Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole Ferguson
Hi Nicole, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I grew up in my mother’s business on Main Street in Heber City. It was a beautiful floral and gift shop and women’s clothing. My father had a store down the street that was a furniture and flooring store. I have watched Main Street in Heber evolve and grow through the years. I followed in my mother’s path and dove into the floral business. I worked in that industry for many years. There came a time that I needed a change so I decided to follow my dad and work in the furniture business. I fell deeply in love with everything that made a home beautiful and personal. I was blessed to work in this industry with both of my parents. In 2016 the furniture store I was working in became available for purchase and I jumped on it. I purchased this store. I had a dream of making it something that would be a huge benefit to our valley as well as a tribute to my parents and their legacy. It’s been a process to slowly change the store I purchased into the store of my dreams. I have hired the most talented staff that see my vision are we are all working hard at making our dreams come true.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
This has definitely been a hard road. One of the major obstacles I have faced is the growth and change of our town. Our Main Street is literally a highway with a lot of cars on it. This has made it challenging for businesses to come and succeed. There is not a walkable and shoppable Main Street. There really aren’t a lot of stores or places to eat downtown, so it’s hard to draw customers to the store.
Another challenge I face is the reputation of the store I purchased. When I purchased the furniture store in 2016, it was ending the era of rustic furniture. We didn’t offer gifts or a big variety of items for your home. If you haven’t been in in a while, you might think we are still a rustic furniture store. We are getting the word out, but it’s hard.
Rent and an old outdated building are also continuous struggles. The building I am in is over 50 years old with little upkeep or remodel. I have painted the building (on my spot) added planter, and updated signs to help the look of the old building, but it’s still old. The landlord does very little to help the tenants out with this, but we pay top dollar to be here. It’s hard to make the rent when the town is not a shoppable town that keeps customers in our downtown shopping all while paying high rates.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
We specialize in everything for your home. We strive to be the place that lets you shop where it feels like home. We offer, flooring, furniture, kitchenware’s and decor, gifts for all occasions, and all the decor you need for your home. We have the largest showroom in Wasatch County, with 15,000 sq ft.
My team is talented and loves what they do. We encourage thinking outside of the box and coming up with new ideas and looks for the store. We aren’t ones to stay stagnant. The store is always changing and improving.
This year, along with the flooring and furnishings, we have a bedding section, baby gifts, cocktail and bar drinks and accessories, a gentleman’s corner with leather bags, quality games, shaving care and much more, we have also added a garden area, a Shop Local corner that offers items are are made locally or say, “Heber Valley.” There is so much to our showroom and our staff loves talking with our clients and getting to know them on a personal level. We mean it when we say, “Shop where it feels like Home.”
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
The home industry is always changing! Colors, trends, styles, Online shopping has become a big player in our industry. Mom and Pop shops are becoming a thing of the past and I see only the best boutique shops surviving this trend. Home decor, furnishings, and flooring are industries that continually change and evolve.
As people continue to move across the country they bring different trends and styles with them. We are seeing flavors from the East Coast move into our area of the country.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mtnrefined.com
- Instagram: Mtnrefined
- Facebook: Mountain Refined Furnishings and Flooring
