Exchanging hands

KELLOGG –– After 90 years in the same family, the Furniture Exchange is under new ownership.

Nick and Elizabeth Andersen officially became the owners of the landmark business in May and they’re hoping to continue the legacy established by the previous owners.

Originally opened in 1933 by W.D. Cobb as a furniture and used appliance store called Cobb’s Furniture, the store operated under that name for several years until Cobb’s grandson Pat Elfsten took it over from his father Don, in 1986.

Through the years, the business has changed locations, added services, expanded its facilities, and now, changed families – but the mission to serve the Silver Valley community has never changed.

Through a mutual friend, one who knew that the Andersens were looking to own their own business and also that Elfsten was looking to potentially sell his, they were put in contact with each other.

Nick began working for Elfsten and it quickly became clear that their meeting was no coincidence, and that the Andersens shared his beliefs in how a business should be run and how customers should be treated.

“My husband’s background includes a degree in business management and retail – and he’s always wanted his own business,” Elizabeth said.

The Andersens relocated to the Silver Valley just a few years ago after growing up in Southern Idaho – along with their three sons, they hope that they can continue to keep the Furniture Exchange a family legacy business as it has been for the past nine decades.

“The caveat is that the kids have to want it,” Nick said. “Right now they’re all excited, but ten years from now that could change.”

Since the sale, Elfsten has stayed on in a limited capacity to help the Andersens adjust to their new roles.

“It’s like becoming a new parent, like what did we just do?” Elizabeth said jokingly. “It’s been really eyeopening, but also exciting. Having Pat around has been so nice. We’ve been so busy – I think we’re starting to get the feel of it.”

Nick has a customer service-first mentality, which is easy to recognize when you see him bouncing from customer to customer, making sure that everyone who walks through the door gets the same high energy and positive interaction.

“It’s the people,” Nick said. “I think of myself as an introvert that feeds off of other people’s energy – I’ve been in retail for a long time and interacting with both strangers and people that I know, I just love people.”

The business was originally housed inside a 5,000-square-foot building on Mullan Avenue, but to accommodate all of the services that they wished to provide, they moved into their current building – an old Ford Dealership that was located more in the center of Kellogg.

“It’s the people,” Elfsten said (funny, where have we heard that before). “I had done a lot of traveling and I was looking forward to being home and bumping into people at the grocery store, so when I came back in 1986, Dad retired, I took over and that really brings us to where we sit today.”

Elfsten is modest about what he has accomplished during his near-40 years at the helm – these accomplishments include the addition of offering custom flooring and blinds, mattresses, lumber, and a partnership with Distribution America under the Trustworthy Hardware brand.

All are services that are still provided today.

In the coming months, the Andersens are planning to add appliance repair to their list of services that the Furniture Exchange can provide.

“Next weekend we’re having a pretty big sales event specifically to honor the three men who got us to where we are today,” Nick said. “90 years is a long time and we know that the community respects Pat and his family and we’re excited to celebrate that.”

The Furniture Exchange is located at 101 N. Hill Street in Kellogg – for more information contact them at (208)786-9271.