RC Willey Giveaway (and 5 Surprising Store Facts)

DeVon Gledhill, a manager at the R.C. Willey store in Draper, demonstrates a push-button recliner.
DeVon Gledhill, a manager at the R.C. Willey store in Draper, demonstrates a push-button recliner.

On Wednesday I was invited to tour the Draper RC Willey, and watch a Thanksgiving cooking demo in the store’s “living kitchen” area that features some of the top-of-the-line appliances.  (Yep, I was feeling a lot of kitchen envy!)

I was given a $50 gift card to give away to a lucky blog reader.  In order to enter this RC Willey giveaway, you just have to leave a comment on this blog post.

Some things I found out during the tour:

1. That wonderful smell isn’t just “new furniture.”  They actually have scent machines going in different areas of the store, said DeVon Gledhill, a store manager. For instance, in the area for kids’ and teens’ furniture, there’s a bubble gum scent wafting through the air.

 

Bolder designs are part of the "youth" area.
Bolder designs are part of the “youth” area.

2. Music changes too. I noticed a twangy country western song playing in the “Utah Mountain Retreat” area, where the rustic, log-cabin-type furniture is displayed. And in the teen area, there was more of a current sound — music that, I’m guessing, kids would likely have on their iPods.

3. Color is back. DeVon Gledhill said that in the economic recession, colors all went to earth tones and browns, the “classics,” as people couldn’t afford to switch it up any time soon. Now, the economy has rebounded some, and the store seemed to have a lot of red and aqua, and more bold patterns.

4. Sales people are less pushy nowadays, said Gledhill. Since I don’t go furniture shopping very often, I can’t vouch for this.

Store decorator Jen Dix created a Christmas tablescape to show off some of the accent pieces and accessories at the store.
Store decorator Jen Dix created a Christmas tablescape to show off some of the accent pieces and accessories at R.C. Willey.

But he told us, “Over the years, the industry has gotten more gentle, from high-pressure sales to ‘Oh, it’s OK just to look.’ ”

4. RC Willey’s designer, Jen Dix, wanted to remind us that the stores have a lot of accessories. She did both Christmas and Thanksgiving tablescapes to show off some of the accent pieces.

5. The Draper corridor has become a furniture destination, with IKEA, RC Willey and a couple other furniture stores right next to each other. There wasn’t a grand plan, “It just happened

Victoria Topham does a cooking demo in the "living kitchen" area filled with top-of-the-line appliances.
Victoria Topham does a cooking demo in the “living kitchen” area filled with top-of-the-line appliances.

that way,” Gledhill told me. “We had been looking as a company to get on this end of the valley for awhile.”

But then the recession hit and curtailed building plans for a few years.

RC Willey actually bought their property from IKEA, so it’s not like they’re enemy competitors. In fact, Gledhill called having the four furniture stores in that area, “A great partnership. You can come to one place and see it all.”

Now, for the gift card giveaway.  Just leave me a comment on this blog — what’s your favorite piece of furniture purchased at RC Willey?  (And if you’ve never bought anything from there, what would you LIKE to buy?) Please leave at least a first name to identify you. “Anonymous” doesn’t help.  On Monday, Nov. 10, I will draw out a winner and post it on this blog. You’ll need to email me with your snail mail address so I can send the card to you.

Hey, that  $50 card could mean a head-start on some nice piece of furniture you’ve been wanting.

 

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