Big selection, individual attention
Brown’s Furniture keeps expanding, but still offers personal attention to customers
Brown’s Furniture offers a wide variety of bedroom pieces and sets. Photos by EMILY CANNING-DEAN
ORRVILLE – After four decades of being in business, the look and style of the furniture pieces at Brown’s Furniture may have changed and the business has expanded exponentially, but one thing that remains the same for this family-owned business is personal and attentive customer service.
“That’s how you get repeat customers,” said John Brown, who founded Brown’s Furniture with his wife, Carol, back in 1977.
John’s son, Jarrod, who now owns and operates the business with his wife, Dawn, said he has seen many customers come in to the store as children with their parents and return as adults to purchase their own furniture.
“Actually, I’m at the point where I’m seeing the third generation of that,” John said.
With nearly 40,000 square feet of showroom space, Brown’s Furniture offers a wide variety of styles and brands of upholstered pieces as well as wooden pieces, patio furniture, bedroom furniture and dining room furniture.
“We have a little bit of something for everyone,” Dawn said, adding the store offers mostly traditional pieces, but also offers studio or loft pieces that are more popular among millennials.
“We can furnish your entire home except for appliances,” Jarrod said.
Jarrod added that Brown’s Furniture deals mostly in middle- to high-end pieces of furniture.
“We don’t want to have something that will last you for only two years,” he said.
John said although about 20 percent of the store’s business comes from residents of Orrville, they also see customers coming from all surrounding counties and beyond.
Always growing
After several years of working in the furniture industry, John opened Brown’s furniture on the square in Orrville where Ming Hing restaurant is currently located.
“I was a kindergarten teacher at the time, but I told John, I will come work for you,” Carol said. “We have always enjoyed being able to work together as a family. It is something we still all enjoy.”
Five years later, John saw a need for expansion so the business moved to its current location at 138 West Market Street, which nearly doubled the store’s size. In 1992 the Browns acquired the adjoining building and in 1997 they purchased the building directly across the street, which serves as a showroom for bedroom and dining room furniture.
According to Carol, this specific space used to be owned by her dad where he ran a men’s clothing store. After he passed, her brothers took over the business, but eventually wanted to retire so she asked her mom if she and John could rent the space.
“I still love coming over here,” she said. “It makes me think of the years I would come across the street to meet my dad for lunch.”
In 2007 they realized there was a need for a streamlined clearance area so they opened an additional 5,000 square feet of display area in front of their warehouse on Main Street.
Just two years ago, the Browns acquired another adjoining building to 138 West Market Street, demolished it and now they use the space to display a wide variety of patio furniture.
Jarrod said it is possible the business will expand even further in the future, but added no specific plans have been made.
When asked what has kept the business so successful and growing over the years, Jarrod had a simple answer.
“My mom,” he said.
“Actually, it has always been a team effort,” Carol replied.
Keeping a personal touch
No matter how much the business expands, the Browns take pride in personally taking care of their customers and offering excellent customer service.
“We have our own service man who is here every day and we handle repairs on 99 percent of our products in our own workshop instead of sending it back to the factory,” John said, adding that by doing the work in house, he knows it is done right. “Also, it’s quicker for the customer. If there is a problem they don’t have to jump through 20 hoops, they can just give us a call and we can take it from there.”
Jarrod also said there are five employees available on the showroom floor ready to answer any questions or help customers with whatever they need.
Customers who live in Wayne County or in any of the surrounding counties also have the option of free delivery. Delivery is available outside of those counties for a fee.
Changing with the times
After 40 years in the furniture business, John said he has seen some changes, especially when it comes to power recliners, sofas and other upholstered pieces.
“We’ve seen a lot more of that in the past three years,” he said. “We went from maybe one piece like that on the floor to that being half of what we sell. I think people like the power feature because it is more convenient. You can stop it anywhere along the way. You can have power head rests or even power lumbar support.”
“We actually see an uptick in popularity for these pieces going into fall as football season is starting,” Jarrod said.
John said Brown’s Furniture also includes a variety of adjustable beds, which is a popular item, and added customers enjoy the custom pieces they can order at Brown’s.
“Probably half of our orders are custom orders,” John said.
Passing the torch
While John and Carol are still very involved, Jarrod and Dawn have assumed the management and operations roles at Brown’s Furniture.
After graduating from college in 1992, Jarrod returned to Orrville to run the family business. Dawn came on board a year later.
Working in the family business seemed a natural fit for Jarrod as he grew up around the store.
“I remember the summer of eighth grade, Dad said to enjoy my summer because it would my last,” Jarrod said laughing. “I washed windows and cleaned bathrooms and did deliveries and repairs.”
“They are just wonderful,” said Carol, who loves that Dawn has taken over a lot of the paper work she was once responsible for.
Carol said the whole family enjoys seeing old customers and people they have known for years come into the store.
“I will have students come in and ask if I remember them and I almost always do,” she said. “I always tell them to stop into the store when they are in town.”
Brown’s Furniture is open Monday, Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.
For more information call 330-682-3966 or visit their website at www.brownsfurniture.com. The website includes a variety of the items offered at Brown’s Furniture.
“That’s how you get repeat customers,” said John Brown, who founded Brown’s Furniture with his wife, Carol, back in 1977.
John’s son, Jarrod, who now owns and operates the business with his wife, Dawn, said he has seen many customers come in to the store as children with their parents and return as adults to purchase their own furniture.
“Actually, I’m at the point where I’m seeing the third generation of that,” John said.
With nearly 40,000 square feet of showroom space, Brown’s Furniture offers a wide variety of styles and brands of upholstered pieces as well as wooden pieces, patio furniture, bedroom furniture and dining room furniture.
“We have a little bit of something for everyone,” Dawn said, adding the store offers mostly traditional pieces, but also offers studio or loft pieces that are more popular among millennials.
“We can furnish your entire home except for appliances,” Jarrod said.
Jarrod added that Brown’s Furniture deals mostly in middle- to high-end pieces of furniture.
“We don’t want to have something that will last you for only two years,” he said.
John said although about 20 percent of the store’s business comes from residents of Orrville, they also see customers coming from all surrounding counties and beyond.
Always growing
After several years of working in the furniture industry, John opened Brown’s furniture on the square in Orrville where Ming Hing restaurant is currently located.
“I was a kindergarten teacher at the time, but I told John, I will come work for you,” Carol said. “We have always enjoyed being able to work together as a family. It is something we still all enjoy.”
Five years later, John saw a need for expansion so the business moved to its current location at 138 West Market Street, which nearly doubled the store’s size. In 1992 the Browns acquired the adjoining building and in 1997 they purchased the building directly across the street, which serves as a showroom for bedroom and dining room furniture.
According to Carol, this specific space used to be owned by her dad where he ran a men’s clothing store. After he passed, her brothers took over the business, but eventually wanted to retire so she asked her mom if she and John could rent the space.
“I still love coming over here,” she said. “It makes me think of the years I would come across the street to meet my dad for lunch.”
In 2007 they realized there was a need for a streamlined clearance area so they opened an additional 5,000 square feet of display area in front of their warehouse on Main Street.
Just two years ago, the Browns acquired another adjoining building to 138 West Market Street, demolished it and now they use the space to display a wide variety of patio furniture.
Jarrod said it is possible the business will expand even further in the future, but added no specific plans have been made.
When asked what has kept the business so successful and growing over the years, Jarrod had a simple answer.
“My mom,” he said.
“Actually, it has always been a team effort,” Carol replied.
Keeping a personal touch
No matter how much the business expands, the Browns take pride in personally taking care of their customers and offering excellent customer service.
“We have our own service man who is here every day and we handle repairs on 99 percent of our products in our own workshop instead of sending it back to the factory,” John said, adding that by doing the work in house, he knows it is done right. “Also, it’s quicker for the customer. If there is a problem they don’t have to jump through 20 hoops, they can just give us a call and we can take it from there.”
Jarrod also said there are five employees available on the showroom floor ready to answer any questions or help customers with whatever they need.
Customers who live in Wayne County or in any of the surrounding counties also have the option of free delivery. Delivery is available outside of those counties for a fee.
Changing with the times
After 40 years in the furniture business, John said he has seen some changes, especially when it comes to power recliners, sofas and other upholstered pieces.
“We’ve seen a lot more of that in the past three years,” he said. “We went from maybe one piece like that on the floor to that being half of what we sell. I think people like the power feature because it is more convenient. You can stop it anywhere along the way. You can have power head rests or even power lumbar support.”
“We actually see an uptick in popularity for these pieces going into fall as football season is starting,” Jarrod said.
John said Brown’s Furniture also includes a variety of adjustable beds, which is a popular item, and added customers enjoy the custom pieces they can order at Brown’s.
“Probably half of our orders are custom orders,” John said.
Passing the torch
While John and Carol are still very involved, Jarrod and Dawn have assumed the management and operations roles at Brown’s Furniture.
After graduating from college in 1992, Jarrod returned to Orrville to run the family business. Dawn came on board a year later.
Working in the family business seemed a natural fit for Jarrod as he grew up around the store.
“I remember the summer of eighth grade, Dad said to enjoy my summer because it would my last,” Jarrod said laughing. “I washed windows and cleaned bathrooms and did deliveries and repairs.”
“They are just wonderful,” said Carol, who loves that Dawn has taken over a lot of the paper work she was once responsible for.
Carol said the whole family enjoys seeing old customers and people they have known for years come into the store.
“I will have students come in and ask if I remember them and I almost always do,” she said. “I always tell them to stop into the store when they are in town.”
Brown’s Furniture is open Monday, Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.
For more information call 330-682-3966 or visit their website at www.brownsfurniture.com. The website includes a variety of the items offered at Brown’s Furniture.