Pocono News Section

Furniture Store Finds New Niche

Furniture Store Finds New Niche - Monday, December 1, 2008 at 3:54PM EST

EAST STROUDSBURG - As the housing market failed, less people needed to buy furniture. That's putting many stores out of business but not Rosen's Furniture and Mattress Outlet. The company has been in the Poconos for 90 years and the owner says its adapted to all sorts of economies and will survive this downturn by adapting.
The outlet will close after Monday. There's not much furniture left there because customers like Gary and Grace Blackman snatched up all the deals.

Grace laughed, "[I bought] a sofa recliner, a grandfather clock, a curio cabinet, two end tabled, two lamps, another coffee table, an end table, a dinette set." Then her husband added, "That's about it. "

The couple spent, and saved, thousands of dollars during the closing sale at Rosen's Furniture and Mattress Outlet in Stroudsburg.

Once Rosens clears out the rest of the place, they're not going out of business, they're just going in to a new kind of business.

"We're gonna have real quality furniture at really good buys," said owner Carmen Valleri.

He plans to split the building into three sections. He will lease two of them and keep one for his new business, called "Weekend Furniture Bargains."

Valleri explained, "You have to have to look new. You have to look fresh. You have to act fresh."

It will only be open Fridays through Sundays. "It's first come, first serve, whatever is here, there's no ordering," said Valleri.

People who want more specific furniture can shop at the main Rosen's store. That is also being renovated to be more inviting.

"You have to adapt, you have to find out what people are hungry for," said Valleri.

The changes will help the company save about 25-percent of its operating cost. And Valleri hopes they will keep customers like Gary and Grace coming back, no matter what happens to the economy.

In the last year Rosen's has had to lay off about two dozen workers. They worked mostly in the warehouse and delivery departments. The company plans to hire a few sales people who have a good eye for design.