Afurniture retailer, furniture storeorfurniture shop is a retail businesses that sells furniture and related accessories. Furniture retailers usually sell general furniture (like beds, tables, bookcases and wardrobes), seats and upholstered suites (like couches or sofas and chairs), and specialised items produced for a commission.[1] They may sell a range of styles to suit different homes and personal tastes,[2] or specialise in particular styles like retro style furniture.[3]
Many stores also sell outdoor or garden furniture, such as dining tables, coffee tables, seats and couches, which are designed to be waterproof, rust-resistant and weather-proof rather than to follow modern indoor design trends.[4]
Furniture retail sales directly correlate with the state of the economy and housing market. When interest rates are lower and housing sales are higher, like in the United States in the early 1990s, sales of household and garden furniture increases. When business conditions are positive, like in the United States in the late 1990s, sales of furniture for offices, hotels and restaurants increases.[5]
The sector dates back the middle of the 19th century, when furniture sellers in North America and Europe began buying furniture from manufacturers at wholesale prices, and selling them to consumers in showrooms at higher prices. Many early showrooms had workshops to build specialty items.[5]
By the early 20th century, most production of furniture was common in the United States, with major manufacturing centers in Jamestown, New York, High Point, North Carolina and Grand Rapids, Michigan. However, hand-crafted items remained in demand and furniture factories remained small.[5]
World War II created a global shortage of wood products, preventing the production of furniture.[5][1]
The sale of mass-produced furniture in showrooms became more common in the second half of the twentieth century. The introduction of new materials, machinery, adhesives and finishes made it more difficult to distinguish commercially and handcrafted furniture.[6] Many furniture retailers formed exclusive relationships with furniture manufacturers.[5]
