Blog - Page 3

Best Beds and Mattresses for College Students Wednesday, August 31, 2022

If you’re a college student in the market for a new mattress, the task may seem as simple as testing out a few at a local mattress store. However, once you start researching the best mattress for you, you’ll soon realize just how many factors there are to consider, and Home Furniture Plus Bedding and Mattress Center has an answer to all of your concerns! 

Dorm Living

If you are living in a dorm, your best option is to get yourself a twin XL mattress. It will save space while giving you the length that you need for a good night's sleep. Home Furniture Plus Bedding and Mattress Center has a wide assortment of twin xl mattresses for you to choose from! Whether it’s a Purple mattress, a Nectar mattress, a Sealy mattress, or any of our other name-brand mattresses, we are confident that we have the perfect twin xl mattress to get you through the year!

Dorms are notorious for not having the best air conditioning units. It is hard to get the sleep that is essential to your academic success when you are sweating all night. Home Furniture Plus Bedding also offers cooling pillows that will keep your temperature regulated to help get you through the night. 

Apartment Living

If you are a college student living in an apartment, you tend to have a bit more space. Home Furniture offers a wide inventory of daybeds for you to choose from. If you want to make a small space, like an off-campus apartment, serve multiple functions, you might benefit from a daybed that easily transitions into a couch to save space when not functioning as a bed. 

If you are looking for a mattress that offers a painless delivery, consider a Purple mattress that gets delivered to your doorstep in a box. Remove the stress of carrying a massive mattress up a flight of stairs and getting it through doorways and try out a mattress in a box! 

Mattress Options for College Students Available at Home Furniture Plus Bedding 

Don’t put the pressure of choosing the sleeping arrangement directly onto your shoulders. Let us help! Stop into any of our 8 Mattress Center locations across East Texas and Louisiana, or contact us with any questions you may have about bedding for college students.

Thrisha Augustine - Employee Spotlight Saturday, August 13, 2022

Thrisha’s Journey Here:

Thrisha Augustine, an Assembly Specialist, has been a team member at our Lafayette, LA Distribution Center since September 2006. Thrisha’s skills ensure that our customers receive attention to detail and top-quality inspection and assembly. Before joining our team, Thrisha worked as an inspector at Fruit of the Loom in Saint Martinville, LA.

 

What do you like best about your job?

“I like what I do. I assemble and prep the customer’s furniture as if it were my own. The job can be a challenge at times, but I like challenges. I love the people I work with and Home Furniture is a good company to work for.”

 

Johnathan Savoy, Delivery Operations Manager, adds, “Thrisha is a joy to work alongside with. Her authenticity is unmatched daily. She is self-motivated and takes pride in making sure the furniture she assembles is top caliber. She can always be relied upon and demonstrates a willingness to help others.”

 

When Thrisha is not at work:

“Spending time with my family is the main thing. I love our cookouts, weddings, and I love dancing!”

 

The ONE thing most co-workers may not know:

“Back in the ’90s, I was able to be on stage watching ‘Maze featuring Frankie Beverly’ perform in Baton Rouge!”

 

Advice for anyone wishing to join our Home Furniture Team:

“Working here is like a second family. Be positive, and when you work hard, you get rewarded.”

Born and raised in Lafayette, LA Thrisha resides in Parks, LA with her fiancé, Germaine, and her daughter, Germani, of whom they are extremely proud of her attending Southern University in Baton Rouge, LA.

Rebecca Boudreaux - Employee Spotlight Sunday, July 24, 2022

Rebecca’s Journey Here: 

Heeding the wise advice from a neighbor, Rebecca Boudreaux filled out an application for a sales position for Home Furniture in Baton Rouge, LA, and as of October 2004, she has been a top-producing salesperson with us ever since.  She currently is a team member at our Julia Aubin, Baton Rouge location. 

Prior to joining our team, Rebecca was a Delta Airlines flight attendant for 8 years. She also has a bachelor's degree in Pre Med with a minor in Biochemistry from Southeastern Louisiana University. 

What do you like best about your job? 

“I like people. I like helping people. I believe in the Home Furniture way of ‘If you make a friend, you’ll make a fortune!” 

Charles George, store manager, adds, “Rebecca is a true professional.  She handles every customer with the same level of respect, courtesy, and kindness.  Her customers love her and she enjoys working for them.  She has a clientele that will last because she goes the extra mile for her clients.  She even ensures the mailman and the FedEx driver have a cold bottle of water in the summer and a hot cup of coffee in the winter.  That’s the mark of a true professional.” 

When Rebecca is not at work: 

“My husband, Karl, and I love nature! We love to visit state parks where we fish and hike. There have been some days that we’ve hiked over 30 miles!” 

The ONE thing most co-workers may not know: 

“I donate monthly to five different charities, including various animal shelters and food banks. I also prepare ‘Take Care’ packages that I hand out to the homeless.” 

Advice for anyone wishing to join our Home Furniture Team: 

“As long as you keep the primary goal of helping customers, then Home Furniture is the home for you.” 

Born in Baton Rouge, LA,  and raised in Loranger, LA, Rebecca currently resides in Gonzales, LA, with her husband, Karl, a professional drummer, along with their three dogs.

Home Gives Hope to St. Jude Wednesday, June 29, 2022

Updated June 30, 2022

Home Furniture Continues to Give Hope to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital 

“Thank you to everyone who put thought, energy, and creativity into this campaign! And thanks to everyone who donated! Your efforts will be a blessing to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital!"  from Jill Mills, Accounting & Home Furniture Outreach Coordinator.  

When April rolls around Jill Mills and her fellow employees at Home Furniture Plus Bedding kick off their annual St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital fundraising campaign.  This year the employees really rocked the effort by making one of the largest donations in the events history.  Each of the 8 store’s employees gave a tremendous effort and encouraged their customers, friends and families from Beaumont, Texas to Baton Rouge, Louisiana to join them in giving hope to the children of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.  

These are just a few quick facts about the incredible work that St Jude does: 

• Treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20% to more than 80% since it opened in 1962 
• St. Jude shares the breakthroughs it makes 
• Every child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists worldwide can use the knowledge to save thousands more children 
• Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing, or food  
• St. Jude is leading the way the world understands, treats, and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases 
• St Jude creates more clinical trials for cancer than any other children’s hospital and turns laboratory discoveries into lifesaving treatments that benefit patients 

Over the last 6 years, a total of $172,570.28 has been donated to St. Jude Children’s Hospital from customers, employees and company matches as part of Home Furniture’s annual fundraising campaign. On June 26, 2022, Madelyn Murphy, Development Specialist at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and a team from Home Furniture Plus Bedding participated in a virtual check presentation. The 2022 total donated was $40,007.16.

Employees of Home Furniture Plus Bedding have once again committed to supporting the incredible work performed at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. 

If you are interested in joining Home Furniture Plus Bedding’s efforts, visit any one of the 8 locations located in Lafayette LA, Baton Rouge LA, New Iberia LA, Lake Charles LA, Nederland TX and Beaumont TX.

#WeAreHomeFurniture, #StJude, #HomeGivesHope 

 

Cody Kendall - Employee Spotlight Saturday, June 25, 2022

Cody’s Journey Here:

Cody Kendall, a man whose actions speak for themselves, has been a member of the Home Furniture team at our Beaumont location since 2008. Since then, he has fulfilled each position in the warehouse. For the three and a half years, Cody has been the Warehouse Supervisor.

Before joining our team, Cody worked at a local competitor for two and a half years.

 What do you like best about your job?

“I like the responsibility of being a team leader. It’s very rewarding to see our team succeed and accomplish great things. We’re in a much better position than we used to be.”

Larry Domingue, Beaumont store manager, adds, “Cody has been a great addition to our store. He is a man of few words, but don’t let that fool you. Cody is very observant and in tune with what is going on in many areas around the store. As a delivery driver, Cody was who we utilized on the long-haul deliveries to Central and West Texas. He never complained, and customers always enjoyed him as much as we did. For many years, he excelled as the go-to person for long hauls or difficult stops. Three and a half years ago, we promoted him to a supervisory role. He continues to work very hard in his role. Cody is so very eager to learn new things and contribute more to the store’s success. Within the last few months, it has been a pleasure to see him emerging as an effective leader in our store. Cody is an essential, important member of our leadership team, and I’m glad he’s here!”

 When Cody is not at work:

“That’s easy: spending time with my family. I also enjoy hunting and fishing.”

Advice for anyone wishing to join our Home Furniture Team:

“Home Furniture is a place that will reward you if you work hard. It’s a great place for advancement. You may have to arrive earlier or stay later than everyone else, but if you work hard, you can get what you want.”

Cody was born in Orange, TX, and was raised in Vidor, TX, where he currently resides with his girlfriend, Lacy, and their two-year-old daughter, Kylie.

Home Furniture Plus Bedding - Executive Team 2022 Monday, May 30, 2022

Home Furniture Plus Bedding is very pleased to announce several key promotions. 
Each of these employees brings extensive experience, talent, and knowledge to their new role. 

Our new President is Dwayne Arceneaux. Dwayne has filled many roles within our company throughout the years, most recently serving as our Distribution Center Manager.  His primary focus will continue to be operations and logistics within our company, as he will also serve as our Vice President of Logistics.  Dwayne joined Home Furniture in 2000 and assisted in the opening of our first Baton Rouge store on Airline Highway.  Tony Kemp, our CEO, says “This promotion recognizes the significant contributions Dwayne has made to Home Furniture's leadership team and every employee.”  Dwayne previously served our company as Delivery Manager, Assistant Store Manager, Store Manager, and Distribution Center Manager.  As President, Dwayne will join our executive team which includes Karol Fleming-Shea, Owner/Chairman of the Board; Tony Kemp, Chief Executive Officer; Ross Dees, Chief Operating Officer/VP Stores and Sales; and Lori Berwick, Chief Financial Officer.

Nathan Smith has been named Vice-President of Merchandising and Marketing for Home Furniture Plus Bedding.  Nathan joined the company two years ago.  In that time, he has successfully worked through extremely uncertain and challenging times navigating an ever-changing furniture supply chain.  His efforts have been key to the tremendous success our company has experienced recently.  Nathan brings over 20 years of retail furniture experience to our team and is excited to lead the efforts of our stellar merchandising and marketing departments. 

Carleen Melancon has been named Co-DC Manager in charge of warehouse operations.  With 15 years of service to the Home Team, Carleen has always been a vital part of our Distribution Center management team.  Her performance has been key to the development and success of our fast-paced logistical operation.  Carleen is a consistent leader with unwavering loyalty and an unmatched work ethic.  We are confident she will continue to lead us in our future growth.

Faith Dorsey has been named Co-DC Manager in charge of delivery operations.  Faith joined our team in 2020 and brought years of warehouse operations experience with her.  Faith has been instrumental in helping our company navigate the home delivery challenges of the past couple of years and has led the reintroduction of our industry-leading Next Day Delivery Service.  Faith is assisted by Vicky Hargroder, our Delivery Office Manager, and Johnathan Savoy, our Delivery Operations Manager.

The best is yet to come.

Krystin Franco - Employee Spotlight Monday, May 30, 2022

Krystin’s Journey Here:

Krystin Franco has been with Home Furniture Plus Bedding in Lake Charles for two and half years working, full-time while maintaining a full-time college schedule in Accounting.

What do you like best about your job?

“I like the fact that everyone is very supportive and willing to help me with me working both inside the store at the counter as well as working next door in Accounting. I love how they all encourage me to succeed!”

Gene Bertrand, store manager, adds, “Having Krystin working in our store has been a key element to our success. There are many reasons for this, but the main thing being her determination to do the right thing.

As many of you are aware we have had a ‘whirlwind’ of business over the last year and a half, and Krystin has been in the middle of that whirlwind the entire time. It’s almost funny to say this, but it really doesn’t surprise me as to the excellent level of her work because that is just how good she really is. She is simply a great person to work with and she continues to learn and get better every day.

Even with all of that hard work and focus on display daily, one of the things about Krystin that really shines through is how much she cares for her niece Myla. Any time a conversation changes over to Myla, Krystin just lights up! It is usually a funny story or situation, but the way Krystin delivers that conversation fully conveys a message of who she really is.

She is also very focused on school and somehow manages a work/academic schedule that leaves neither side lacking excellence.

One more thing about her is her keen sense of humor. You ALWAYS have to be ready with Krystin around—because if you aren’t she’s going to cleverly slip in a ‘joke’ cleverly hidden as a ‘teaching moment’. Grammar, proper STORIS procedures, and ticket errors are her favorite targets and no one is safe!!

I’ve been at this job for a long time, and I’ve been fortunate to meet many really good, hard-working people that I’ve admired and been proud to work alongside. Krystin is definitely one of those people.

I look forward to seeing Krystin continue to grow both with our company as well as academically in her accounting field of study.”

 When Krystin is not at work:

“I really like to read, but these days, when I’m not at work, my free time is occupied with school and studying.”

 Advice for anyone wishing to join our Home Furniture Team:

“You must accept that the work can be demanding, but the work culture is unlike any other place. It’s a great team!”

Wil Weston, assistant store manager, adds, “What can I say about Krystin & her work journey since she has been here? It has been one amazing transformation from the beginning up to now. She truly cares what goes on with her co-workers as well as with the customer. She has been very enthusiastic about learning how Home Furniture operates from the front counter to the warehouse and even from a management standpoint. She is sweet and polite to everyone that encounters her. Her work ethic has been amazing. With her juggling a full-time school schedule and being a full-time employee, she has been able to perform at a high level without missing a beat. From the time I made her my lead, through ‘baptism by fire’ as we call it, she has grown from a young lady into a leader. I remember her saying, ‘Thanks for trusting me so much with the ladies at the front counter.’ Her passion for wanting to know more about the Home Furniture way has allowed her to adventure into our accounting department, which is her college major. Her future is bright in whatever path she chooses to go down. While she is here in the Lake Charles store, we like to call her our ‘Lil GG’ or ‘Wonder Woman.”

 Krystin currently resides in Sulphur, LA, where she was born and raised. She will be graduating in Accounting from McNeese State University in the Fall of 2023.

Living Room Sets for Small Spaces Wednesday, April 13, 2022

Picking out sensible furniture for small spaces, like an apartment, can be tricky. Not only do you have to choose pieces that fit your space, but you also should consider pieces that are versatile! Home Furniture Plus Bedding has the perfect living room set for your smaller space, and here are a few that we recommend! 

Sofa Set - Off White

The delightfully comfortable small profile sofa set brings a stunning addition to your home, while not taking up a ton of space! Choose an off-white linen-look upholstery that gives a sense of natural fibers that blend well with the accent pillows with hints of blues, greens, and golds. Crisply tailored roll arms and block feet, offer classic styling with comfort. Accent pillows are often included. Most Living Room Sofa Sets include a sofa, loveseat, and chair!

Sofa Set - Brown Tweed

Enhance your family room or entertainment room with a tranisitional style sofa set by Lane Home Furnishings! Choices include a soft and breathable brown tweed microfiber-polyester upholstery that is both stain and water resistant. Most transitional groups have appealing design features such as plush button tufted back cushions, comfy seat cushions and large toss pillows along with track arms for endless hours of entertaining without taking up the entire room!

POWER Reclining Sofa Set - Diamond Beige

Up your relaxation game with a POWER Reclining Sofa Set. Elevate your feet with the easy-to-use POWER controls and allow your mind to levitate on a cloud of relaxation. Customized positioning at the touch of a button allows you to lean back at your favorite angle. The popular and convenient pad over chaise design between seat and feet provides a continuous surface both for comfort and convenience. These reclining sets will take up a bit more space, but will still fit perfectly in a smaller area! 

Visit Home Furniture Plus Bedding

The friendly staff at Home Furniture Plus Bedding can help you get the right pieces that fit your small space perfectly. We are passionate about what we do because we understand the importance of good furniture pieces. Visit one of our eight locations across East Texas and Louisiana, or contact us today!

David Texada - Employee Spotlight Monday, March 21, 2022

David’s Journey Here:

While teaching an 8th grade catechism class in Lake Charles, LA, Home Furniture’s original founding father, Mr. George P. Fleming, mentioned to his students that if they ever needed anything, to let him know. Four years later, in 1970, 30 days after his high school graduation, David Texada did just that. He approached Mr. Fleming for a job as a warehouseman. Not only was David hired, but Mr. Fleming had David obtain a chauffeur's license that same day.

About a year later, Mr. Fleming’s son, George E. (Ged) Fleming, asked David to go into sales, and David never looked back. Then, in 1972, Ged asked David to do something else. Ged informed David that he was going to open up a Home Furniture store in Lafayette, LA, and asked David to transfer with him.  

“Let’s go! And as they say, the rest was history!” was David’s response. And he never looked back.

Adds David, “I then jumped on my motorcycle and rode to Lafayette to check it out. I had never been there in my life!”

Aside from a short stint of moving back to Lake Charles, LA for 5 years in management and sales, David has been at the Lafayette Home Furniture stores ever since, first at the original Lafayette location on Jefferson street, and then at the current location on Surrey street.

 What do you like best about your job?

“I like people! I like talking with everyone…coworkers and customers alike!”

Riggins Dore, Surrey Street store manager, adds, “David has been a staple at home furniture for 52 years. He shows up every day with a smile and is ready to go. He is great with his customers and is a team player through and through.”

Ross Dees, Home Furniture’s Chief Operating Officer and District Manager, adds, “Congratulations David on over 50 years with Home Furniture! You have set a very high bar that I am not sure will ever be broken in terms of years of service. Thanks for all the dedication to our customers and the company throughout your career.”

 

When David is not at work:

“I love fishing, working in my yard, visiting with friends and clients, and of course, spending time with my family.

My son, William, lives in Orlando, FL while my daughter, Dawn, lives in Houston, TX with my two grandchildren, Thad and Avery.”

The ONE thing most co-workers may not know:

“I am the unofficial and unopposed mayor of Swords, LA!”

 Advice for anyone wishing to join our Home Furniture Team:

“Be friendly. Ask a lot of questions, including our manufacturer’s reps along with your co-workers. You’re never too old to learn something new.”  Tony Kemp, Home Furniture’s Chief Executive Officer, adds, “Congratulations David. May we all be as fortunate as you to have such a long career.”

Born and raised in Lake Charles, LA, David currently resides in Swords, LA.  Great job, David, on your 52 years of continued dedication and loyalty along with being the very first sales hiree of Home Furniture in Lafayette 50 years ago!

Queen vs. Full Size Mattress Thursday, March 17, 2022
According to mattress industry experts, the biggest difference between a queen and a full mattress is, of course, the size and dimensions. A full mattress is 75 inches long and 54 inches wide, making it a good option for teens and adults who sleep alone. A queen mattress is 5 inches longer and 6 inches wider than a full mattress, at a total of 80 inches long and 60 inches wide. The larger size makes it an ideal option for couples.

Here at Home Furniture Plus Bedding, we have a large variety of both queen and full-size mattresses. But, how do you know which size is right for you?

Perks Of A Queen Size Mattress
Couples sharing a full bed may feel pretty cramped, as the sleeping area per person is only 27 inches.

Most couples will opt for a queen bed, with its extra length and width. This allows for each adult to have room to turn in their own space without disrupting the other. The queen bed is a great match for a master bedroom that may be a bit too small to accommodate a king bed.

Because it’s slightly larger, a queen mattress will cost a bit more than a full mattress. It’s also important to consider the accessories you’ll need. Queen-size bed sheets will cost more than full size, for example, as will the foundation or frame that you choose. You may also want additional pillows to fill in the extra space.

Perks Of A Full-Size Mattress
A full mattress is a wonderful size and choice for a guest room or child’s room in the house. A full bed is the same length as a twin but slightly wider, allowing for a parent to comfortably lay alongside a child reading a bedtime story. As expected full size mattresses are lower in cost, since they are the smaller mattress.
Full-size beds will work nicely in a smaller room and have more possibilities to fit into a floor plan, as they look nice whether protruding from the center of a wall or with a side against a wall. Queen beds, on the other hand, look best with the head against a wall.

Find Your Queen or Full-Size Mattress At Home Furniture Plus Bedding
Here at Home Furniture Plus Bedding, we have your dream mattress in stock waiting for you to come and pick it up! Choose from our selection of tried and true mattresses, or any of our new arrivals. If you don’t find one you like right off the bat, surely one that fits your needs is on its way to us so you can sleep like royalty!

Visit any of our eight locations across East Texas and Louisiana today and take home your new favorite piece of furniture. Don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions you may have.

3 Reasons to Buy a Sierra Sleep Mattress Tuesday, March 1, 2022

Sierra Sleep mattresses are some of the most popular mattresses on the market, and for good reason. Home Furniture Plus Bedding is stacked with an inventory of Sierra Sleep mattresses for your choosing, but first, here are three reasons why we think you should choose Sierra Sleep!

Easy and Convenient Delivery

Sierra Sleep mattresses offer bed-in-a-box options for easy delivery and set up! According to The Sleep Judge, a bed-in-a-box is just that: a mattress made of memory foam, compressed and rolled up so it can be shipped and delivered in a box. Which makes it extremely easy to maneuver up or down stairs, through doorways, and around tight spaces. When it arrives on your doorstep, you simply need to unroll it and wait for it to reinflate. Then, voila! You have a Sierra Sleep mattress ready to go! 

Traditional Innerspring & New Hybrid Mattress Options

Looking for a no-frills, tried and true mattress? We have that for you with our traditional innerspring mattress options, like the Chime Mattress! Innerspring mattresses are the oldest, most commonly used mattress design out of the three most common mattress types. Innerspring mattresses use a metal wire system combined with springs to create a support frame covered in fabric with cushioning material used on top of the mattress for extra support.

Looking for something a bit more modern and tailored to your sleeping style? We have something for you too! Sierra Sleep offers a great selection of hybrid mattresses, like the Hybrid 1200. Hybrid mattresses balance conformability, support, and responsiveness. They're good mattresses for couples with sleepers who have different comfort preferences. If one likes firmer support and another likes deep contouring, a hybrid gives them the best of both worlds.

Available in All Sizes, In Stock Now! 

From Twin to King, we have every size available in every style! Stop by any of our locations across East Texas and Louisiana and take home your perfect and affordable Sierra Sleep mattress today! 

Shop Sierra Sleep at Home Furniture Plus Bedding

Ready to experience Sierra Sleep first hand? Stop in to any of our locations across East Texas and Louisiana! Our team is eager to help you take home your perfect mattress. Contact us today with any questions! 

Home Furniture Plus Bedding Celebrates Exceptional Sales Performances for 2021 Thursday, January 27, 2022

New Year, New TV Stand Sunday, January 2, 2022 Start the new year off right by adding a beautiful new TV stand to your space! Gathering your family to watch your favorite movie or the next binge-able television show after a long day can be one of life’s greatest pleasures. Whether you’re watching TV, listening to music, or just organizing your decorations and DVD's, nothing makes getting the most out of your living room appliances more than the right entertainment center.

At Home Furniture Plus Bedding, East Texas and Louisiana shoppers can find the perfect entertainment center to suit their personal tastes. Here at Home Furniture Plus Bedding serving East Texas and Louisiana, we have any and every style you’ll need to fit the aesthetic of your home!

Shop TV Stands at Home Furniture Plus Bedding
Home Furniture Plus Bedding offers many styles of TV stands. All of our TV Stands offer many different storage options and have their own appeal and advantages, so the choice is yours! Choose from our most popular styles like traditional TV Stand consoles, or Rustic TV Stands that offer lots of shelving and storage compartments.

Looking for a piece that offers maximum storage options? Our Magnolia Manor 74-inch TV Stand is a great option! Need a smaller piece to fit your space? Check out our Diego 50-inch TV Stand! We are sure to have a style to fit your space perfectly.
Visit Home Furniture Plus Bedding of East Texas and Louisiana
Stop in, to any of our showrooms and seek out the assistance of any of our furniture experts to aid you in your quest for the perfect piece for your home. Contact us with any questions you may have. We are eagerly awaiting your call!

Home Furniture Helps Future Business Grads Through Ged Fleming Endowment at UL Sunday, January 2, 2022

Home Furniture Plus Bedding Creates the George E. “Ged” Fleming Memorial Endowed Scholarship in Business

The George E. Fleming Memorial Endowed Scholarship in Business at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette grows to over $250,000 as of June 2021.

Home Furniture Plus Bedding's partnership with the University of Louisiana has allowed us to successfully memorialize Ged and carry on his legacy of success. Ged believed in the value of education and its ability to change lives forever. 

A recent recipient of UL's endowed scholarships shared the impact of the scholarships by stating: "I may never have the opporttunityto meet the donors who funded the schloarships I have received...And no matter where I go in life, I'll be walking - Together - alongside them, and I am proud to carry their legacy."

Updated 12/20/2021


“We thought it would be a wonderful way to remember him, as a local business man and supporter of education,” says Craig Holston, the HR & Safety Manager out of the Home Furniture Lafayette office.

Ged Fleming established the first Home Furniture store in Lafayette in 1972. His father had opened up the first store in Lake Charles back in 1945. Over the course of 40 years, he purchased his father’s original business and successfully expanded Home Furniture Company to eight retail stores located along the Louisiana and Texas Gulf Coast.

According to his employees and friends, Ged always held a deep and heartfelt gratitude to the 300+ employees of Home Furniture. He appreciated their hard work, sacrifices, and dedication that ultimately led to the success of his company.  As of 2019, Home Furniture Company was recognized as a “TOP 100” furniture retailer nationally by the respected trade publication Furniture for the 13th consecutive year. Ged died unexpectedly in 2012, but his wife, Karol, and his devoted employees became inspired to make his legacy live on through an endowment scholarship fund at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

“We opened the endowment up to the employees and friends to participate, and the response was overwhelming.” says Holston.

Together they created a permanent scholarship named the George E. “Ged” Fleming Memorial Endowed Scholarship in Business from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Although he was unable to achieve his college degree himself, Holston says, Ged greatly appreciated the value of education and its ability to change lives forever. 

“We funded the scholarship, and it continues to grow year after year. Actually, people can donate a percentage of their pay checks to the endowment to keep it growing, and they do.”

This endowment recently eclipsed the $150,000.00 mark and continues to grow thanks to contributions from the many employees, friends and business associates of Ged and Home Furniture Company. Junior and Senior students in UL’s B.I. Moody III College of Business Administration maintaining at least a 3.0 GPA are eligible to apply.  Coupled with a non-endowed version of the scholarship, awards commenced with the spring 2014 semester and are granted yearly.

If you’d like to learn more about the George E. “Ged” Fleming Memorial Endowed Scholarship in Business at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, please call 337-291-7900.

How Do Tempur-Pedic® Mattresses Work? Monday, December 27, 2021

Tempur-Pedic® memory-foam mattresses offer unbeatable comfort and support. You may hear Tempur-Pedic mattress owners bragging about their good night’s sleep for weeks at a time, but what makes it so good? Home Furniture Plus Bedding serving East Texas and Louisiana is here to tell you exactly how Tempur-Pedic mattresses work – and what makes them so comfortable.

What’s Inside a Tempur-Pedic Memory Foam Mattress?
What makes a Tempur-Pedic mattress so comfortable? It’s a specialized type of foam that’s history will surprise you. Tempur-Pedic mattresses are made with TEMPUR foam, a memory foam originally developed for NASA to help keep astronauts comfortable and protected during missions to space. Slow-moving foam cells helped to absorb the shock of take-off!

Three Properties of Tempur-Pedic Memory Foam
TEMPUR material has adapted and evolved from its space shuttle days. You too can experience what it’s like to sleep on a bed that responds and adjusts to your exact temperature, shape, and weight.

Let’s take a look at the properties of Tempur-Pedic memory foam:

• Temperature-responsiveness: With breezy, open-cell designs and moisture-wicking technologies, Tempur-Pedic memory foam mattresses will draw heat and humidity away from you as you sleep.
• Shape-responsiveness: TEMPUR material slowly conforms to your exact shape for flawless support and comfort.
• Weight-responsiveness: TEMPUR responsive foam cells adjust to your highest pressure points to envelop you in an ever-adapting, always-supportive sleep environment.

East Texas and Louisiana Sleepers Get Comfortable With Tempur-Pedic

When your body comes in contact with TEMPUR memory foam, your joints won’t sink as they would on regular spring mattresses. The resistance of TEMPUR will help to relieve pressure as well as provide comfort.

If you’re interested in getting the good night’s sleep you’ve been searching for, visit one of our eight locations across East Texas and Louisiana and find your Tempur-Pedic mattress today.

Nick Scarsone - Employee Spotlight Wednesday, December 15, 2021

Nick’s journey here:

Nick Scarsone has been with Home Furniture at our Julia Aubin location for over two years. Prior to joining our team, Nick worked at Union Pacific Railroad for 39 years. Nick says, “I stayed with them so long because it was a good job and I have always worked hard and continue to set high standards for myself.”

Charles George, store manager, adds, “Mr. Nick is always at least 30 minutes early for his shift. He is very crafty with tools and keeps our warehouse 100% functional. If there is something he feels will make the job easier, he always puts that in place to help the flow of merchandise coming in and going out of the warehouse doors. Mr. Nick also built racks for our supplies and a tool board to organize all the tools needed to build our floor samples as well as tighten things up when they get a little loose. He has been a leader since his arrival and he is a morning key holder at Store 80. When I was the only manager and my assistant was out for a couple of weeks, Mr. Nick stepped up and opened the store every morning. He’s always willing to help and has a great attitude. He is an asset to our team.”

 

What do you like best about your job?

“It’s a good environment and everyone is friendly, like family. It also keeps me busy and I love meeting customers when they come for load outs.”

 

When Nick is not at work:

“I love spending time with my family. I have 4 kids and 4 grandchildren. I also love listening to and playing music as well as fishing. My favorite sport is baseball, but my favorite sports team is LSU!”

 

The ONE thing most of us may not know:

“I always start my day off with reading a few pages of the Bible. I believe in family and I miss my mom and grandson, Logan, very much.

Born in White Castle, LA, and raised in Plaquemine, LA, Nick and his wife Patsy currently reside in Prairieville, LA.

Roy and Larry - Employee Spotlight Saturday, November 27, 2021 When I (Gene Bertrand, Store Manager) was asked to recognize someone that I appreciate for our employee spotlight, these are the first two names that came to my mind: Roy Myrick and Larry Bellard.


Roy and Larry are still here. They are the last remaining warehouse team members at our Lake Charles store. Over the last few months, we’ve had others attempt to work in the warehouse, but none have lasted. Yet, over all of the years along with the addition of Covid, enduring a pair of hurricanes, an ice storm, and a flood, Roy and Larry are still here and working better than ever.


Roy joined Home Furniture in April of 1997. He came to us from a job working at the cemetery. That’s a great story if you ever get the chance to hear him tell it! He has seen a LOT of things change around this place! A LOT!


Larry originally started with Home Furniture in January of 2001 after working in the auto-detailing business. He was a Home Furniture delivery helper for over 10 years. He left us in May of 2011, but came back in January of 2018! We are so glad Larry came back Home!


ROY’S HOBBIES:

Fishing; Cleaning and detailing his car; and cheering on the New Orleans Saints! (During football season, I can always tell how the Saints played just by Roy’s demeanor on Mondays!)


LARRY’S HOBBIES:

Pets; fishing; and horseback riding (the only things that Larry is nicer to other than our customers are his animals!)

Larry shows great kindness to the Lake Charles Home Furniture kitties—buying them food and making sure they get fed.


It is not unusual to walk into the warehouse and hear the two of them going at it. It really is almost like a sketched and rehearsed comedy. Larry is a subtle instigator (clever and sneaky) and Roy is quite possibly the best at coming up with one-liners that are very hard to beat (I told Roy he missed his calling as a stand-up comic!). You literally can get stomach pains from laughing if you hang around them for a few minutes. And the whole time they are getting work done and taking care of customers.


They were both around with our founder, Ged Fleming, and continue to honor his legacy by exhibiting many of the values he set forth. Although many things have changed over the years, Roy and Larry have always maintained a steadfast work ethic. Tony, Ross, and Dwayne have mentioned on several occasions how good they are and how fortunate we are to have them here. They are absolutely right!


Thank you, Roy and Larry, for being dedicated, loyal, appreciative, courteous, easy-going, responsible, friendly, and reliable!


Written by Gene Bertrand, Store Manager, Lake Charles Home Furniture Plus Bedding

Paul Le - Employee Spotlight Saturday, November 27, 2021

Paul’s Journey Here:

Paul Le has been a salesperson at our New Iberia, LA location since January, 2017.

Paul first arrived to the United States in 1975 from Vietnam along with his parents, Ben and Ann, his younger sister, Lisa, and his younger brother, Tony.

Says Paul, “Living in the USA and working at Home Furniture is like living the Perfect Dream! Dreams do come true if you want it bad enough and work hard for it! This company has allowed me to fulfill this dream!”

 Joe Davis, store manager, adds, “What makes Paul Le so great is that he truly wants to help people . He opens up the customer’s mind as to what is possible . He does it every day, every week , every month and every year! He is truly a great asset to our company.”

 

What do you like best about your job?

“I love helping people and making their dreams come true as well!”

 

When Paul is not at work:

“While I enjoy travelling and sightseeing, these days occupy my spare time getting ready for the arrival of my daughter, Joli. And of course, I love spending time with my family!”

 

The ONE thing most co-workers may not know:

“That I can speak Vietnamese very fluently!”

 

Advice for anyone wishing to join our Home Furniture Team:

“Home Furniture is the best company and has the best customers. This is the best job, hands down! If you like helping people, and help them achieve their dream, this is the best job for you.”

Paul resides in New Iberia, LA with his wife, Thao N, and their three sons, Noel, Jake, Jack, and daughter, Joli.

Lori Berwick - Employee Spotlight Thursday, November 25, 2021

Tony Kemp, Home Furniture CEO, says “We are very fortunate to have Lori on the team. She is a key asset to the ongoing success of our company.”

Lori Berwick works at the Home Furniture Accounting Office in Lake Charles, where she manages the accounting department team. She has been with the company for 27 years. Lori is very passionate about her work and she is also passionate about helping others.  We have recently highlighted 2 of Lori's Mission Trips to Haiti where she traveled with Louisiana's Baptist Children's Home and worked with Louisiana Reach Haiti to build an orphanage for children in and around Port Au Prince. You can read about them here: https://homefurn.com/haiti-part-1   and here:  https://homefurn.com/haiti-mission-trip-home-furniture-plus-bedding.   

The Home Team Helps "Pack the Tent" Tuesday, November 16, 2021 KPLC’s annual “Pack the Tent” event is one of our recent community outreach initiatives that raised enough funds and food donations to feed the needy in our Lake Charles area for an entire year.