The Place To Be
Ferguson Home’s newest “destination showroom” has it all.
This month Ferguson Home celebrates the grand opening of its newest showroom—and the new space is worth showing off. Ten years in the making, the 14,000-square-foot facility northwest of the metro offers a wealth of options to finish the kitchen, bathroom, laundry room, and more.
Mike Archer, Showroom Manager for Ferguson Home, says the state-of-the-art space had been on the agenda since Ferguson acquired Factory Direct Appliance in 2014. “We were part of the Ferguson group of companies, operating under the Factory Direct name for the past 10 years. This facility finally brings everyone under one roof and one name.”
Although Ferguson operates nearly 250 showrooms across the country, the Grimes facility is one of only a handful considered a “destination showroom.” “There are only a few Ferguson Home showrooms with all product categories together like this. But most don’t have the warehouse and distribution capacity attached to the showroom the way we do,” he says. “Our new warehouse is about ten times the size of our old one, and we even have 24/7 pickup available.”
In many ways, the individual product categories don’t function any differently than they did when they were at separate locations. But there are also some significant differences. “Our old lighting showroom had about 75 ceiling light fixtures on display,” says Archer. “We now have 424 scattered throughout the showroom. And those displays will change every six months to keep up with lighting trends.”
Although staffing needs didn’t change with the expanded facility, efficiency and customer service are even stronger. “The layout of the new showroom allows us to greet and serve clients more efficiently. And our online scheduling system makes it possible for clients to make appointments and for the whole team to be aware of everyone else’s schedule,” says Archer.
He recommends that clients schedule appointments, but walk-ins are also welcome. “There’s just so much to see, so many factors to consider when you’re choosing plumbing, lighting, and appliances. We really believe it’s important for us—and for the homeowner—to partner with their builder or contractor so they can make the most informed selection possible.”
In addition to the 400-plus light fixtures on display, Ferguson Home has thousands of other products available to see, touch, and compare (see “By the Numbers”). That’s another feature that makes the company unique.
“As a national company with hundreds of showrooms across the country, Ferguson Home has the knowledge and expertise to create a showroom that’s not like anything else,” Archer says. “There’s a whole team that just designs the showrooms and displays. Contractor partners travel the country building the showrooms and installing the displays. The support Ferguson offers us as a local showroom has really been fantastic.”
For example, when lighting trends are updated this summer, the national Ferguson team will provide a selection of hundreds of products that reflect the latest designs. But the local design team will choose the fixtures that best suit the metro market.
“It’s the best of both,” says Archer. “We have the backing of a national company like we’ve always had, but it’s very market-driven. The local designers, who know their clients and their market, are making the final selections.”
Since opening the doors this past December, the new showroom has not only served professional clients, Ferguson Home has also hosted a number of after-hours events to introduce industry partners to the stunning facility.
“We hosted a pizza party for the Women in Construction group and made pizzas in our fully functioning pizza oven,” Archer says. “We’ll be hosting HBA After Hours in April. We have the space and the capability to host all sorts of events. Builders and contractors can come in, have drinks and food, and check out all the products we have on display.”
Separate from the showroom but in the same building, Ferguson Home operates a commercial sales division as well as a warehouse. The company also partners with multiple service providers. That means every appliance sold can be serviced locally.
“For the most part, we’re the same company we’ve always been,” Archer says. “But we’re doing so much more, and it’s all under one roof now. The touch-and-feel aspect has expanded exponentially. The sheer size of what we have available now means clients can see and compare products more easily. You can sit in the tub, try the faucet, compare the different range hoods. That wasn’t possible before.”
By the Numbers
How much does Ferguson Home’s “destination showroom” have to offer?
- 12,000-plus square feet of showroom
- 121,000 square feet of warehouse space
- 447 light fixtures
- 8 fully functioning showerheads
- 14 bathtubs
- 1 fully functioning pet spa
- 1 fully functioning faucet display with dozens of faucets
- 13 full kitchen displays
- 38 wall ovens
- 48 refrigerators
- 4 fully functioning oven hood styles
- Multiple interchangeable kitchen appliance displays
- 5 hardware manufacturer product lines
- 24/7 locker system for product pickup
You’re Invited
Ferguson Home’s Grand Opening
Stop in during the open house event to see the beautiful new showroom and enjoy good food and beverages with other industry professionals.
Thursday, April 17
from 4:00–8:00 p.m.
RSVP to Ferguson Home
(515) 706-6750
400 SE 41st Street, Grimes