“At Home Furniture, we make furniture repairs on anything we sell, and I know that’s far and above what our competitors do,” says William Schmolke. Affectionately known as “Smokey”, he has been one of our chainwide service technicians since 2009. While Smokey’s job requires much skill and knowledge, he continues his self-disciplined drive of learning in order to stay current with the ever-changing world of furniture, equipment, tools, and repairs. As with all of our jobs at Home Furniture, perhaps the most important requirement is that of “people skills.” Smokey adds, “When I make a call, nearly every customer who answers the door is unhappy. You gotta be able to talk with them but to also be able to sell the repair, sell yourself, and sell Home Furniture! A satisfied customer is a happy customer, and when they’re happy, I know they’ll shop with us again.”
Flint Davis, Customer Relations Director, says, “I still recall vividly interviewing Schmolke on a Saturday morning. Who would have known a Saturday interview would result in a sigh of relief. Schmolke has made a positive impact since joining our service team and continues to show vast improvement. He is always researching online for new innovative ways to repair furniture. Schmolke models (GREEN & GROWING) quoted by our CEO, Mr. Tony Kemp. Thank you for being a difference maker! You are making Home Furniture better and my job easier. You are one prepared pioneer in our company.”
One of Home Furniture’s expectations is to be “Clean, Neat, and Organized” with every aspect of our jobs. One look at Smokey’s repair van (inside and out) is a true testament to that, which is just one indicator of what our customers can expect with the quality of his work, and it shows.
Outside of work, Smokey stays active on most weekends enjoying nature with his family, especially on the West Pearl River on his “Old Cajun Houseboat.”
Born and raised in Slidell, LA, Smokey resides in Walker, LA, with Linda, his wife of 21 years. And for those who may not know, Linda is also a Home Furniture team member who has been at our Airline location in Baton Rouge for the past eight years.
Thank you, Smokey, for your talents, skills, dedication, and for your representation of what our company stands for.
