The Keeping Room is Closed

[drcollie]

Thank you one and all for your support over the past 37 years, and since 2008 on this Forum. I turned the lock on the door for the final time at 7:00 p.m. last night as myself, Alen and Julio (my delivery guys) wished each other well and I sent them both home with some more freebies from the store. They were such good workers - best I have ever had. And THANK YOU for all of you in the Metro DC area that would give them a tip - much appreciated.

In the early days of The Keeping Room, I drove all up and down the Eastern Coast, making trips into New Hampshire and Massachusetts so frequently to pick up hand-made furniture so often, that in those pre-GPS days, I wouldn't even bother to take a map, I knew all the roads and every town along the way. I used to do all the deliveries, too. I would stop in Groton CT and tour the Submarine base or the Dunlap Furniture Museum in NH, or even the MET in NYC if I had a Manhattan Delivery and a few extra hours. Built like a Farmer, I was strong and there wasn't much I couldn't lift. Age and Father Time took care of that, however!

I was never bored at the store, never watched the clock. More likely I would run out of time during the day and had to hustle to get everything done by 6 p.m or my bride would be unhappy if I were late for dinner. On many occasions I would return to the store at 8 p.m and work until Midnight to make sure every customer email order was entered and their emails promptly replied to. My wife would say "Just do it tomorrow" and I would reply "I can't, I'll get behind and I don't like loose ends, you know that!" I didn't mind that one bit. though the store was my passion and my pride.

The worst days were middle of Summer, when the Murrows Furniture Truck would show up at 3 p.m with twenty pieces to unload when it was 94 degrees outside and the humidity 90 percent. I would just melt and by the time everything was squared away I would be so exhausted I could barely drive home. He NEVER came in the morning when the sun was behind the building.....

What would I have done differently? Not much, but I would have purchased a warehouse to be sure, and would NEVER have a 2-story retail building again. And I should have bought Liftgate trucks in the 80's / 90's / 00's, it wasn't until 2012 I had my first one, they are amazing back-savers. I probably could have advertised more.

I never stiffed a supplier. I never paid my bills late, not a single one. I never took advantage of a customer (such as catching a mistake in the numbers in their favor and not remedying it). I tried very hard to treat every client as I like to be treated to the best of my ability. As a Merchant I intensely disliked credit cards and the fees they carried - what a scam they have going, it forced me to raise prices to cover them.

I liked my clients. I made a lot of friends with them, they were not just customers. Anyone that got me started on cars or motorcycles knows that, the furniture talk would quickly fall by the wayside much to the chagrin of many a wife trying to select a sofa.....lol.

I did not care for adversarial situations, where my goal as mechant was to extract the most money from that customer and theirs was to make sure they were not getting screwed over, and "Bartering" over price. Some enjoy that game, I did not and refused to engage.

I think I did it right. The Lights are Out at The Keeping Room now, it was a good run. I appreciate all of you!

- Duane Collie

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P.S. I never could sell that green wall shelf, left it for the new owner......

[Danw99]

End of an era. Thank you for all of your help over the years and for the furniture I bought from you that is still in use in my house. Thank you for being upfront and honest and really contributing to people's lives.

[Ci2Eye]

Thanks Duane,

I only bought two things from you but you were top-notch both times. When my first chair (Author chair) had quality issues, you arranged for it to be picked up from my home, sent back to Hancock and Moore and re-done. I'm sure you paid those transportation costs or perhaps shared them with H&M. The result though was a happy customer and a beautiful chair that still looks perfect today (10 years later) and will likely continue to serve me for many more years. For my second purchase, you arranged a H&M factory tour with Jimmy Moore where I could inspect that chair in person and see how everything is made; it was a most enjoyable afternoon spent with a true legend in the furniture world. I have another H&M chair I am looking to buy in the future but, alas, I won't be able to buy it from you. I wish you a very happy retirement and thank you for being the very best businessman and for sharing so much of your knowledge with all of us. I hope that part will continue.

All the best to you.

[choubeck]

Thank you, Duane! I'm sorry to see the store go. The Keeping Room was genuinely one of my favorite places to visit, both to see all your great pieces and to enjoy extended conversations with you. I just counted it up and I have or had 29 pieces that I purchased from you over the years (and possibly a few others I missed). I still have ideas for a few more items, but I guess that is for our next lives. I hope you are able to enjoy your retirement and the best of luck both to you and your wife with your health issues. It was a great run!

[drcollie]

Thank you, All !

My wife and I both had Big Plans for Retirement, but we are both having serious medical issues that will prevent us from doing 90% of those plans. The takeaway I will pass on from this "Don't wait to do those things you want to do". You may not want to do many of them now because of what they cost to do, but what good is it to save - invest - save - invest until you retire then find out you physically can't do it, nor are going to recover from your issues? Do those trips to Italy while you can climb steps, or go to Africa when you can bounce around in a safari jeep all day, that sort of thing. We were just talking about it today as a matter of fact, we have had to scale way back and now have. handicapped placards on the vehicles, it can be challenging to get into a restaurant for lunch from the parking lot some days. We never saw that coming!

I don't miss unloading trucks in the summer, or spending 5 to 6 days in a concrete office - but it was a good run, thank you all for your loyalty and patronage!

[teacher]

Dear Duane,

Thank you for doing more to educate the willing in the area of casegoods and well built upholstery than anyone else in the industry. Your honesty and integrity shine brightly and will leave a legacy light for those who choose to stand out from the status quo. I bought furniture from you twice over the past decade or so and both purchases were some of the best decor decisions I have ever made. I pray that you and Mrs. Collie have an amazing trip to Italy and are able to enjoy many, many years of blessings. Thank you for leaving us with words of wisdom on the life perspective. We are never promised even the next second, but it is a blessing to live and to love family and friends well in this life and to have the opportunity to cross paths with strangers with whom we can connect to and bless as well. I am praying for the days ahead to be filled with love, laughter, and joy with your family and friends. "This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it."

[ZWilson07]

Hate to hear about the health issues but the reminder is a great one. What made this world great is slowly dying one piece at a time until the end comes; I suppose that is how he set it up after all.....but thank you for being the epitome of how things should be done. I only wish there were still others like you that aren't going away. The one nearest me just closed as well this past month right before I was able to place new orders

Speaking of which, anyone in the industry still holding on that you recommend? I can't hardly find anyone around KY, IN, etc anymore.

[drcollie]

No, sorry. We dealers don’t interact very much with one another, if at all. I did like Dayton Interiors in Harrisonburg VA, but learned recently he is doing as I did, closing his store and selling off the inventory to retire. His kids didn’t want it, either.

It’s not an easy business, not many younger people want to work that hard. I think you will continue to see independently owned stores go away and the industry move to decorator sales or direct-to- consumer sales via websites. It will be harder and harder to find actual stores that have floor models.

[ZWilson07]

No, sorry. We dealers don’t interact very much with one another, if at all. I did like Dayton Interiors in Harrisonburg VA, but learned recently he is doing as I did, closing his store and selling off the inventory to retire. His kids didn’t want it, either.

It’s not an easy business, not many younger people want to work that hard. I think you will continue to see independently owned stores go away and the industry move to decorator sales or direct-to- consumer sales via websites. It will be harder and harder to find actual stores that have floor models.

Joy

That is exactly what happened with the one nearest me as well. Family had it for last 55 years; really similar to how you do things and brands you carry, even still had some of the same original sales associates from when the store opened. Their health was starting to fail and looked to the children for taking over. They said why? So we can work lots of days, long hours, physically demanding work, keep up with a multiple building storefront, warehouse, all the things that come with the business side......for thin profit margins and a customer base that is slowly dying with even the most repeatable customers only buying on average 5-10 pieces over their lifetime?????

Were good mom and dad! In some ways I don't blame them, but it is unfortunate nevertheless.