Last month the Furniture First Board of Directors approved Wright Furniture & Flooring as a member of the cooperative buying group.
Founded in 1889, Wright’s Furniture & Flooring has deep roots in the community. The furniture store and associated funeral parlor were bought by founder GW Wright, who was already proprietor of a general store and postmaster. The previous owner approached GW to purchase his store because he wanted GW’s train tickets to Arkansas, where a land rush would soon take place. GW counter-offered, saying he would only buy if the furniture store owner convinced the funeral home operator to sell to GW as well. The business has remained in the family ever since and in recent years has grown from one location to four through the acquisition of other retailers in the region, expanding the range of products and services.
“With the addition of Wrights to our membership rolls, that makes 23 members with a century or more in business,” said Andrew Kauffman, CEO of Furniture First. “I think that really says something. Furniture First is relatively young in comparison — we’re celebrating our 30th anniversary this year — but the longevity of these member companies show that they are well-run and adapt their businesses over time. As a member-run organization, we are very fortunate to benefit from their collective wisdom.”
