Bobs Furniture weekly update post for Friday, October 25, 2013

I have a genuine affection for my donors, customers and volunteers – so this week when a fairly regular donor phoned to say her 52 year old sister had passed away – I was sad and so sorry for her loss.

She didn’t call just to give me this news – but rather she and another sister were sorting through their third sister’s home and had furniture to donate.  Dealing with donors who are dealing with the death of a loved one and contact Bobs Furniture to donate good, usable furniture from the loved one’s home – is a common occurrence.

As I murmured my sympathies and offered my condolences – I felt a nudge to do more.  The nudge is actually more like a tightening in my stomach that makes me feel a little sick since I know I’m about to reach out in a way that makes me vulnerable and it’s scary.

You see – I’m involved in a ministry at my church called Stephan Ministries whose mission is to equip regular men and women to walk through life’s challenges with hurting people – and people coping with grief definitely fall into this category.

Stephan Ministries’ founder, Dr. Kenneth Haugk, wrote a series of grief booklets after the death of his wife – which have been used for years and been very helpful to individuals dealing with the loss of a loved one.

So, what’s so scary about offering to mail out some booklets? It’s scary because they’re written from a faith perspective.  Faith is a very personal thing.  I had no idea if my donor would be offended.

Gulp.

My belief in God is central to who I am – but I would never want anyone to feel like I was forcing my faith down their throat – be it my donors, my customers or my volunteers.

Warning!  Awkward segue.

If you were a customer this week and stopped in the store today between 1 and 8 or tomorrow between 9 and 4 – the following photos show you SOME of what you’d find in our 30,000 square feet of inventory:

Thank you party 10-19-13 009Thank you party 10-19-13 010Thank you party 10-19-13 011Thank you party 10-19-13 012

this Rossetto glass top table has a fabulous – heavy – base.  It’s priced only $145 due to several chips in the glass.  Four leather chairs – one is ripped at the corner along the seam – priced $4 each (these chairs retail for $199 each)

Thank you party 10-19-13 013Thank you party 10-19-13 014

Crate & Barrel slip-covered sofa – slip cover needs some spot cleaning – priced $225

Thank you party 10-19-13 015Thank you party 10-19-13 016

white wicker hutch (designed to be put on top of something) priced $20; white wicker bookshelf is $30

Thank you party 10-19-13 017Thank you party 10-19-13 018

showing some wear but overall a very nice leather sofa by Smithe Craft – priced $135

Thank you party 10-19-13 019Thank you party 10-19-13 020

sweet student desk priced $35

Thank you party 10-19-13 021Thank you party 10-19-13 022

there’s something super attractive about this muted floral sofa – priced $135

Thank you party 10-19-13 023Thank you party 10-19-13 024

need some bling in your home?  This metal and glass hall or sofa table delivers!  Priced $60

Thank you party 10-19-13 025Thank you party 10-19-13 026

excellent condition micro-fiber chair – sorta greenish/gray – priced $95

Thank you party 10-19-13 027Thank you party 10-19-13 030

Teresa said this sofa is very comfortable!  Blue curved sofa priced $95

Thank you party 10-19-13 028Thank you party 10-19-13 029

side chairs by Directional priced $50 each; round side table for $10

Thank you party 10-19-13 031Thank you party 10-19-13 032

here’s another piece made by the Italian company, Rossetto – gorgeous credenza, tons of storage (doors slide toward each other and there’s open storage with one shelf; three drawer in the middle of the piece) – perfect media piece – like new except for one small chip on a back edge – priced $325

Thank you party 10-19-13 033Thank you party 10-19-13 034

CR Laine chair and ottoman – some minor wear – priced $95

Thank you party 10-19-13 035Thank you party 10-19-13 036

gorgeous secretary priced $175

Thank you party 10-19-13 037Thank you party 10-19-13 038

fun stackable chairs priced $60 for all four

Thank you party 10-19-13 039Thank you party 10-19-13 040

very attractive media stand priced $125

Thank you party 10-19-13 041Thank you party 10-19-13 042

there are two matching swivel, rocker/recliners – both in excellent condition – priced $75 each

Thank you party 10-19-13 043Thank you party 10-19-13 044

this sofa needs to be professionally cleaned – but there is something very attractive about it (in my humble opinion) priced $40

Thank you party 10-19-13 045Thank you party 10-19-13 046

comfy sofa – needs some adjusting of cushions and such – priced $40

Thank you party 10-19-13 047Thank you party 10-19-13 048Thank you party 10-19-13 049Thank you party 10-19-13 050

this pine collection by Broyhill is in very good condition – table, 1 leaf and 6 chairs all for $225; matching two piece lighted china cabinet is $175; square end table for $40; square coffee table for $50

Thank you party 10-19-13 051Thank you party 10-19-13 052

gorgeous pedestal table with two leaves – priced $145

Thank you party 10-19-13 053Thank you party 10-19-13 054Thank you party 10-19-13 055Thank you party 10-19-13 056

oh my – what a fabulous retro chrome and formica top table with one leaf and four chairs (one chair is ripped) – priced $195 for the set

Thank you party 10-19-13 058Thank you party 10-19-13 059

I’m in love with this vintage recliner – it’s super comfortable – admittedly rather masculine looking – priced $95

Thank you party 10-19-13 060Thank you party 10-19-13 061Thank you party 10-19-13 062Thank you party 10-19-13 063

antique oak chair (looks rather royal doesn’t it?) priced $110; so cool carved nesting tables – priced $65 for the set

Thank you party 10-19-13 065Thank you party 10-19-13 066

we’re selling this as a three piece sectional – but it would make for a mighty l-o-n-g sofa if you put the three pieces together.  It’s more like a sofa w/chaise and an armless loveseat – there are kitty-like pulls along several corners and some minor spot cleaning is needed – but otherwise in good shape – priced $175 for the whole thing!

Thank you party 10-19-13 067Thank you party 10-19-13 068

spot cleaning is also needed on this red micro-suede loveseat but otherwise in good condition – priced $45

Thank you party 10-19-13 069Thank you party 10-19-13 070

fabulous walnut cedar chest with gorgeous carving – priced $195

To finish my story, I did volunteer to mail my donor the grief booklets and she appreciated – and accepted – my offer.  She thought after she’d read them they might be helpful to her parents.  Oh man – suddenly I thought of my 84 year old mother dealing with the loss of one of us “kids” and I wanted to cry.

If this series of booklets provides my donor and her parents one moment of peace and comfort during this devastating journey of grief – it will make my discomfort at offering so worth it – and, actually, seem rather ridiculous that I ever thought to hold back.

Never withhold hope or a hug to a hurting world, dear reader.  Never.  Yes –sometimes you’ll be pushed away but the times you aren’t are so very sweet.

You have read this article with the title Bobs Furniture weekly update post for Friday, October 25, 2013. You can bookmark this page URL http://i-is-another.blogspot.com/2013/10/bobs-furniture-weekly-update-post-for.html. Thanks!
Write by: Dj Ganden - Friday, October 25, 2013

Comments "Bobs Furniture weekly update post for Friday, October 25, 2013"

Post a Comment