In the Clutch

Ryan Ebberman

S. Furniture began as a small, independent furniture store sixty-one years ago located on scenic River Road on the side of the small town of Reserve in rural Louisiana. The small town is made up of middle class workers trying to make a decent, honest living. The small, slightly yellow building created work and brought more business to the small town. The success of the business grew phenomenally. With success, there was growth. The demand for the great prices on furniture warranted the seeking of a second store. The expansion lead about forty-five minutes northwest to Gonzalez, Louisiana, which has now became the main store for the business. The store’s popularity is continuously growing and the store owner, now the grandson of the original owner, is looking to create a new store in Laplace, Louisiana, replacing the Reserve store. All of this change is affecting the surrounding communities for the better. As I began my English 1001 student interview of the owner, Mr. S, I talked to him about a variety of subjects relating to his store.
On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina struck southeastern Louisiana with so much force that every business, home, and school seemed to be damaged in some way or another. This crushing effect went on for miles on end in the southeastern region of Louisiana. Right outside of the flood waters was the town of Reserve, Louisiana, and a little further down the interstate was Gonzalez. The two stores were up and running in no time caring to the needs of the people of New Orleans and surrounding cities. Deals were made and the S. Furniture stock went up. With the Baton Rouge community doubling overnight, the businesses around Baton Rouge prospered. With people hundreds of people needing furniture, the Gonzalez area, more specifically around the furniture store itself, thrived off the population. No other business had the great prices that S. Furniture had. The locations of the two stores provided easy access back to New Orleans with “water-less” furniture.
The Gonzalez store did have trouble with the storm however. In the midst of the storm part of the roof got damaged. Many pieces of furniture were damaged as well as the carpet the pieces sat on. The back of the store had to be roped off for two weeks before the carpet could be replaced. All the appliances had to be replaced along with the furniture that was water-logged.
The Gonzalez store received a lot of its income through FEMA, but not the way everyone would think. Located next door to the store was an empty warehouse that FEMA representatives occupied for its use after the storm. S. Furniture became a service to FEMA when the federal agency purchased hundreds of beds through S. Furniture to help those in need. Thousands of beds were shipped into the S. Furniture warehouse from out of the state. The beds were then transferred next door to the FEMA warehouse where they were distributed by FEMA. The store did not have to spend time distributing or selling the beds and could focus on the daily customers.
Still today, over two years after the storm, S. Furniture is getting paid for its decision of getting back quick to serve its local community. People still walk into the store looking for new furniture after the devastation of Katrina. The store is now looking to relocate the Reserve store to Laplace, Louisiana, so the store would be open to a much bigger market.
The store was always busy due the increased need in furniture and appliances. After the first few days, the refrigerators, sofas, and love seats quickly sold out. Mr. S. told me “everything had to go on backorder, the beds and appliances especially.” Box springs, mattresses, and headboards were the parts needed for the bed arrangements. Refrigerators, washers, and dryers consisted of the appliances on backorder.
With the back orders coming in to be sold, and the merchandise already sold, S. Furniture became one of the leading furniture store outlets in the southeastern sector of Louisiana. The Reserve store is looking to move to Laplace, Louisiana, with its stronger furniture market due to other furniture businesses falling from the ranks. S. Furniture, I believe, with the right form of leadership will prosper for years to come.