EPHRATA — Matt Moore of Moore Furniture in Ephrata said the styles and models of furniture and appliances have remained similar or the same since the pandemic started as furniture and appliance manufacturers have struggled with supply chain issues and such. Good options are out there, but even with the slowdown in model changes, thinking through a purchase is still important. 

“You had a whole year where you couldn’t get anything, and it was a windfall for us because we actually warehouse and we had stuff to sell,” Moore said. 

These days though, models that were in the warehouse and showroom now are similar if not the same because of logistics issues. However, that doesn’t mean that some thought doesn’t need to go into a purchase. Integration of technology into what used to be simple furniture is important, he said. People want USB ports to plug in their electronics such as phones, tablets and handheld game consoles. Hidden conveniences go a long way in an era where digital toys are everywhere. 

Other conveniences in furniture models include cubbyholes for remotes — often with charging pads to set phones and such on — and automatic reclining in chairs and couches. 

There is some guidance needed for a client who may not be accustomed to asking about those things, Moore said. Someone may come into the shop looking for a sofa, but they’re often worried more about comfort than gadgetry. However, that’s usually because they haven’t shopped for furniture in a while and are unaware of some of the conveniences offered in modern furniture. 

“You’ve got to be able to show them what the things are that are out there,” he said. “You’ve got to make sure that, if a thing has some additional value, you’re pointing it out to them. You can’t just assume that the customer knows what they’re looking at.” 

Many of the furniture pieces may come in different finishes and fabrics and pointing that out can go a long way toward a satisfactory furniture purchase. Moore also said a good furniture store buyer offers a wide variety of products, some that don’t necessarily line up with the store owner’s tastes. 

“If you don’t find something on your (sales) floor ugly, then you didn’t buy right because there’s so many different tastes than (yours),” Moore said. 

While USB ports are fairly universal and convenient and motorized reclining is usually fairly simple, appliances are where a bit of added thought goes a long way. When sales staff are helping clients get the right appliance, they have to consider the customer’s needs and abilities or it can cause problems. 

Moore said that problem often arises in smart or digital appliances. A plethora of options is out there for those who want a sleek, modern device, some of which can even be controlled using a phone app. But that isn’t always the right answer for a customer. Especially with less tech-savvy clients, whether they just like simpler items or they’re not accustomed to digital everything, a dishwasher with a dozen buttons or a smart oven you can tell to preheat from your phone might be more of an inconvenience than a convenience. Eleven buttons might be confusing for those shoppers.

“Tell me 11 things a dishwasher can do,” Moore said. 

Most folks just want the dishwasher to do exactly what the name implies — wash the dishes. Additionally, being able to see the status of the appliance’s cycle and the controls can be important. Buttons tucked away on the top of the dishwasher’s door might make it look nice, but can cause frustrations if you’re unfamiliar with the model. 

Moore also said it’s important to consider shopping locally. While it’s good for his business, it also may provide better service in the long run than going to a big box store. The locally-owned shop often will be more invested in customer service and have more leeway on how they take care of clientele because they’re not working within corporate parameters if something goes wrong.

“I can’t promise it won’t break,” Moore said. “ I can promise that we can take care of it.”

    Beauty continues to be in the eye of the beholder. Luckily, a lot of furniture can be customized to order if that’s what a shopper is looking for. Don’t want a starry tile look like the chair in this picture? Great. Just choose the textile that works for your home.
  

    Digital products like this range are convenient for those who know how to work them, but if a user is looking for something simpler, they may want to consider a more traditional range that doesn’t need any sort of wireless connection to function in the desired manner
  

    This dishwasher from KitchenAid may be up your alley, but it depends on what you’re looking for. With 10 buttons along the top of the appliance’s door and multiple cycle indicators there, some shoppers may not like being unable to see the controls for the device when the door is shut and the top edge is hidden by a countertop.