NEWS
Cheers! New Davidson Store Attracts Furniture Shoppers and Art Lovers
Larry Hendricks stocks hundreds of fabric samples in Sofas + Cheers (Bill Giduz photo)
(Note: Sofas + Cheers is offering a 10% price reduction on floor furniture sales this Friday, Saturday, and Monday, February 15, 16 & 18.)
It’s been a tough go recently for American furniture manufacturers. China and Vietnam have undercut domestic furniture prices to the point that very little is manufactured in the USA anymore. Many notable brands like Thomasville, Drexel Heritage, and Henredon no longer exist.
Larry Hendricks can tell you the whole story. Born and raised in Mocksville, North Carolina, Larry has spent his career in the furniture business, and felt the market decline, as much as anyone. At one point he had the Boyles Furniture showrooms in North Carolina, as well as dedicated Thomasville and Drexel Heritage stores in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida and Georgia.
His new “mustard seed” idea is Sofas + Cheers, a store in Davidson’s Eden Street Metrolina Warehouse. At the railroad track entry is an overhead banner which proclaims, “WE’RE BACK!” That refers to the fact that the company was forced by road relocation to move from its former Mooresville location back to Davidson on January 1. Despite the bother of moving, Hendricks is glad things turned out the way they have.
The 5,000 square foot Sofas + Cheers showroom in Davidson features sofas, loveseats, sectionals, and chairs in different price points. All styles carry a special name, including a “Davidson” and a “Charlotte” sofa. The company sells off the floor and takes custom orders.
The Davidson location will allow Larry to help out small furniture crafters whose businesses have suffered the market decline by collaborating with them on custom items. He has an encyclopedic knowledge of the craft and knows small-shop builders throughout North Carolina with whom he can collaborate to have specialty items made for customers.
He’s also trying something new to enhance the Sofas + Cheers shopping experience. He’s turning Sofas + Cheers into a custom furniture emporium and art gallery, betting that the unique combination of quality North Carolina upholstery and fine art artisans will attract shoppers. In addition to furniture in the showrooms, more that 150 pieces of original art from over a dozen local North Carolina artists hang on the walls. Larry says Sofas + Cheers is attracting customers and designers from all over the surrounding areas and expects that reach will increase as shop’s www.sofasandcheers.com website goes online.
Bill Giduz
Bill Giduz was the son who followed his father’s footsteps into journalism. He has been involved his entire life with news and photography in schools he attended and jobs he’s held. He believes now that he’s got a few good years left to devote to The News of Davidson.