LYNDA WILSON
NICOLE BENT
CO-OWNER FAVERI’S WOOD FURNITURE
PRESIDENT & OWNER SHELMERDINE GARDEN CENTRE LTD.
When Lynda Wilson and Robert Kreis bought Faveri’s Wood Furniture, they knew it would be a lot of work bringing the business into the 21st century. They immediately set about a complete rebranding, they remodelled and expanded their selection, began offering more customization options and put new automation procedures in place to increase efficiency. There was lots of elbow grease and long days, but they are seeing more and more new faces each day and getting lots of positive feedback about the changes. “People step inside the front door and just stand there with their mouths open,” Lynda says. “Once they realize they really are at the right place, most people give comments like ‘I want everything’ or ‘I came in for one thing, but now I see so many things I need’!” Whether you’re looking to update your home, cottage or deck, Faveri’s has many styles of top quality furniture that range from traditional to transitional and industrial modern to rustic. They carry a wide selection of bedroom furniture, dining tables and chairs, islands, storage cabinets, bookcases, armoires, vanities, outdoor seating and even pub-style tables. Using sustainable Canadian sources whenever possible, you’ll find top quality finishes using North American wood such as alder, oak, quarter sawn oak, pine, birch, walnut, cherry, brown maple and wormy maple.
Shelmerdine is more than a garden centre, it’s a Winnipeg institution. For President & Owner Nicole Bent, their success lies in being part of the local community. From the happiness of their employees to supporting local charities, Nicole believes that success is being proud of what you do day in and day out. “We place a large focus on giving back to our community as well as on building community spirit,” Nicole explains. “Examples of this are our Ladies Night events, our Halloween Funzone for kids, Christmas events for families such as photos with Santa Claus and a Kids’ Gardening Club with proceeds benefiting local charities.” With such a short season here in Winnipeg, another key to Shelmerdine’s success has been their ability to diversify beyond what a traditional gardening centre would carry. This includes a clothing and fashion accessories selection most boutiques would drool over. With her father and former Shelmerdine owner Bob Wohlers as her role model, innovation and visionary thinking are traits that Nicole has clearly inherited. “Our goal for next year is to continue to expand our reach on social media and online,” Nicole explains. “We’ll be launching a rebrand of Shelmerdine in March 2015, which we’re very excited to unveil to the public! This will include a new e-Commerce website and a refreshed brand identity reflecting our rich 77-year history.”
Visit the Faveri’s Fine Furniture showroom at 625 Wall Street or learn more at www.faveriswoodfurniture.com.
Visit Shelmerdine Garden Centre at 7800 Roblin Boulevard in Headingley, MB, or check them out online at www.shelmerdine.com.
Photos (Left to Right): Sean Philips, Suppiled
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