Three years after storms, furniture market has stabilized, dealers say

After the frenzy of activity during 2006 following hurricanes Katrina and Rita, sales at furniture stores in the Tri-parishes returned to a normal pace, say storeowners in the area.

“Sales were way up two years ago,” said Sue Talbot, co-owner of Emile’s Furniture and Appliances in Thibodaux. “Sales have been average so far this year, however.”

The high price of gasoline has forced Emile’s to raise its home delivery fees, but the store’s relatively large 23-member workforce has not been affected. The store has been in business since 1960.

Sister furniture stores Landmark and Hart in Houma have also seen sales become level. The two stores, which maintain the same local ownership, have by far the largest combined warehouses and showrooms in the Tri-parish area.

Landmark also has the biggest staff at 33.

“Compared to last year, it’s stable,” said Landmark store manager Doug Takewell. “After Katrina, it was a madhouse.”

Takewell said the high cost of gasoline “affects everything in sight, not just deliveries.”

The two stores were established 12 years apart, with the slightly smaller Hart appearing first in 1988.

Louis Mohana, owner of Louis Mohana Furniture in Bourg, said he has experienced the same spike and come down.

“We were very busy after Katrina, but that has pretty much leveled off at this point,” he said.

During the peak, Mohana employed 40 people. Today his staff is around 32.

Grizzaffi Appliance & Furniture Co. in Morgan City has seen an influx of new customers from Belle Chasse and storm-ravaged areas of the New Orleans area.

“In the past year, sales have been above average, but in the last three weeks sales have flattened out,” said owner Frank Grizzaffi.

The economic stimulus checks received by local taxpayers have not helped boost business.

“We haven’t felt anything,” replied Grizzaffi.

The effect of higher gasoline prices also has not been felt by businesses as much as on customer spending.

“It costs us more to deliver furniture, but we haven’t marked up our prices to pay for it,” stated Mohana. “We did increase the delivery fee by $10 to cover the costs.”

“I assume it’s affected our customers because this month sales have flattened,” Grizzaffi said.

Grizzaffi is more concerned about insurance costs affecting his business than either gas prices or consumer spending habits.

“We were recently dropped by C-N-A, which puts me going with Louisiana Citizens,” he stated. “My premiums are $16,000 now and they’re going up to $38,000. That’s a pretty (steep) jump, huh?”