November 2023: Featured Evergreen Insiders: Furniture Merchandise Outlet

November’s Evergreen Insider: Dylan Dudley, Furniture Merchandise Outlet Chattanooga

Building a Legacy: Dylan Dudley's Journey with Furniture Merchandise Outlet

From a young age, Dylan Dudley was immersed in the world of furniture retail, witnessing the birth and growth of Furniture Merchandise Outlet under the guidance of his father. His early exposure to the business instilled a deep appreciation for the values of hard work, integrity, and the pursuit of affordability in furniture retail. Today, as part of the FMO team, Dylan shares his insights on the company's evolution, mission, and unique place in the vibrant Chattanooga community.

What was it about this business that made you want to be a part of it?

Furniture Merchandise Outlet was founded by my father when I was young. My whole life, I watched as he worked tirelessly to build a business from nothing, every moment with dignity and honesty. My favorite part of this business is the focus on affordability - we maintain high quality but make every decision around the intention to save you money. Furniture is expensive, and necessary, so working for a company that wants to make furniture accessible to everyone is a good reason to be involved.

What has been the biggest evolution that you and/or the business have experienced since starting out?

We have been in business nearly thirty years, but during and after covid, our company did much better than expected. Our low cost model became increasingly attractive to customers, and continues to serve us and our clients well. As the dust settled from pandemic times, we used that momentum to focus on company wide branding efforts and opening our new store in Chattanooga, which has expanded our impact in a meaningful way as I get to call Chattanooga home.

Does your business have a stated mission statement, the reason for its existence?

Furniture Merchandise Outlet exists to be the fastest, friendliest, least expensive furniture option for our community. Furniture can be so expensive, but its a necessity to everyone, so it brings us a lot of joy to focus on access and affordability.

Has there been a particular relationship with someone without which you would most likely not have experienced the success you have?

Our prices and business model are the key to our success, but we could not do it without the people that have joined our team along the way. Our well established stores have had some of the same staff for 10-20 years, which speaks volumes about our company culture and family values we share.

What makes your business unique and how does it contribute to the vibrant culture of Chattanooga?

Our best quality is that we are genuinely a family owned and operated business and this shows in every interaction. Our time and energy is all spent between family members and friends as we fulfill customers orders, and this authentic, loving energy leads to lots of great interactions and satisfied customers.

Can you share a significant challenge your business has faced, or is facing, and how you've overcome it or plan to overcome it, especially considering Chattanooga's evolving landscape?

Covid was definitely the toughest experience we ever had. Aside from illness, every one of the global consequences affected the furniture industry. While we were subject to all the same delays as all furniture stores, our honest up front practice and commitment to maintaining our family business helped us come out on top.

What exciting plans or developments can Chattanooga residents look forward to from your business in the near future?

Chattanooga can look forward to cool, new, high quality furniture at an affordable price point with rapid availability. Now that we've opened in Chattanooga we will continue to respond to the communities needs and requests as we order and restock. We love to participate in the communities we serve, too, so you'll see us with a parade float at Mainx24, and supporting local schools, and donating to local charities. We're here for Chattanooga, and we know Chattanooga is here for us.