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Folsoms Furniture has been providing quality home furnishings since its founding in 1898.
The following is a brief company history:
Folsoms was started in the fall of 1898 by two brothers, Willis and Robert Folsom. The store became known as Folsom Bros. and was originally located in the village of Springvale, Maine. The original business plan was to become a full-service store, where a person could purchase everything to set up “housekeeping.” A complete selection of draperies, pins and needles, coal stoves, pots and pans, sewing machines and actually anything needed for a home was available.
One has to remember that this was before “the day of the automobile,” and people were not as mobile as in the early 1900’s. The store was on the local trolley line, so one could catch the trolley from Sanford for the sum of 5 cents to shop in the village of Springvale. Deliveries were made by Robert Folsom using a wagon with a beloved horse named “Dolly.” In the winter months a “pung” was used. The original pung (found some years ago) is now on display at Folsoms’ store in Alfred, Maine.
The original store burned in 1905 but was rebuilt and opened again a year later. Business continued to grow, and in 1922 Rodney Folsom joined his father, Robert, and his Uncle Willis in the furniture store. The “Great Depression” was an extremely difficult time for Folsom Bros. Many times furniture was sold well below cost in order to pay bills and put food on the table.
World War II brought forth a much expanded business climate, and even though shortages occurred, the business continued to flourish. John Folsom, Robert’s youngest son, entered the business in 1949. He is still in the store most days. Now we lovingly refer to John Folsom Sr. as Grandpa Folsom. In 1974 urban renewal demolished the Springvale business district. John Sr. and his wife, Jane, relocated the business to the village of Alfred, Maine, in the 1812 home of William Emery. Business improved rapidly and four additions to the 1812 home were constructed over the years.
In 1984 John Sr. and Jane’s oldest son, John Folsom II, joined the company. Although John Sr. and Jane retired from actively running the business in 1995, both of them continue to be very much involved in long-range planning and day-to-day operations. The business presently employees several family members. John II is president, his brother James manages the warehouse and deliveries, and sister Holly works in the office.
We believe that Folsoms may be one of the oldest family owned furniture stores in the state of Maine. Soon it will celebrate 107 years of operation.
Our mission is to offer the best value in home furnishings. We believe the best way to achieve this goal is to work hard to provide quality merchandise and superior customer service throughout our operations. From our design consultants to our sales and delivery staffs, we are committed to serving your needs from the very beginning of your shopping experience until after your furniture has been delivered to your home. You can always purchase with confidence at Folsoms Furniture.
Company Management
John H. Folsom II President
John Folsom Sr. Chief Executive Officer.
Jane Folsom Chief Financial Officer.
James Folsom Warehouse Manager.
Holly Leach Accounting Manager.
Our Beliefs
· Customer satisfaction must be the basis for all policies and procedures.
· Professional courtesy is essential to the overall harmony and growth of our business
· Each customer who enters our store is deserving of, and will receive, an equal and specified level of service.
· Our store must offer an above-average combination of values, which include merchandise, pricing, and, most important, sales and service while maintaining profitability.
· Open communication is an essential ingredient to good working relationships between management and sales personnel.
· We must have a strong sense of pride in our store and in ourselves.
We feature these famous brands:
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