Jubilee Furniture weekly update post for Thursday, October 15, 2015

It’s sort of unbelievable when I realize exactly nine years ago I started at Jubilee Furniture/Outreach Community Ministries! I was hired with the understanding I might be out of a job fairly quickly if the used furniture store on North Ave. in Carol Stream didn’t succeed.

And success certainly didn’t come overnight!  Though I was hired with an amazing volunteer board already in place (and interestingly with the exception of one person – that same board [with the addition of a few new people] – enthusiastically and wonderfully continues to this day!) we all had a steep learning curve. From what to price the furniture, to how to work a credit card machine, to loading furniture into customers’ vehicles (without damaging either the furniture or the vehicle – we’re still working on that one! Ha!) – it was all new information for a bunch of greenhorns! And yet we knew that treating customers, donors and each other with respect, kindness and courtesy (and free cookies!) – would cover a multitude of mistakes!

And then a microburst on March 31, 2007 – just one year after opening the store – extensively damaged the Wheaton Christian Center building – where Jubilee Furniture was located – and we lost half our inventory and had to close our doors for five months while the building was being repaired. I give my boss and Outreach's CEO, Chris Ellerman – tons of credit for having the vision to see what Jubilee Furniture could become and not simply closing up shop at that point.

In June of 2009 I started this blog with the hopes of reaching more people and – surprise – it worked (and, trust me, no one was more surprised than me!). The Furniture Gallery was added just over a year ago and that too is allowing more people to “visit” our showroom without leaving their home!

Store hours have increased (slowly) since our Saturday only operation started and our weekly sales have too. Currently our total sales each Thursday, Friday and Saturday are between $10,000 and $18,000 (unbelievable!). And what exactly does that money support? Excellent question! The proceeds from Jubilee Furniture help finance the programs and services at Outreach!

And what might you find at the store today, you ask? Another excellent question! Let’s take a look!

iconic Florence Knoll writing table which we’re selling on ebay with a “buy it now” price of $3,000 and a starting bid of $2,000. Though you can see this amazing table in the store – we’re trying something new by selling it exclusively through ebay. Here’s the link to the listing

amazingly gorgeous, solid plank bamboo table which is 36’ wide, 84” long and 30.5’ high – some minor dings in the edges – priced $365. Two teak chairs – new from Gloster at The Merchandise Mart – priced $125 each

Max Home brand sold through Marshall Field’s fabulous cream micro-suede sofa/chaise (chaise can be used on either end of the sofa – which gives this piece great versatility) priced $225 (some dirt on the flip side of the chaise cushion); matching chair and ottoman (note small stain and tiny tear in second to last photo) for $125. Lovely Lane end table for $45

gorgeous chair by Lane in excellent condition – priced $165

Broyhill sofa in great condition – priced $165. Matching Broyhill loveseat – also in great condition – for $125

I am totally in love with these two cream colored leather club chairs! The leather is so soft! Granted – they both need to be cleaned (not sure how hard it is to clean leather but someone once told me you can buy leather cleaner at an auto shop). Chairs are priced $65 each

fit for a king – dining set by Bernhardt! Includes: table with two leaves, table pads and six chairs (two with arms) – all in excellent condition. Priced $625

super attractive 42” round pedestal table for $75 in excellent condition

amazing Lane brand oversized chair and ottoman for $125 (in great condition) and matching sofa for $255 (also in excellent condition)

sorry I didn’t get better photos of this very nice GREEN (hard to tell color in photos) Hickory Chair loveseat for $65

two identical sweet wingback chairs priced $55 each (and both are in very good shape)

oh man – this is just the sweetest button-back, camel, antique loveseat I’ve ever seen! It does sit low to the ground (it would be so cute in a child’s room). Priced $395 (sorry, I forgot to note the price of the coffee table – maybe $30?)

fantastic loveseat for $295

Henredon loveseat in excellent condition for $295. Matching sofa – also in excellent condition – priced $395

I adore these retro pieces! Sofa is 7’ 10” long and in excellent condition and is priced $165. Matching loveseat is also in excellent condition and is $85

lovely Henredon floral sofa – some fabric wear in certain places – priced $245

super nice floral wingback (I love the the clean look of this chair) priced $75

fresh green fabric covers this swivel, glider (a dream to sit in) and is in excellent condition. Priced $155 and is manufactured by Best Chairs (who – I’m assuming – make the best chairs! Haha!)

Amish Heirloom is the maker of this gorgeous oak pedestal table with two leaves and six chairs (two with arms) – and this set is in excellent condition (I realize I’ve used the word “excellent” a lot this post – but it really does accurately describe a lot of the furniture currently in our inventory). This set is priced $295

Milling Road by Baker display cabinet with cool “chicken wire” detail. Has a light but the end plug has been removed (not sure why). Also one of the shelves has a chip in the glass (not noticeable). Priced $245

Thanks for joining me, dear reader! I know some of you have been following the blog since I started it (well, I know my mom and two of my sisters have!) and I’m full of gratitude for this amazing journey I’ve been on for the last nine years and for each one of you who’ve walked it with me!