Continental Furniture

Retailers large and small are experiencing "Peace of Mind" thanks to STORIS Management Systems. Low-to-mid price point retailer, Continental Furniture, based in Chicago, attributes STORIS with allowing for better control over all aspects of the family business. Gardner Mill Company in West Jordan, Utah, says its specialty stores have benefited from "the tremendous efficiency" STORIS has provided. And Minnesota-based Becker Furniture World credits incredible sales growth in part to the STORIS system.

Before STORIS was implemented eight years ago at the 53-year-old Continental, Vice President and second generation Gary Portugal says "most everything was done by hand." A system designed by a Chicago friend assisted with inventory and accounts receivable, but Portugal says it was very important for Continental to have a fully integrated system.

"From Point of Sale, the system then ties everything together - Inventory, General Ledger, Purchase Orders, all of it," says Portugal. "We want to be on the cutting edge and keep up with technology. STORIS saves us time, is efficient, and provides us with reports that we didn't have before. Everything is tracked. STORIS is definitely part of our infrastructure and is helping us grow."

Continental had two retail stores and a distribution center in the Chicago area, but was able to open a third retail store this month in a suburb of Chicago. Angie Seeley, Vice President of Gardner Mill, echoes Portugal's sentiments: "We have been live one full year now. Since January we have been running smoothly, and our retail sales have grown significantly. With STORIS, we have so much information available at the click of a button. STORIS makes our life easy."

"Becker Furniture World went live on the STORIS system in early 2000 and sales have grown nearly 80 percent in that time," says J.R. Wilson, Chief Operating Officer at the Becker, MN-based, two-store operation.

Wilson adds that the benefits have been many - inventory levels and turns are under close scrutiny, product movement and profitability is easy to monitor, the payroll process has improved, and customers are provided with a greater level of service.

"Peace of Mind comes from knowledge," says Wilson, "knowing where issues exist, where you are strong, and where you can focus your efforts to improve."

Portugal says that when it came time to find a new system, STORIS was a name he and his brother, Mitchell, recognized. "It's a very visible name - in trade magazines and at the High Point market. Plus, someone we know in the home furnishings industry recommended STORIS to us. They gave a good presentation, but we did our homework. In the end, it was an easy decision to make."

Portugal adds that their experience with STORIS representatives has been good as well. "Personally, I like them a lot. They are very involved, and they are readily available when we call for support. Plus, they're very enhancement-oriented. They are always coming out with the latest and greatest technology." Seeley concludes, "STORIS has incredible people who are friendly, patient and helpful. When shopping for a system, we knew we would be working with a company for the long term and knew STORIS's philosophies and capabilities were something we could grow on together."

"Peace of Mind' for us derives from the ability to obtain accurate facts and figures, which enable us to plan ahead. Since software is not tangible, we trust STORIS for all the accurate figures to assist us in running our day to day business. It's also great that STORIS is a 'one-stop shopping' company which ties all aspects of our business functions together."