Article: Selling the concept at Norwalk.(Norwalk Furniture, household items company)(Interview)

When Norwalk Furniture launched its first Norwalk -- The Furniture Idea franchise in September 1987, the Ohio-based manufacturer expected the move would give focus to a specialized business: custom upholstery. "What we do touched every aspect of the retail business," says William Gerkin, president of Norwalk -- The Furniture Idea. "It touched the displays, the kind of salespeople we hire, how we pay commissions, how we deliver. To do it properly, we needed to control the execution."

Thirteen years later, the gallery store approach has proved to be a comfortable fit for Norwalk's quick delivery/wide selection formula. With 77 franchised units and 14 company-owned ...

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