S.C.'s Maynard's remodels, freshens Belton store
By Clint Engel -- Furniture Today, May 26, 2003
Belton, S.C. — Maynard's Home Furnishings has remodeled the exterior and about half the interior of its 24,000-square-foot store here, freshening its look to help stimulate a boost in business its owner hopes is on the way.
The Belton store was built in 1951 with large plate-glass windows and had a 1950s–1960s strip shopping center look, said Rex Maynard, president.
Now, it boasts an updated stucco storefront, a large black awning under its sign and a row of narrow windows with mullions and faux shutters for more of a residential feel.
Inside, while the midpriced to high-end retailer didn't make any vendor changes, it did update its displays, opening sight lines by removing interior walls and changing 10,000 square feet or so near the entrance to feature more upholstery and less case goods.
Maynard said the company is aiming to wow the consumer at the front door with colorful, fashion-forward upholstery near the entrance. Upholstery is a strong margin category for the retailer, he said, and something the consumer is likely to buy more frequently.
Maynard hired Connie Post Cos. to develop and design the new look and layout for the store, which is about 35 miles south of Greenville, S.C. He estimated the project cost about $250,000. The store has received good reviews from consumers, and "I'm personally very pleased with the way it looks," he said.
He added, however, that business has been slow since the war with Iraq and it could be a while before his refurbished store sees the sales uptick that he expects.
"But it's something we needed to do," he said. "When business comes back, we're better positioned."
Two-store, family-owned Maynard's had sales of about $4 million last year, he said, with about 60% from the Belton location. Maynard said he would eventually like to see a 15% to 20% increase in sales as a result of the refurbishing.
Key Maynard's suppliers include Harden, Durham, Sumter Cabinet, Hekman, La-Z-Boy, Woodmark, Park Place, King Hickory, Taylor King, Bradington-Young and Jamison bedding.
The company celebrated the renovation late last month with a golf outing and party that drew about 250 people.
Maynard said the refurbished Belton store has a similar look and feel to Maynard's newer store at Interstate 85 about 10 miles south of Greenville. Maynard's acquired that location, formerly Country Manor Furniture, in 2000 and remodeled it two years ago (another Post project).
The stores pull consumers from upstate South Carolina and northeast Georgia.
