Tuesday's customer inspiration - today starring Valerie and Margaret

Each Tuesday I post photos of something a customer has purchased from Jubilee Furniture with the thought that seeing things outside of our dreary warehouse might inspire you to: 1.) stop in the store either Friday from 1 to 8 or Saturday from 9 to 4 because you're impressed with what can be purchased there; 2.) try your hand at transforming something that's been bought at the store from okay to fabulous; 3.) realize that repurposing and recycling furniture from Jubilee is not only good for the environment but can look stylish and hip in your home too; and 4.) remember you've been meaning to take photos and email me at sgalbraith@outreachcommin.org and you now feel guilty - again! Just kidding (sorta).

I love Val's email so much I have to share the whole thing with you.

Hi Susan - Love the blog at Jubilee. I read it religiously. Attached please find a picture of a chair that I got at your warehouse. I think it's ugly mustard color makes it charming. It's also really uncomfortable. Although it's true beauty is not apparent in the photo. It opens up into a soft cushy low-to-the-floor bed! I can host all three of my nieces to sleepover spa nights now that they have outgrown the queen sleeper sofa. It had gotten to the point that I would find one of them curled u on a chair or on the floor. Like I said, it's not very pretty but I wouldn't trade it for anything. Yes, that is a blue leather watering can purse in the background. Doesn't everyone have one? Just shoot me if I walk into your storing using it as a purse; I will have lost my mind.

I actually think the chair looks great and I love the pretty throw pillow! Add in Val's wonderful sense of humor and I'm wondering how I can get invited to the next sleepover/spa night!

Next up are some photos from Margaret - a regular Jubilee Furniture customer and a previous customer inspiration!

Here's Margaret's email:

Hi Susan, Back when we bought the patio set, we also picked up this matching set of oak Broyhill tables. We didn't really do much to them, just changed out the hardware. You might remember that the hardware was the hanging kind; we changed it to the cup kind because it looks a little more sleek and is also harder for a toddler to pull down (I figured that one out later). They're great storage for coloring books, board games, and (mommy's) Wii Fit Board. The couch has recliners on each end, so it helps to have a coffee table on hidden wheels (nifty little extra) that pushes out easily every time you recline.

I'm also adding the picture of the pine hutch because I don't know when I'm going to get around to updating the curtains in the room (but who cares about the curtains for now?). The hutch looks nice as is and our previously empty front/dining room is now just about done. Again, all we did is change the hardware from white to brass knobs.

Wow - with minimum effort Margaret made the lovely pieces works well for her and her family!

Thanks to both Valerie and Margaret for allowing us into their beautiful homes!

Take care, dear reader and I hope to see you back here on Friday for my weekly update post!

What’s in a name? A lot actually!

Several weeks ago a woman stopped in the store and purchased two of our prototype (never been used – from Serta and Comfort Solutions/King Koil’s research and development departments) queen mattress sets (mattress and box spring) for her sons who’re living off campus this year at college (we’re selling the matching sets for $475 – retail between $1,000 and $1,800 – definitely not your cheapest option but an amazing deal for a fabulous set).

As often happens, we got to talking and this customer was unfamiliar with Outreach (of which Jubilee Furniture is a division of and whose programs and services our proceeds – minus our expenses – help support) and I had an opportunity to tell her about who we are and what we do (I promise I stopped yammering when her eyes glazed over).

A week later she phoned to ask about picking up the mattresses and happened to mention she had seen our organization out collecting money at a busy intersection.  After explaining that wasn’t my Outreach, we ended our conversation and said good-bye.

Making the connection between purchasing a piece of used furniture to helping those most in need in DuPage County is something I’m constantly doing because I think it’s important our customers understand how shopping at Jubilee Furniture really does benefit others.  Connecting them to the right “Outreach” (Outreach Community Ministries) is a whole other can of worms!

Speaking of worms, there’s hardly any room to wiggle in the showroom due to how much wonderful inventory we currently have (pretty good pun transition – huh!).  Let me show you some of the new-to-us items available today (Friday) from 1 to 8 and tomorrow (Saturday) from 9 to 4 for purchase!

these are amazing Krueger brand plastic? fiberglass? shell stackable chairs – there are six brown (yes, brown – not black) and 12 yellow/gold – found online for between $100 and $150 EACH – Jubilee Furniture price $65 each

nice colors on this love seat priced $95

looks like simply a great leather side chair – and it is! – but it’s also a wonderful recliner!  Priced $395

Room and Board sofa – mint condition – from their Hawthorne collection, 85” sofa in charcoal (there are red undertones to the gray and you can see them in the photos if you look carefully) micro-suede w/down blend cushions retails for $1,299 – Jubilee Furniture price? $595

fun glass and chrome side table for $45 and there are two of them

cool silver table lamp priced $25 and there are two of them

gray color arm-less chairs priced $35 each

fantastic Lazboy sofa in excellent condition priced $325

very nice moss green Lazboy rocker/recliner for $65

love the wood arms/legs on these side chairs priced $8.50 each and there are six of them

very nice sofa priced $85; matching love seat for $75

pinkish wing back chair for $45 (and there are two of them)

fabulous retro desk priced $65

very nice dresser (no mirror) priced $95; matching tall chest of drawers for $125

great rustic six drawer dresser priced $85

both photos are trying to capture these stately, elegant, tall entertainment centers- there are two of them – and each is priced $265

neat-o retro desk chair priced $35 (we have six of them)

square white laminate table for $45

amazing, fantastic, sweet Kroll armoire priced $225

another sweet armoire priced $95

heavy duty AV cart priced $55

nice love seat with wood trim priced $125

peachy/orange Lazboy side chair (some fading along top) priced $85

lovely dining set by B. F. Huntley – drop leaf table with one leaf and six chairs (only one of the chairs has arms) priced $195; matching buffet (almost has a dresser look to it – but it is a buffet) priced $135

rose colored sofa priced $95

there are two matching chairs and both are sorta of evergreen-color priced $75 each

marble inserts on this lovely coffee table priced $65; roundish end table with marble top for $45; square end table with marble top for $55

high back and arms gives this sofa a contemporary look – pretty blue/green color – priced $85

papasan chair and ottoman priced $65 for both

Though the Outreach I work for doesn’t do fund-raising at intersections – on my way home last night I did see the Kiwanis out collecting money and handing out peanuts. 

The Kiwanis have a mission statement which reads, “changing the world one child and one community at a time.”  How great is that!  Additionally, the Kiwanis Club of Wheaton “staffs” Jubilee Furniture once a month and have been doing so since the store opened in February of 2006!

So, please give generously to this fantastic organization!

One more thing – we’ve changed who processes our credit card transactions and can now accept Discover in addition to VISA and MasterCard! 

God’s peace, grace and love to you, dear reader!