CITY Furniture celebrated the opening of its more than 150,000 square feet showroom located at 3205 South Frontage Road with a grand opening celebration last weekend that included a ribbon cutting and visit from Plant City’s civic and business leaders.
In addition to the spacious showroom where shoppers can find furniture and decor options for every type of style, from modern to coastal and glam to mid-century (which is definitely worth a visit), the new location is also home to its regional office and distribution center. In total, the building covers 1.3 million square feet of space.
The economic impact of the company’s opening has had a positive effect on many Plant City residents. When fully staffed, the company expects to employ approximately 500 people.
One of its newer employees is Plant City resident Mia Roach, who accepted a position as a sales associate in late October. Roach has six years’ experience in furniture sales working for one of CITY Furniture’s competitors.
“It’s been so refreshing working for CITY Furniture because its management is very organized and it sells such quality products,” she said. “I think they are really going to dominate this industry.”
She also recognizes and appreciates the innovation and outside-the-box thinking that has allowed Plant City to be on the forefront of corporate growth in the Tampa Bay Area. “Our city government knows there’s a nice way to balance the small town feel with needed growth,” she said.
CITY Furniture hasn’t finished hiring yet. Several positions are still open, including Building Custodian, Customer Service Representative, Fleet Manager, Fleet Mechanic, Receiving Warehouse Associate, Sales Associate and Warehouse Maintenance Mechanical Associate.
“As we continue to grow we need to make sure we have the sales staff to support customers’ needs and service technicians to support customers’ deliveries,” said senior manager of Public Relations Caitlin Maribona.
Maribona, who has worked for the company for 10 years, praised the company for the many benefits it offers employees, including a competitive salary (the average starting salary is approximately $50,000 a year), paid time off, sick leave, health insurance, 401k plans and room for professional growth.
“City Furniture is a family company first and we treat all our associates like family which is why we have so many tenured associates,” said Maribona.
It is a family business after all, founded in 1971 by brothers Kevin and Keith Koenig as Waterbed City. When demand for waterbeds waned, the company evolved into CITY Furniture in 1994, offering not just bedroom furniture but a full line of home furnishings for every room in the home.
Maribona is also proud of the fact that the company has made a 2040 Green Promise, meaning its goal is to be carbon neutral by the year 2040. Warehouse employees break down and recycle cardboard and styrofoam packaging materials. Many of its showrooms are LEED certified, a designation that means the buildings save money, improve efficiency, lower carbon emissions and create healthier places for people. Its entire delivery fleet runs on natural gas, reducing its carbon footprint by 40 percent.
“Customers can feel good that when a delivery truck arrives at their home, it’s running green and clean,” she said. “This company is doing its part for the community and for planet Earth.”
City Furniture is open Mon. – Sun. 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
For more information about City Furniture visit www.cityfurniture.com. To learn more about job openings with the company visit www.cityfurniture.com/jobs.