issues… 

-Giff