So who is this DRCOLLIE guy?

[yogibear]

Glad to hear somebody born my year is a 4th stage Cancer Survivor... gives me hope as I am EX smoker and a Current biker. Own a Henderson Super X but ride a Victory Vision.
Thanks for your help with my wife's problem. If it wasn't for the info on this forum I would have been another Made in China 'victim' of what the wife thought was American !
Plus I read somewhere on Consumer Reports about these Leather Sofas from China that were being recalled because they give people chemical Burns.. Then the BBC writes about it..
That was an April 2010 article http://chemicalsoup.wordpress.com/20...alth-problems/
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PU H&M September Sofa in Mahogany Distressed from GreenFront,Manassas yesterday. May come to your store next week to see if I can find something that will match and or compliment it. They had a chair but they did NOT have the correct ottoman for it.

[Plaborde]

I like the 3rd rule! I am a small business owner with several locations and like you, know how to do engineering, detailed calculations, fix a broken diesel engine or win over the toughest customer. There are far too few people like this today. Anyway your 3rd rule reminded me of something my dad told my accountant when he first visited our business, "Tim, interest is something I earn, not pay. As long as you remember that we'll get along fine". It's a principal I live by today.

[drcollie]

Hi Diane,

Thanks for the kind words! Most appreciated. I figure everyone should have a right to know a little background about someone they are entrusting their order to - so its my way of just giving a little background about myself.

I don't do Facebook, I kind of have an objection to the way they sell information gathered on their members. I know its wildly popular (my kids use it non-stop) but I'm just not a huge fan of it.

We will have your new sofa to you pretty quick, too. Its on the 'rush' list at H&M!

[finetaste]

Your welcome Duane.....You are spot on about Facebook gathering infor from their members. It is useful for people like myself that has family in different states....Instant up-dates and wonderful photos in no time!

Thanks for putting our H & M sofa on the "Rush List"....We appreciate all you have done for us.

Bless you.

[Perrino_Design]

Thank you for starting this forum.

[BevoGal]

I enjoyed reading your back story, Duane. I love entrepreneurship stories and hope to own my own business one day. I left the corporate world when my first son was born, and I'm never going back =) The pay was great, but it's so much more rewarding when work is fun and you make it on your own. So nice to see you have a career you enjoy, and that you put customer satisfaction high on the list.

[Shadowtek]

Fantastic post and good to know all about you! I'm new here but I've been reading for a little while. Thanks for everything! I wish more companies held to your ideals...

[drcollie]

<laughing> Thanks!

I've never grown too big (obviously, since its a 1-man operation) so my business formula probably isn't correct - heck, I KNOW its not correct - to maximize profits its a rather poor model and that is the point of business when all is said and done. But, I sleep pretty good at night and don't have a lot of people who shop my store angry with me for selling them junk - and that's worth something in life.

[RefurboBen]

Duane,
I enjoyed reading your story, and I am very impressed not only by your knowledge of furniture, but by your willingness to openly share that knowledge at no cost. To my mind, that is the sure sign of a person who truly "gets it". I sell furniture restoration services for Finish Pros in Raleigh, and I am always trying to increase my knowledge of all things furniture related -- after just one look at this forum, I know I'll be learning quite a bit from you. By the way, my father is a BMW motorcycle man, and just a few years ago, when he was already well into his seventies, he completed a trip across Russia and Siberia! He lets me ride an old BMW Paris Dakar touring bike from the early eighties, but I'm not much of a road hero. Thanks again for all the wisdom you share here. -Ben Weidner

[drcollie]

Welcome to the forum Ben - If you are in the finish restoration business, perhaps we can all learn from you, too! Many forum readers are hesitant to attempt their own minor touch-ups on things and would certainly appreciate some tips on technique.

I need to take my BMW and ride the length of the Pacific Coast Highway....that's my goal. Takes a bit of time and a lot of miles to do that one from Virginia, though.