#industrygem

[tsgbaltimoreandannapolismaryland]

A House Like No Other with Pieces From Shofer’s Furniture

(Sectional sofa by Fairfield Chair Company, available at Shofer’s Furniture) 

Keeping our homes fashionable and current is just like keeping our wardrobes fashionable and current. The furniture needs to look good, yes, but it also needs to FEEL good. It needs to work for our daily habits. It needs to stand up to the heavy use of our families, our pets and our guests. And it needs to be an extension of our style.

In this era of “click-to-cart” home shopping, it’s impossible to look online and know if that cute tufted sofa is sturdy enough for your spouse. How does it support the back? Are the armrests at the right height for your body, or will your shoulders be up to your ears?

Answering these questions is exactly how 100-year old family-owned SHOFER’S FURNITURE has built a thriving business of custom furniture sales. Their selection of more than 180 furniture designers and thousands of custom upholstery options means they can practically guarantee a furniture solution for any style and budget.

(Sofa by Century, available at Shofer’s Furniture)

Walking into a showroom like Shofer’s with room after room of furniture can be equally inspiring and overwhelming. The sales team of interior designers knows this. They are there to tamper the anxiety by using their training to get to know each customer’s needs and provide a design plan to make their room(s) work and look gorgeous.

We asked Brenda Putnam, VP of Shofer’s and an interior designer by training, how Shofer’s guides clients through the furniture buying process. What questions do they ask a new client? What considerations do they keep in mind so people get exactly what they need and want?

A common challenge, she says, is customers often say, “I just redid the kitchen, and now I hate the room next to it.”

Shofer’s provides that design help so that the investment a client has made in one room can shine brightly with some updates to its neighboring rooms. The team is available to visit clients’ homes to evaluate the entire house to ensure that designs work well from space to space. They’re trained to “see the room from a bird’s eye view so we can space plan it,” says Brenda, who also manages the Federal Hill store and warehouse.

“We help clients plan what would look best and what quality would work best,” she says. “The product should last you as long as possible, so you get rid of it when you want. You should want this piece of ‘art’ to last.”

(Bedroom by Century, available at Shofer’s Furniture)

Brenda and her team help their clients evaluate their daily use of each room, and then they carefully examine all the features of each piece of potential furniture. The beautiful showroom downtown features only 10% of the available furniture options, but it gives customers a real chance to touch the furniture and sit or lay on the sofa and beds.

“When someone’s eye gets drawn to a piece of furniture, I’ll ask them, ‘Ok, that desk you like in the corner. Is it for occasional use for writing notes, or are you going to work from home?’ The functional needs are very different.”

“Or, ‘How does that chair sit? We can change the upholstery, the number of pillows, the depth of seating for your body, the welting, etc. We will build it for you. But how does it feel to sit on?’”

These are critical questions that can only be answered by visiting a store like Shofer’s in person. Brenda recommends people take the time to make informed purchasing decisions. It’s worth it!

“You’re going to have this piece of furniture for the next 15 years. Please don’t rush the process,” she advises.

(Wood frame sofa by Chaddock, available at Shofer’s Furniture)

While the Shofer’s brand may have been around for 100 years, the team is committed to staying current and design-forward. Every Saturday, Brenda and her sales team receive training on products to stay up to date on the latest finishes, trends and custom options. This commitment to relevance and currency is what has made Shofer’s a gem of the furniture industry for all styles.

“Our job is to guide you NOT to be overwhelmed,” Brenda says. “A house evolves, and we’re here to help clients update end tables, change out lamps, add fresh art but keep the couch they love, if that’s what they want. We’ve got it all.”

CONTACT: SHOFER’S FURNITURE

930 S. Charles St., Federal Hill, Baltimore

410-752-4212

[kbiment]

I was very humbled and honored to be a part of this panel for a Q&A with students and others wanting to know about recording engineering. I hope I inspired you all to keep going for yours. #rp from @s0nny_blue_note Out here @iarnyc showing support for my bro @geotherican who is hosting this panel full of some of NYC's best #audioengineers Shouts to @jmenterprises @kbiment @mixbynick for providing those in attendance with so many gems in regards to this industry. Peace and love folks #iar #paneldiscussions #audioengineer #engineerlife #industrygems #studiolife #engineeretiquette #eraoftheengineer #recordingengineer #nyc #sonnybluenote #sonnyfromthebronx #iment #istandard #istandardproducers #beatlife #songwriterlife #studiolife #musiclife #producerlife #soulplusmind #idolmindz (at Institute of Audio Research)