[madeleinem1]

Changes could be difficult, until we know the real truth and details it normally is a pleasant surprise.
PLEASE let's wait and see....
Purchased lots of furniture and they will hold..

[ilovetv]

What would be nice......is if the buyers of the stores would continue them as they are, with the same brands and names on the stores (Southern Lifestyles and Showcase Direct) indefinitely into the future. This is what Southwest did when they bought Airtran, and they have s-l-o-w-l-y accustomed the customers to the eventual merger.

Looking at the City Furniture website, I see lots of young, "urban chic" styled furniture, and not much "coastal" and "Tommy Bahama" styling as TV residents are accustomed to seeing/buying at these two stores. If the buyers close the current stores and remake them as City Furniture, they're going to lose a LOT of customers.

I vote "Leave them as they are, name and all" for at least a couple of years.

[justjim]

Closing "hits" the Daily Sun this morning---page C1. According to the paper, "throughout the transition, Southern Lifestyles and Showcase Direct will fulfill all orders and maintain all warranties on products.". The two new "City Furniture Stores" are expected to open prior to Thansgiving and carry some of the same brands plus other brands.

[dp000]

As a retired sales consultant at Southern Lifestyles it is a travesty the way management has treated their employees. Yesterday I talked with one of my ex associates and they haven't been told anything by management. He said that management had told the employees that they were in talks with City Furniture but nothing else and to keep quite about it. They did the same thing when they closed down SLS at La Plaza Grande and opened Show Case Direct. Everything was top secret but of course Talk of The Villages new about it.
Just don't understand SLS management with the waste of money they have thrown away by moving a very profitable store at La Plaza Grande and moving it to LSL and just a couple of months ago moving it again. Then selling it.
It was a great store with totally profession employees. I wish them well.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by Carla B

I agree with Buzzy. Never found anything to buy at any City Furniture in South Fl. I would think the developer was making money on his furniture business, especially furnishing the lifestyle visit cottages.

Makes me think that the end is coming to development and endless empty houses won't need furniture soon. Also the end of life style visits, and model homes. AND decorating new recreation centers beautifully and without mark up. It was a great time for selling furniture for sure.

And end for building maybe, but each day is wonderful for us Villagers.

[janeg]

yes.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by janeg

yes.

???

[justjim]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

Makes me think that the end is coming to development and endless empty houses won't need furniture soon. Also the end of life style visits, and model homes. AND decorating new recreation centers beautifully and without mark up. It was a great time for selling furniture for sure.

And end for building maybe, but each day is wonderful for us Villagers.

Southern Lifestyles had a good run but looking into the future they can see LESS furniture going out the door. I'm amazed at the number of new people that I talk to that purchased most of their furniture on-line.

Our salesperson told us a couple days ago that TV would no longer have a "model Center", rather the sales representatives will be taking prospects to individual furnished homes scattered around the new Villages.

It appears that the Developer is planning for Build-Out in just a couple of short years----time will tell!

[kellyjam]

Originally Posted by Portia

I just called Showcase Direct about the 5 yr warranty we just paid for on our new furniture and was told it would still be honored and that the staff that works there were all just told yesterday about the store being sold...

I know they are going to honor the warranties but what about the agreement if you didn't make a claim at the end of the warranty you would get a credit for the amount of the warranty towards a new purchase?

[kellyjam]

Originally Posted by cbh1975

I had the same question. All post #1 says is "by November." This is not a date. It's an approximate time frame. It would be helpful to know if it's going to happen at the end of October or sometime in November. If November, will it be closer to the 1st or the 30th?

According to today's Villages Daily Sun Showcase Direct is closing at the end of the month, ( which I assume is September) and City furniture will open the first store at that site in mid November after renovations.

[ilovetv]

The name "City Furniture" carries with it an urban tone, when so many of us came here to get out of urban metro areas and enjoy a bit of southern, more leisurely and gracious ambience.

"Southern Lifestyles" conveys a message of quiet relaxation. So now it's being replaced with "City Furniture".....which sounds way too much like the name of two BARS here (City Fire).....and they are raucous and loud.

I hope somebody in authority is reading this thread. It's all too common nowadays for large businesses to not listen to the customers.

[jgbama]

Originally Posted by justjim

Wife and I purchased a lot of furniture from Family Furniture U.S. 441 in Leesburg----it use to be Furniture Country and they are on the right side just before the Airport. A very nice store with terrific salespeople.

We bought sofa and love seat from them. Great product and great staff.

[pooh]

Originally Posted by ilovetv

The name "City Furniture" carries with it an urban tone, when so many of us came here to get out of urban metro areas and enjoy a bit of southern, more leisurely and gracious ambience.

"Southern Lifestyles" conveys a message of quiet relaxation. So now it's being replaced with "City Furniture".....which sounds way too much like the name of two BARS here (City Fire).....and they are raucous and loud.

I hope somebody in authority is reading this thread. It's all too common nowadays for large businesses to not listen to the customers.

Making assumptions based on a name just seems wrong in my estimation. Haven't yet looked at info on the newest store to set up in TV, but if it isn't one I like, there are many other stores in the area.

[REDCART]

Originally Posted by justjim

Southern Lifestyles had a good run but looking into the future they can see LESS furniture going out the door... It appears that the Developer is planning for Build-Out in just a couple of short years----time will tell!

When Southern Lifestyles moved to Canal St. you have to wonder why they just didn't shut the door then. It should have been obvious to management that they weren't going to sell very much furniture from catalogs. If that were the case, all furniture retail stores would be closed and sales would be exclusively via the Internet. Now having said that, I wonder what the industry stats are for Internet sales of furniture?

[Futurevillager2013]

We came in July bought a home and during our stay bought a living room set and dining room set to be delivered in October. Bought with Showcase Direct now that I hear they are closing I am worried that my furniture will be delivered when I need it. I just called them and they said that it will as promised. I'm still very concerned. Since we took out a credit card with them our only requirement was a down payment of $284.00. I'm thinking I should cancel the entire order. Looking for opinions or is anyone else in this situation ??