more news on city furniture in the villages
 

from the daily commercial:
Major furniture retailer plans 2 stores in The Villages - Daily Commercial: Money

I hope the new retailer hires the former employees of the two stores. Sales, service and especially the delivery crew have been wonderful.

My daughter served some of the Southern Lifestyle folks yesterday (one was retiring). From the sound of it, they don't think they're going to have jobs when the new owners take over. I hope that's not the case. These are good people who have done a good job.

I spoke with several salespeople at Showcase Direct this weekend and they told me they will be offered positions with City Furniture and some will continue working for The Villages in some capacity.

My sales person Chris at Showcase direct told me she was going to be working for City Furniture when she no longer has a position with Showcase. I certainly hope so she was great at helping us with our furniture choices a few months ago.

I, personally, cannot imagine a company spending this sort of money to buy a business in TV and then letting all the staff go. If they do that they will have to start hunting around for replacement staff and training new staff.

I would imagine they will keep the existing staff and gradually weed out those they don't think should be selling furniture.

But, this is just my opinion and you know what someone's opinion is worth:icon_wink:

there is always going to be change. nothing is permanent and we all adjust to the new reality.

I was surprised with my daughter's comments. I had assumed (and we know what assume means) that the employees would just transfer over to the new company -- only makes good business sense, right?

Maybe this group was not being offered a place for a reason? Who knows. Or maybe they were just unhappy that they wouldn't be working for Southern Lifestyles and possible loss of seniority?

Tell your daughter to just wait and see what happens. Been through many changes in the corporate world and the first emotion is fear of what is going to happen to "me". When everything shakes out she will more than likely be fine and have a job - I certainly hope so.

Red's daughter served (waitress) those who were lamenting losing their job. She doesn't work for the furniture company. But let's hope all employees are treated fairly.

is it not possible that city furniture has there own staff who might be willing to relocate to work in the villages stores? such transfers would provide sales associates already trained in the city furniture way and familiar with all of their sales/return/repair policies and procedures. there is comfort in
corporate loyalty.

Relocation of employees is prohibitively expensive, especially for floor sales assistants. Also, where would they get this relocated staff?, I have not heard that they are closing a store to come here, only that they are adding TV store to their list of stores they now own.

Unfortunately, I know too much about take overs of businesses, and if I am correct they are likely to keep the sales staff they want and need, they will bring in their own CFO to make sure the books are in order and he will probably only stay for a month or two and then hand that over to a reliable trusted person. They will probably bring in a high level sales person to teach the sales staff in their own way how they want their product sold, and they may well have managers in their organization who wish to relocate (but I doubt that), but I think they will keep people from this store to manage it for them.

The major problem with this type of sale is FEAR, people will get into the break room and say they have heard this that and the other, and none of it will be true. Believe me NO ONE knows what is going to happen except the people from TV who are handling the sale from this end, and the people from City who are handling it from their end. Unfortunately it is a waiting game and it is so stressful for the employees involved, I really feel for them.

I would add one more thing - DON'T talk to customers about the changes. There will be many people who want to discuss it etc. etc., with the sales staff. Don't get drawn in, you do not want anyone to hear you talking about TV or City at this time.

New owners need to realize that "loyalty to brand" is not the only thing that established customers come back for, knowing and trusting the sales people is just as important.

I guess I'll never get to cash in my no use no loose warranty

a salesperson told me yesterday that the no use no loose warranties are still going to be honored. She also told me she is staying on at the new store.