Janet and Mark Fisher, along with their family, are pretty hands-on with 4 the Shore Furnishings, a Williamsville furniture store they opened in May. More than occasionally, the two owners sell a couch or a wicker chair, walk outside, load the piece of furniture onto the truck and deliver it to the customer — often on the same day it was purchased.
Coastal Point • SUBMITTED
Janet and Mark Fisher sit in their furnitures store, 4 the Shore Furnishings in Williamsville, on Route 54.And if it’s not Janet or Mark Fisher delivering the recently-bought piece, it’s usually one of their family members. Things just work more smoothly that way, they said.
“If something goes wrong, we’re not going to pass it on,” Janet Fisher said, “We’re going to fix it. All of our customers have been accommodating.”
After working in the furniture business for 22 years, Janet and Mark Fisher decided to go into business on their own last year and opened the store about two months ago.
“She was making a lot of money for someone else,” Mark Fisher said. “Why not make it for us?”
And they certainly brought the family along. Their son makes deliveries. A son-in-law laid the carpet, helping set up the store for its May opening; and his twin brother helps deliver furniture when needed. The pair’s twin grandchildren, who call Janet “Mimi,” will likely be helping when they can walk on two feet.
“Our family really sticks together,” Janet Fisher said.
Inside the small warehouse-style store in the Williamsville Industrial park, the Fishers have attempted to appeal to people with beach houses — a smart bet in this part of the world.
Wicker chairs line the store, along with light cloth couches and coastal landscape paintings, and the Fishers even have a tiki bar with stools for sale. Plants to liven up a room, and bedroom sets for the guest spot in the home are also available in the store that has seen consistent business this summer season.
“We’re focused on the beach look,” Mark Fisher said, adding that the store’s décor is meant to “brighten up your home. If we could do every home in Sussex County, we’d make a lot of money.”
The developments sprouting on Route 54 have certainly helped the family-owned-and-operated business make money early on.
But while they want to make money, the Fishers will not “price gouge,” they adamantly pointed out. Having a warehouse store in a relatively price-friendly section of coastal Sussex has helped them to keep prices down.
Also, having the family tote around furniture and work for you, when needed, helps. But no one minds, the Fisher said. Their six kids (collectively), three in-laws and two grandchildren — when they can walk — are glad to help.
Some 11 members of the family just vacationed in Mexico together, the Fishers pointed out.
“We work well together,” Janet Fisher said, “We play hard together. You have a tiff every now and then, but not like you do with employees.”
At one point in her career, 43 employees worked under Fisher. And none were as helpful as family members, she said.
“The family helps out on snowy days. The family sticks together.”