After 26 years in business and several changes and adaptations, Factory Direct Mattress Centre is closing its doors Feb. 15, 2012.
The building has been sold, and owners Gerry and Gloria Hughes promised themselves when the building sold, they would close the business.
Their daughter Danica Hughes, who was recently elected to Williams Lake City Council and works at the store, says the Hughes went into business originally in 1986 with a little store on First Avenue selling camping supplies.
Eventually it morphed into a business called Surplus City, also selling used furniture in addition to camping supplies, followed by selling new and used furniture, and finally all new furniture.
“When they moved into the location they are in now, they changed the name to Factory Direct Mattress Centre, and it really became a mattress warehouse but they also did the solid wood furniture, which has really taken off,” Danica says.
Gloria, 61, was born and raised in Williams Lake. Gerry, 63, moved here when he was 12 years old.
“Dad remembers when there were wooden plank sidewalks. He started working at Eaton’s when 17 and has been in this industry for 46 years,” Danica says, pointing out she thinks the biggest victory for her parents has been their hands-on approach to being business owners.
She says her parents have taken great pride in their work and really started out with nothing and built a successful business. They never got stuck in a rut, but grew, progressed, changed and adapted with the times, Danica suggests, adding she’s really sad to see the business close because the community really loves it.
Retirement became a decision after Gerri’s body started telling him it was time to make a change. Everything in the store is loaded, hauled and delivered by Gerry and has been since the beginning.
“Physically it’s a lot of work,” Danica says.
Gloria doesn’t work in the store much anymore, opting to be a full-time grandma, so more recently it’s been Danica and Gerry running the store.
It’s always been a family business.
Recently Gerry hung “store’s closing forever” signs in the store and unsuspecting people are coming in shell shocked, Danica says, adding for the family it’s equally a big adjustment because the business has been a huge part of the family’s life for so long.
“To see the store getting empty, I don’t even know what the right word is for it, but it’s very surreal. There’s so much change happening so fast and it’s overwhelming,” she adds.
Customers have been expressing their regrets the store is closing and Danica knows as the days close in, it will be tougher to hold back the tears and hugs, but ultimately she hopes the community realizes how much the family has appreciated them all these years.
“Our customers are so good to deal with. We have the best customers in the world so that will be hard to deal with. That aspect of saying goodbye.
“The customers make our business and have made it so enjoyable to do business in Williams Lake.”
