The Real Pros and Cons of Opening a Furniture Store
- Eva Wenner
- Jul 8
- 6 min read
As the showroom manager at First & Main Design Market, I get to see the beauty of this business every day — the finished rooms, the happy clients, the creative energy, the fabrics, the furniture, the big “yes” moments when a piece finally brings a space together.
But I also see the behind-the-scenes reality.
Running a furniture store and interior design showroom is not just about picking pretty things. It is inventory, logistics, staffing, vendor relationships, client expectations, moving parts, emotional decisions, and a lot of problem-solving.
So, I sat down with Chelsea and Kevin Coryell, the owners of First & Main Design Market, to ask them what it was really like to open a furniture store, what they would do differently, and what advice they would give to other entrepreneurs thinking about opening their own space.
Their story is a good reminder that the dream is worth honoring — but it also needs to be built with clear eyes.
How First & Main Design Market Began
Before opening First & Main, Chelsea and Kevin had already lived a lot of life.
After moving 13 times across the country during Kevin’s Navy career as a pilot, they eventually settled in Washington state, Chelsea’s home. Kevin had retired from the Navy, and Chelsea had spent years working as a consultant for furniture stores, learning the business from the inside.
Opening a showroom was not an easy or casual decision. It was a big leap.
When they finally received approval to lease the space in downtown Bothell, things moved quickly. Very quickly.
They had two weeks from approval to opening.
Two weeks to get the showroom ready. Two weeks of long days, heavy lifting, ordering, arranging, cleaning, organizing, planning, and preparing for a grand opening.
That was May 2019.
And of course, when they built their business plan, they did not exactly pencil in a worldwide pandemic less than a year later.
But here we are, seven years later — still here, still growing, and stronger than ever.
The Pros of Opening a Furniture Store
There are definitely beautiful parts of owning a furniture store, especially when the business is rooted in design, service, and community.
One of the biggest rewards is being able to create a physical space where people can experience design in real life. Clients can sit on the sofa, feel the fabrics, compare finishes, see scale, and imagine how something could live in their home. That is something online shopping simply cannot replace.
There is also something incredibly special about helping people live better in their homes. Furniture and design are personal. We are not just selling a chair or a dining table. We are helping create the room where a family gathers, where someone rests after a long day, where holidays happen, where life is lived.
When I asked Chelsea what has made opening their own space feel worth it, she talked about the joy of helping people live better, bringing community together, and helping others grow.
She also mentioned an article by Jodi Kantor about how successful and happy people often find meaning by connecting their craft with a real need in the world. That idea really resonated with her. For Chelsea, the “craft” is design, furniture, creativity, and service. The “need” is helping people create homes that support their lives — while also creating a space where employees, clients, vendors, and the community can connect.
That is the part that makes the hard days feel meaningful.
Another pro is the ability to build something that reflects your values. At First & Main, Chelsea and Kevin have been able to choose vendors they believe in, create a showroom experience that feels warm and welcoming, and build a team around creativity and personal service.
There is also pride in being part of a downtown community. Being a brick-and-mortar business means people know where to find you. You are not just a website or a phone number. You are part of the rhythm of the neighborhood.
The Cons No One Should Ignore
Now for the honest part: opening and running a furniture store is hard.
Very hard.
One of the biggest challenges is inventory. Furniture is expensive, and keeping a showroom looking fresh takes constant investment. Pieces get moved, sold, damaged, discontinued, reordered, and rearranged. You need enough inventory to inspire people, but not so much that cash is tied up in pieces that are not moving.
Inventory maintenance is also real. A showroom is not static. It has to be cleaned, styled, updated, priced, tagged, photographed, and cared for. Every vignette takes time. Every floor move takes labor. Every new piece has to be received, inspected, placed, and worked into the overall story of the showroom.
Another challenge is that there are a lot of moving parts. Orders, lead times, freight, damages, vendor communication, client updates, deliveries, installs, invoices, and follow-ups all have to be managed. One sofa order can involve a designer, a vendor, a freight company, a receiver, a delivery team, a client, and multiple schedule changes.
It is a lot.
Chelsea and Kevin also shared that managing a team of creative, emotional designers is both rewarding and challenging. Designers care deeply. They are creative, personal, and invested in their work, which is a wonderful thing — but it also means leadership requires patience, communication, coaching, and emotional awareness.
A furniture store is not just a retail business. It is a people business.
And people businesses require a lot of heart.
The Reality of Competing Today
One of the biggest pieces of advice Chelsea shared was also the most honest: she does not recommend opening a furniture store just because you are an interior designer.
That may sound surprising, but it makes sense.
Being a talented designer and running a profitable furniture showroom are two very different things.
A designer may love sourcing beautiful pieces, creating rooms, and helping clients. But owning a store means taking on inventory risk, payroll, rent, insurance, marketing, bookkeeping, vendor management, client service, freight issues, damages, staffing, and constant decision-making.
The headaches and stress can outweigh the happy moments if you do not have the right coaching, systems, and support.
Chelsea also pointed out that there is a reason so many brick-and-mortar stores are closing. It is difficult to compete with fast furniture online, big box stores, and customers who are used to comparing prices instantly from their phones.
Local furniture stores have to offer something different. Better service. Better quality. Better design support. Better experience. Better relationships. A reason for people to choose local instead of clicking “add to cart.”
That is not impossible — but it is not easy.
What Chelsea and Kevin Would Tell Entrepreneurs
For anyone thinking about opening their own furniture store or showroom, the advice is honest and practical:
Know your customer.
Understand your numbers.
Do not underestimate how much money inventory will require.
Be prepared for long hours and constant problem-solving.
Choose your location carefully.
Build strong vendor relationships.
Create systems before you think you need them.
Get coaching, mentorship, or guidance from people who understand the business side, not just the design side.
And most importantly, understand that you need more than pretty furniture.
You need a clear point of view, a strong team, a real reason for customers to come to you, and the ability to keep going when things get difficult.
Because they will get difficult.
Would They Do It Again?
I think the honest answer is yes — but not because it was easy.
They would do it again because First & Main has become more than a furniture store. It has become a place where clients come for help, designers grow in their craft, vendors become partners, and the community gathers.
It has become a place with a story.
From opening in two weeks, to navigating a pandemic, to continuing to grow seven years later, Chelsea and Kevin have built something that reflects resilience, creativity, and a lot of hard work.
The pros are real.
The cons are real too.
But when a business is rooted in purpose, community, and service, the work can become something bigger than the daily stress.
A Final Thought
If you are dreaming about opening your own furniture store, go into it with both excitement and honesty. Learn everything you can. Ask hard questions. Know your numbers. Find mentors.
Understand the market. And make sure the business you are building is connected to a real need.
And if you are a customer reading this, please know that supporting local businesses truly matters.
Every purchase, every referral, every review, every kind word, and every time you choose to shop local helps keep small businesses alive. It allows us to keep creating beautiful spaces, employing local people, supporting our community, and doing the work we love.
Your support is greatly appreciated — more than you know.
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