Hank's & More Fine Furniture

“Staying on top of what's happening in the design field has always been the way we've grown our business,” says Cathy Browne, designer and marketing manager for Sherwood-based Hank's Furniture, Inc. “We listen to what our customers want, and then we do what we can to provide it.”

When Browne and her husband, Hank, began hearing from customers and designers that they were looking for classic furnishings from well-respected manufacturers like Bernhardt, Henredon and Kincaid, they realized that they could provide a one-stop-shop carrying an expanded range of furniture lines as well as rugs, lamps, mirrors and other decorative accessories.

The resulting 75,000-square-foot store, Hank's & More Fine Furniture, opened last fall in West Little Rock, and has been surprising customers ever since. “People are excited by the depth of the resources we offer here,” says Browne, “from the Thomasville Design Center with over 1,000 fabrics to the extensive rug gallery that's the only direct import resource in the state.”

While the various galleries in the store display a broad range of each manufacturer's offerings, customers also have access to a company's full product line via the Internet. “You can sit down with a salesperson at a computer monitor in our design area and literally view every product made by these manufacturers,” says Browne. “And because we're a gallery dealer, if we order something for you, it arrives faster and the prices are better.”

Designers on staff are available to guide customers through the wide variety of furniture styles and accessories offered—a process that Browne says is aided by their intensive training. “We attend seminars and markets and stay current with what's new in the design field,” says Browne. “Our staff is extremely well-informed about our range of products.” She notes that interior designers and others in the home industry often use the store as a resource as well. “We've put in place specialized programs for professionals in the home design field so that we can work together,” says Browne. “We consider ourselves partners with the design community.”

Paying attention to all the details of what makes a shopping experience pleasant, Browne and her husband included in the store a comfortable café where clients can enjoy specialty coffee drinks and fresh-baked cookies. “We named it Café Lulu after Hank's mother, who was a very gracious woman and a large influence on his life,” says Browne, “and it gives our customers a place to rest and review catalogs or just slow down during a hectic day.”

That kind of attention to detail has resulted in a highly successful launch for the new store, which Browne says confirms the necessity of paying attention to customer's needs. “Our mantra is to do whatever it takes,” she adds, “and in taking this step to offer our customers more, we've had a wonderful reception.”