Winans to focus on larger stores
By Clint Engel -- Furniture Today, February 23, 2004
RENO, Nev. — RENO, Nev. — Winans Furniture is closing its 30,000-square-foot Carson City store with an eye on expanding its two other showrooms in northern Nevada and opening a central distribution center.
The family-owned retailer is running a combined closing and expansion sale at all locations for the next 90 days or so, said Andrew Winans, president.
The company will focus on operating larger stores at the north and south ends of the market, maintaining a strong in-stock position and opening a consolidated warehouse, he said.
"We found the warehouse at our Carson store is just inadequate to get the job done," Winans said. He said consumers who shopped there have been migrating to the larger selection offered at Winans' 40,000-square-foot Reno store since it opened last year.
Winans is evaluating sites in the Reno area for an 80,000-square-foot warehouse that would replace the warehouses attached to the Carson and Reno stores. It expects to have a facility up and running by the time the Carson store shuts down.
Once that's in place, Winans will bump its Reno showroom to 70,000-75,000 square feet, a project expected to be completed this summer. Within 12 months, it plans to expand its Minden store, at the south end of the market, from 20,000 square feet of selling space to 30,000.
"By expanding Reno and not having the duplication in Carson, we can have a wider selection and more stock ready to go in the warehouse," Winans said.
He said it's too early to say whether the expansion will lead to additional suppliers, but noted that Winans would likely display more product.
With an even larger store in Reno, Winans said he company will be able to better capitalize on the big markets to the north, including Sparks, Nev.
The company is projecting sales of about $25 million this year, up from $16 million last year.
