By By JESSICA SIEFF / Niles Daily Star
One by one, the country's economy has dealt its share of blows to the big investments of consumers, sending numerous bottom lines to the mat with the thud of a heavyweight champion.
This year, car sales, consumer credit and home sales have all felt the pain of recession – the effects spreading down the line.
So while the credit crunch might curb spending and the fall of the automotive industry means fewer newer cars on America's roads, when it comes to the country's homes – that means home furniture and furnishing stores are also feeling the pinch.
And for Pamela Anderson and Elaine Fischer, co-owners of Niles' Creative Home Furniture, which has been known for much of its life as Linville's Furniture Co., it's been one bumpy year.
"This year has really been a challenge," Fischer said. "Timing for us, if you want it in a word, really sucks."
It was January of 2008 when she and Anderson took over the business formerly known as Linville's Furniture. It was the beginning of what would be a virtual freeze of consumer spending as the economy its spiral in recession.
"We didn't know it was going to take a dive," said Anderson. "By December we were really feeling it."
Creative Home Furniture had already seen its share of challenges around that time. When the former owner changed the name of the store and then moved its location to its current spot at 2607 S. 11th St., there was no formal announcement or fan fair. Anderson and Fischer speculate that it significantly impacted the business' already established customer base.
Still, the two hung on, offering home accents, decor, living room, dining room, bedroom and children's furniture even carpet, flooring and design services.
And they continue to do whatever it takes to keep the business going. They've moved the familiar trucks, still brandishing the Linville's logo, to the front of the parking lot in an effort to draw in those who possibly think they went out of business long ago.
And they continue to offer more than just a place to see a few sofas and chairs.
"We sell off the floor or special order," Anderson said. "And custom orders. We have design services," and both she and Fischer put together their own floral accents, wreathes and arrangements that can be found all around the showroom floor.
Both owners said that their approach to being as much service to their customers is something they hope those customers see as a valuable alternative to bigger stores that can sometimes be less personable.
"We're not on commission," Anderson said. "So we don't bug you."
She and Fischer have a wealth of experience behind them. Anderson, who holds a degree in interior design, has been working in the industry for 25 years. Fischer has 15 under her belt for companies such as Norwalk, Whims &Wishes and Busk Brothers.
Both had been working for Linville's for years before taking over the store themselves and despite recent challenges, want to see the business succeed and see new and returning customers back in the showroom.
"We really are about the customers," Fischer said. "We're not going to sell them something they don't want… We give them personal attention without that commission backdrop… It's a very casual shopping experience."
And both Anderson and Fischer said Creative Home Furniture also presents competitive prices. Aside from the opportunity for a deal on some new furniture, the competitive pricing seems to create an opportunity for value within the city as well.
"Lately, a lot of customers have been saying, 'we want to keep the businesses in Niles,'" Anderson said.
If Creative Home Furniture can do just that and then some, both owners said they would love to see the possibility of providing jobs to those in need of work. "We'd love to grow, so we can offer more jobs because we would," Fischer said. "We just can't afford it.
"We have a lot more available to customers than what they see in the showroom," she added.
A showroom, both Anderson and Fischer said, that feels like home to them and their customers.
Creative Home Furniture is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.