RC Willey Home Furnishings
Encyclopedia
RC Willey Home Furnishings (often called just RC Willey) is a home furnishings company with stores in Utah
, Idaho
, Nevada
and California
. It was founded by Rufus Calle Willey in 1932 when he started selling Hotpoint Brand appliances door-to-door in Syracuse, Utah
. RC Willey is a retail store that sells merchandise in the following categories: furniture
, electronics
, home appliances, mattresses, flooring
, and seasonal merchandise. It is currently owned by Berkshire Hathaway
.
RC Willey emerged from a small farming community
, Syracuse, Utah
in the early 1930s.
Rufus Calle (RC) Willey started selling Hotpoint Brand appliances door-to-door in 1932. Employed by the local electric company, he conducted his small appliance business from the back of his red pick-up truck
on the side. To guarantee customer satisfaction
while electricity was still so new, Willey would lend out appliances for a week so that people could try them out. He also let them finance the purchases in installments over a three-year period, payable at harvest time. His business continued to grow, and in 1950 he built his first store, right next door to his home in Syracuse.
In 1954, Willey left the company due to terminal cancer
. William H. Child, who had married Willey's daughter Darlene three years earlier, took over the business. He, along with his brother Sheldon Child, worked over the next 40 years to grow and expand the business. William Child is credited with adding furniture to the company's appliance offerings. Multiple stores were built along the Wasatch Front, and RC Willey became the most well-known Home Furnishings retailer in the state of Utah.
RC Willey began an important marketing tactic in the early 1980s: giving out free hot dogs to increase traffic. In HFD—The Weekly Home Furnishings Newspaper, company executives credited the chain's success to three factors: an eye for expansion, focus on the middle segment of the market, and dedication to customer satisfaction.
Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., the holding company led by billionaire investment guru Warren Buffet, acquired RC Willey on May 24, 1995. The price was a reported $150 million in stock.
In 1998, RC Willey's South Salt Lake location became the site of a "Whaling Wall" mural by the famous marine artist Wyland
.
Chief financial officer Scott L. Hymas, who had been with the company since 1987, succeeded Bill Child as CEO in February 2001. Child remained chairman. At the same time, Bill Child's nephew, Jeffrey S. Child, became the company's president
.
Today, RC Willey is still family operated, and has 13 stores located in Utah, Nevada, California, and Idaho. The chain continues to be known for its variety of products, delivery, and in store credit, as well as being closed on Sundays. The company runs frequent promotions and contests, one of the most famous being their free hot dogs on some Saturdays which they call "Free Lunch".
, Natuzzi
, Bernhardt, La-Z-Boy (Utah Only)
, Hooker, and Aspen.
department they carry a selection of flat panel televisions
, DVD players, home stereos
, computers, camcorders, etc. Brands include Sony
, Samsung
, Toshiba
, Sharp
, LG
, Panasonic
, and Mitsubishi
. Products run from the most-expensive models to budget conscious versions.
, Whirlpool
, LG
, Maytag
, Electrolux
, KitchenAid
, Frigidaire
, Bosch, Samsung
, Fisher & Paykel
, Subzero
, Wolf, Asko and others.
department features products from Serta
, Spring Air
, Simmons
and Tempur-Pedic
. They offer free pickup of old mattresses with delivery.
includes carpet
, vinyl
, wood
, and tile
. Most brands are represented, and they offer professional installation. Some of the popular brands are Stainmaster Flooring Centers, Flooring by Armstrong, Mannington Flooring, and Shaw Floors, and Mohawk Flooring
s.
In addition, if the full balance is not paid in full by the due date, the accrued interest will be added to the remaining principal balance and transferred to the customer's Regular Finance Plan (REG). If 2 consecutive payments are missed, accrued interest will be charged from the date of purchase at a rate of 1.75% per month (APR 21%) on the average daily balance, and the entire balance transferred to the REG plan.
." With this mission statement
in mind, the management
and associates of RC Willey are asked to serve in their communities where they work and live. As RC Willey has evolved as a company, they have participated in consistent, quality philanthropic programs.
called Room to Talk. The blog features a girl named Andie who grew up in a furniture family and learned the ins and outs of furniture. RC Willey is also on Facebook
, Twitter
, and YouTube
.
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
, Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
and California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. It was founded by Rufus Calle Willey in 1932 when he started selling Hotpoint Brand appliances door-to-door in Syracuse, Utah
Syracuse, Utah
Syracuse is a city in Davis County, Utah, United States, between the Great Salt Lake and Interstate 15, about north of Salt Lake City. It is part of the Ogden–Clearfield, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area.Syracuse was incorporated on September 3, 1935....
. RC Willey is a retail store that sells merchandise in the following categories: furniture
Furniture
Furniture is the mass noun for the movable objects intended to support various human activities such as seating and sleeping in beds, to hold objects at a convenient height for work using horizontal surfaces above the ground, or to store things...
, electronics
Electronics
Electronics is the branch of science, engineering and technology that deals with electrical circuits involving active electrical components such as vacuum tubes, transistors, diodes and integrated circuits, and associated passive interconnection technologies...
, home appliances, mattresses, flooring
Flooring
Flooring is the general term for a permanent covering of a floor, or for the work of installing such a floor covering. Floor covering is a term to generically describe any finish material applied over a floor structure to provide a walking surface...
, and seasonal merchandise. It is currently owned by Berkshire Hathaway
Berkshire Hathaway
Berkshire Hathaway Inc. is an American multinational conglomerate holding company headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, United States, that oversees and manages a number of subsidiary companies. The company averaged an annual growth in book value of 20.3% to its shareholders for the last 44 years,...
.
History
What started out as a small family business, has evolved over the years into the largest furniture dealer west of the Mississippi.RC Willey emerged from a small farming community
Community
The term community has two distinct meanings:*a group of interacting people, possibly living in close proximity, and often refers to a group that shares some common values, and is attributed with social cohesion within a shared geographical location, generally in social units larger than a household...
, Syracuse, Utah
Syracuse, Utah
Syracuse is a city in Davis County, Utah, United States, between the Great Salt Lake and Interstate 15, about north of Salt Lake City. It is part of the Ogden–Clearfield, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area.Syracuse was incorporated on September 3, 1935....
in the early 1930s.
Rufus Calle (RC) Willey started selling Hotpoint Brand appliances door-to-door in 1932. Employed by the local electric company, he conducted his small appliance business from the back of his red pick-up truck
Pick-Up Truck
"Pick-Up Truck" is a song written and recorded by Belgian acid house musician Praga Khan. It is the third single from Praga's eighth studio album, Soundscraper....
on the side. To guarantee customer satisfaction
Customer satisfaction
Customer satisfaction, a term frequently used in marketing, is a measure of how products and services supplied by a company meet or surpass customer expectation...
while electricity was still so new, Willey would lend out appliances for a week so that people could try them out. He also let them finance the purchases in installments over a three-year period, payable at harvest time. His business continued to grow, and in 1950 he built his first store, right next door to his home in Syracuse.
In 1954, Willey left the company due to terminal cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
. William H. Child, who had married Willey's daughter Darlene three years earlier, took over the business. He, along with his brother Sheldon Child, worked over the next 40 years to grow and expand the business. William Child is credited with adding furniture to the company's appliance offerings. Multiple stores were built along the Wasatch Front, and RC Willey became the most well-known Home Furnishings retailer in the state of Utah.
RC Willey began an important marketing tactic in the early 1980s: giving out free hot dogs to increase traffic. In HFD—The Weekly Home Furnishings Newspaper, company executives credited the chain's success to three factors: an eye for expansion, focus on the middle segment of the market, and dedication to customer satisfaction.
Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., the holding company led by billionaire investment guru Warren Buffet, acquired RC Willey on May 24, 1995. The price was a reported $150 million in stock.
In 1998, RC Willey's South Salt Lake location became the site of a "Whaling Wall" mural by the famous marine artist Wyland
Wyland
Robert Wyland , known simply as Wyland, is an artist best known for painting large, outdoor murals of whales and other ocean life.-Personal life:...
.
Chief financial officer Scott L. Hymas, who had been with the company since 1987, succeeded Bill Child as CEO in February 2001. Child remained chairman. At the same time, Bill Child's nephew, Jeffrey S. Child, became the company's president
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
.
Today, RC Willey is still family operated, and has 13 stores located in Utah, Nevada, California, and Idaho. The chain continues to be known for its variety of products, delivery, and in store credit, as well as being closed on Sundays. The company runs frequent promotions and contests, one of the most famous being their free hot dogs on some Saturdays which they call "Free Lunch".
Key Dates
- 1932: Rufus Call Willey begins selling appliances door-to-door.
- 1950: RC Willey opens its first store in Syracuse, Utah.
- 1954: William H. Child takes over the business.
- 1969: A second store opens in Murray, Utah.
- 1990: Six stores have sales of $100 million.
- 1995: Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. acquires the company.
- 1999: RC Willey expands outside Utah with Meridian, Idaho, store.
- 2001: RC Willey's first Las Vegas store opens.
- 2005: RC Willey continues expansion in Nevada and into California.
Utah
- Murray, Utah
- Orem, Utah
- Provo Outlet Store, Utah
- Riverdale, Utah
- South Salt Lake, Utah
- Syracuse, Utah
- Taylorsville, Utah
- West Jordan Outlet, Utah
Nevada
Furniture
RC Willey carries many popular furniture brands like Broyhill, Flexsteel, LaneLane
A lane is a part of the roadway within a road marked out for use by a single line of vehicles in such a way as to control and guide drivers for the purpose of reducing traffic conflicts. Most public roads have at least two lanes, one for traffic in each direction, separated by Lane markings...
, Natuzzi
Natuzzi
Natuzzi Natuzzi Group was founded in 1959 by Pasquale Natuzzi, current Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Group Stylist. It designs, produces and markets sofas, armchairs and living room accessories. Natuzzi is the largest Italian furniture company with 2009 turnover of euro 515,4 million, and...
, Bernhardt, La-Z-Boy (Utah Only)
La-Z-Boy
La-Z-Boy Incorporated is a furniture manufacturer based in Monroe, Michigan, USA which makes home furniture, including upholstered recliners, sofas, stationary chairs, and sleeper sofas...
, Hooker, and Aspen.
Electronics
In the Home ElectronicsConsumer electronics
Consumer electronics are electronic equipment intended for everyday use, most often in entertainment, communications and office productivity. Radio broadcasting in the early 20th century brought the first major consumer product, the broadcast receiver...
department they carry a selection of flat panel televisions
Large-screen television technology
Large-screen television technology developed rapidly in the late 1990s and 2000s. Various thin screen technologies are being developed, but only the liquid crystal display , plasma display and Digital Light Processing were released on the public market...
, DVD players, home stereos
Entertainment center
A home entertainment center is a piece of furniture seen in many homes in North America, which houses major electronic items, such as a television set, a VCR and/or DVD player, stereo components , and cable or satellite television receivers...
, computers, camcorders, etc. Brands include Sony
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
, Samsung
Samsung
The Samsung Group is a South Korean multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Samsung Town, Seoul, South Korea...
, Toshiba
Toshiba
is a multinational electronics and electrical equipment corporation headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. It is a diversified manufacturer and marketer of electrical products, spanning information & communications equipment and systems, Internet-based solutions and services, electronic components and...
, Sharp
Sharp Corporation
is a Japanese multinational corporation that designs and manufactures electronic products. Headquartered in Abeno-ku, Osaka, Japan, Sharp employs more than 55,580 people worldwide as of June 2011. The company was founded in September 1912 and takes its name from one of its founder's first...
, LG
LG
LG may refer to:*LG Corp., a South Korean electronics and petrochemicals conglomerate*LG Electronics, an affiliate of the South Korean LG Group which produces electronic products* Lawrence Graham, a London headquartered firm of business lawyers...
, Panasonic
Panasonic
Panasonic is an international brand name for Japanese electric products manufacturer Panasonic Corporation, which was formerly known as Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd...
, and Mitsubishi
Mitsubishi
The Mitsubishi Group , Mitsubishi Group of Companies, or Mitsubishi Companies is a Japanese multinational conglomerate company that consists of a range of autonomous businesses which share the Mitsubishi brand, trademark and legacy...
. Products run from the most-expensive models to budget conscious versions.
Appliances
RC Willey’s founder, Rufus Call Willey, found his success specializing in home appliances. This tradition continues today. RC Willey’s stores feature a large selection of appliances from General ElectricGeneral Electric
General Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
, Whirlpool
Whirlpool (appliances)
The Whirlpool Corporation is an American multinational manufacturer of major home appliances headquartered in Benton Charter Township, Michigan, United States, near Benton Harbor, Michigan...
, LG
LG
LG may refer to:*LG Corp., a South Korean electronics and petrochemicals conglomerate*LG Electronics, an affiliate of the South Korean LG Group which produces electronic products* Lawrence Graham, a London headquartered firm of business lawyers...
, Maytag
Maytag
Maytag Corporation is an American home and commercial appliance company, headquartered in Newton, Iowa, that is a division of the Whirlpool Corporation.-Company history:...
, Electrolux
Electrolux
The Electrolux Group is a Swedish appliance maker.As of 2010 the 2nd largest home appliance manufacturer in the world after Whirlpool, its products sell under a variety of brand names including its own and are primarily major appliances and vacuum cleaners...
, KitchenAid
KitchenAid
KitchenAid is a home appliance brand owned by Whirlpool Corporation. The company was started in 1919 by The Hobart Corporation to give restaurants a countertop alternative to their industrial sized mixers. The first model weighed 69 lbs. Each unit is still assembled by hand in Greenville, Ohio...
, Frigidaire
Frigidaire
Frigidaire is a brand of consumer and commercial appliances. Frigidaire was founded as the Guardian Frigerator Company in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and developed the first self-contained refrigerator in 1916. In 1918, William C...
, Bosch, Samsung
Samsung
The Samsung Group is a South Korean multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Samsung Town, Seoul, South Korea...
, Fisher & Paykel
Fisher & Paykel
Fisher & Paykel is a major appliance manufacturing company based in East Tamaki, New Zealand.Originally an importer of domestic refrigerators, Fisher & Paykel now holds over 420 patents and bases its identity on innovative design, particularly in the areas of usability and environmental...
, Subzero
Subzero
Subzero literally means "beneath zero." As such, it is usually used for negative numbers; the most common usage refers to negative temperature.Subzero can also refer to:-Fictional characters:...
, Wolf, Asko and others.
Mattresses
RC Willey’s mattressMattress
A mattress is a manufactured product to sleep or lie on, consisting of resilient materials and covered with an outer fabric or ticking. In the developed world it is typically part of a bed set and is placed upon a foundation....
department features products from Serta
Serta (company)
Serta is a company based in Hoffman Estates, Illinois that specializes in making mattresses. It was founded in 1931 by 13 mattress manufacturers who licensed the Serta name, and now eight independent licensees acting like a cooperative own the company...
, Spring Air
Spring Air Company
Spring Air Company is a mattress company based in the United States. It was founded in 1926 when Francis Karr patented a mattress design with free-end coils. Because of the heavy weight, high transportation costs, and low value per unit weight of mattresses, they are often manufactured locally...
, Simmons
Simmons Bedding Company
Simmons Bedding Company is a major manufacturer of mattresses and related bedding products. The company is founded in 1870. Simmons' flagship brand is Beautyrest, and it is one of the oldest companies of this type in the USA. According to a Simmons press release, net sales for 2005 were $855...
and Tempur-Pedic
Tempur-Pedic
Tempur-Pedic International, Inc. is a manufacturer and distributor of mattresses and pillows made from viscoelastic memory foam. The company's headquarters is located in Lexington, Kentucky.- History :...
. They offer free pickup of old mattresses with delivery.
Flooring
RC Willey's selection of floor coveringsFlooring
Flooring is the general term for a permanent covering of a floor, or for the work of installing such a floor covering. Floor covering is a term to generically describe any finish material applied over a floor structure to provide a walking surface...
includes carpet
Carpet
A carpet is a textile floor covering consisting of an upper layer of "pile" attached to a backing. The pile is generally either made from wool or a manmade fibre such as polypropylene,nylon or polyester and usually consists of twisted tufts which are often heat-treated to maintain their...
, vinyl
Vinyl
A vinyl compound is any organic compound that contains a vinyl group ,which are derivatives of ethene, CH2=CH2, with one hydrogen atom replaced with some other group...
, wood
Wood
Wood is a hard, fibrous tissue found in many trees. It has been used for hundreds of thousands of years for both fuel and as a construction material. It is an organic material, a natural composite of cellulose fibers embedded in a matrix of lignin which resists compression...
, and tile
Tile
A tile is a manufactured piece of hard-wearing material such as ceramic, stone, metal, or even glass. Tiles are generally used for covering roofs, floors, walls, showers, or other objects such as tabletops...
. Most brands are represented, and they offer professional installation. Some of the popular brands are Stainmaster Flooring Centers, Flooring by Armstrong, Mannington Flooring, and Shaw Floors, and Mohawk Flooring
Seasonal Merchandise
During the summer months RC Willey offers patio and outdoor furniture, as well as some outdoor appliances and tools. In the winter they carry snow blowerSnow blower
A snow blower or snow thrower is a machine for removing snow from an area where it is not wanted, such as a driveway, sidewalk, roadway, railroad track, rink, runway, or houses...
s.
Sales Force
RC Willey has a professionally trained sales force. They undergo training by product specialists so that they can answer customer questions.Distribution Warehouses
RC Willey owns local distribution warehouses. The products they offer are almost always stocked in these warehouses. This allows them to deliver the products quickly using their own delivery trucks.Nevada
California
RC Willey Financing
RC Willey has its own financial department; approval is usually instant, and you don't have to deal with any middle men in the equation. They offer several financing plans and have their own credit card.RC Willey Credit Card
An RC Willey credit card offers these features:- Low monthly payments
- Competitive finance plans
- Online account review and bill payment
- Advance notice of special sales reserved just for cardholders
- Payment protection plan to protect your credit
- Use your card at any RC Willey location and these participating merchants:
- Big O TiresBig O TiresBig O Tires, LLC. is North America's largest franchiser of tire retailers. It is headquartered in Centennial, Colorado, and has more than 540 franchises in 21 U.S. states and Canada. It sells its own Big O private brand tires and other brands...
- Bingham Cyclery
- George's Cycles
- Mr. Mac
- Uinta Golf
- Chris and Dicks Cabinets
- Low Book Sales Auto Service
- Stephen Wade Automotive Group
- Larry H Miller Automotive GroupLarry H. MillerLawrence Horne "Larry H." Miller was a Utah businessman and philanthropist who was well known as the owner of the NBA's Utah Jazz and the of Triple-A baseball team, the Salt Lake Bees, 41 automotive dealerships throughout the Western United States , and a variety of other business ventures...
- Mark Miller Automotive Group
- Murdock Automotive Group
- Brent Brown Automotive Group
- Ed Kenley Ford Automotive Group
- Big O Tires
Financing Plans
There are several financing plans available at RC Willey. Some are available on purchases over a specified amount. The available financing plans include:- Regular Finance Plan (REG)
- 6 Months, No Interest (6NI) With a minimum sub-total purchase of $299
- 12 Months, No Interest (12NI) With a minimum sub-total purchase of $999
- 18 Months, No Interest (18NI) With a minimum sub-total purchase of $1999
In addition, if the full balance is not paid in full by the due date, the accrued interest will be added to the remaining principal balance and transferred to the customer's Regular Finance Plan (REG). If 2 consecutive payments are missed, accrued interest will be charged from the date of purchase at a rate of 1.75% per month (APR 21%) on the average daily balance, and the entire balance transferred to the REG plan.
Advantage Plan
An optional loyalty plan is available at RC Willey. Members of RC Willey's Advantage Plan receive the following:- An RC Willey gift card twice each year equal to 2% of all purchases made during that period. The gift card must be used within 6 months of date of issue.
- Free delivery within RC Willey's local delivery area during the year of a membership (on purchases of $299 or more).
- Invitations to exclusive advantage plan member promotions which include special prices and discounts and/or financing offers.
Charitable Giving
RC Willey claims that charitable giving is an important part of their mission "to become the finest home furnishings company in AmericaUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
." With this mission statement
Mission statement
A mission statement is a statement of the purpose of a company or organization. The mission statement should guide the actions of the organization, spell out its overall goal, provide a path, and guide decision-making...
in mind, the management
Management
Management in all business and organizational activities is the act of getting people together to accomplish desired goals and objectives using available resources efficiently and effectively...
and associates of RC Willey are asked to serve in their communities where they work and live. As RC Willey has evolved as a company, they have participated in consistent, quality philanthropic programs.
Social Networking
In October 2009, RC Willey began to use social networking to communicate with its customers. RC Willey now has its own blogBlog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
called Room to Talk. The blog features a girl named Andie who grew up in a furniture family and learned the ins and outs of furniture. RC Willey is also on Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
, and YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
.