Coconis finishes expansion
Retailer adds warehouse, remodels showroom
By Gerri Hunt -- Furniture Today, March 26, 2006
South Zanesville, Ohio — Realizing that retailer Coconis Furniture was bursting at its seams, owners Randy and Paul Coconis knew they had to make a change.
Now that the dust has settled after more than a year of construction, the brothers are proud of their new 30,000-square-foot warehouse and remodeled 65,000-square-foot showroom.
"We needed more warehouse and a dock prep area," said Randy Coconis, president. And the larger sales floor let the company bring in new lines, he added.
Coconis spent $2 million to build a warehouse next to the store. It gives the retailer nearly triple the capacity of the former in-store warehouse, and allows the store to carry more imports.
The new warehouse is 38 feet high with as many as seven levels of furniture racks and 100,000 square feet of stocking capacity. Nine bays include two that are extra deep for bedding products. It also houses new offices and a shop for furniture repairs.
After emptying the old warehouse area, Coconis put $200,000 into remodeling and converting it to showroom space. Half of the area is now a clearance center, and the other half includes new space for several product categories, such as home office, motion, youth and ready-to-assemble. Existing departments were expanded and a Flexsteel Gallery was installed.
The retailer also added a Kid's Cottage play area, a café and two stone fireplaces.
It was the most comprehensive expansion and remodeling project in the company's 78-year history — a history that is shown in pictures displayed throughout the store.
Nick Coconis, grandfather of Randy and Paul, opened the business as Zanesville Furniture in 1927. The fourth generation also is involved — Randy's son Chad is a merchandise manager and his daughter Erin Shatto is a sales trainer.
The retailer has been in its current location of an entire city block since 1953. It is considering opening a second store in the Licking/Newark area, depending on how sales pan out with the expansion. So far, so good.
"January was a record month for us, and February was great," said Randy Coconis.
Last year's sales were $8.5 million, and are expected to reach $10 million this year. Coconis said the expansion of the current location should eventually push sales to $16 million to $18 million.
-
Gardner-White plans move to larger facility
Mar 6, 2012 -
Mor opens 22nd location
Dec 2, 2011 -
Leon & Lulu owners have plans for former theater
Oct 28, 2011 -
Nader's La Popular to open third store
Mar 23, 2010
Featured Company
-
Brandwise Inc.
Brandwise serves a model - not just an industry - by integrating, automating, and optimizing the entire sales channel, from wholesale Suppliers to their Reps and the Retailers they service. In short, our software helps Reps and Suppliers sell more and create... more
VIEW ALL GALLERIES
