James+James Close To Opening First Retail Store

Springdale furniture company James+James is planning to open its first retail store Aug. 29, kicking off the Labor Day weekend.

“We’ll have a grand opening event and hopefully keep the party going all weekend,” company owner James Smith said.

The 2,800-SF location is at 4217 S. Thompson St. in Springdale. Brett Hash is the owner of the property that previously housed Mattress King.

The store will feature the company’s handmade furniture, but will also introduce several lines of home décor and lighting into the company’s offerings.

“It will be more of a full-service furniture store,” Smith said.

Kelsey Ray has been hired as the new store manager, and New Creature of Rogers is handling the design work inside the new space.

Founded in 2011 out of a garage, James+James sells its products to customers throughout the country from its 7,800-SF warehouse/headquarters on West Randall Wobbe Lane in Springdale.

Smith said the company had more than $150,000 in sales in July.

Besides the first retail store coming online, Smith said an e-commerce site is in final testing, and every in-store item will be available online with free shipping anywhere in the United States.

He said customers will also be able to customize furniture by using in-store tablets.

“We’re working hard to make the in-store experience very unique,” he said.

James+James, in its current state, is strictly a web-based business, but all orders are taken over the telephone. Customers pay half the order cost when ordering, and the remainder due upon delivery.

James+James offers group pickup from a central location on a set delivery date, with several dates scheduled each month in multiple cities throughout 15 states.

Or, for $200 per order, customers who live within 20 miles of a pickup site can arrange home delivery.

Smith said his staff is working with five or six different vendors for the store’s curated items, and the store will be open seven days a week.