Walking into Ward Furniture and Flooring, you’ll see the sleek details of a wide variety of furniture styles, beautiful art pieces on the walls, and lovely selections of seasonal décor to accent your home. With the smell of an autumn candle filling the room and upbeat music quietly playing, you’ll also hear the laughter of employees who have made a home away from home – and they are welcoming you to experience the culture of personal service they are keeping alive and well after 80 years of business.
Welcome to Ward Furniture and Flooring, proudly owned by David and Jackie Ward.
Ward Furniture opened business as “Hardy Furniture” back in 1944. David Ward’s maternal grandfather, G.A. Hardy, forged the family business success by gaining the trust of the community and showing generosity to those who walked into the store. “My grandfather did business sometimes off the shake of a hand,” says David Ward. Reflecting on this generosity and the stories he has heard of his grandfather, customer service is something David ensures stays at the forefront of Ward Furniture and Flooring today.
As the years went by and success grew, it eventually became time to pass to torch – Hardy Furniture became “Ward Furniture” as the business was bought by G.A. Hardy’s daughter and son-in law (Norman and June Ward, David Ward’s parents.) The business continued to grow, as flooring and appliances were added. As a boy, David enjoyed helping at the store; as he grew older, the love for the family business didn’t fade one bit. He stepped into the shoes of businessowner in 1993. “There was never a doubt in my mind [about joining the family business],” says David. In 1997, David and Jackie moved the business from downtown to the current location, 180 IH 45 S, and changed the name from Ward Furniture to Ward Furniture & Flooring.
The Wards have two daughters, Madison and Scottie.
Scottie makes the fourth generation of family members to work for Ward Furniture. “She is the bookkeeper and so much more,” beams David. Jackie and David are undoubtedly proud of both daughters, and the family culture is evident.
Today, Ward Furniture & Flooring specializes in furniture, flooring, accessories, window treatments, and their newest addition of service – complete kitchen and bathroom renovations. Assisting customers with remodel designs has been a natural evolution in the process of helping them make their home as beautiful as they wish.
Designers Kim Sanders and Janice Edwards can help walk customers through the process, start to finish. Often visiting a customer’s home to scale the location, they work with the customer hand-in-hand to find the perfect custom items for each individual. With furniture available to select from in the showroom, some customers prefer to customize their orders – and in doing so, find plenty of options available.
Says Kim, “November tends to be a busy time as customers get ready for the holidays. Some of the most popular things are bedroom and dining room furniture, as well as living room.” Janice adds, “November is also our big storewide sale, and all of our in-stock furniture is on sale at 40% off retail, so it is a great time for people to come in and check out their options.”
At the back of the showroom, you’ll discover a plethora of options of samples for all your furniture and flooring needs. David notes, “More often than not, our customers special order. They can customize an order, and when it gets here, it’s exactly what they’ve selected and exactly what they wanted [for their home.]”
David pointed out the addition of project manager Brad Sherman to their team in 2022. “Brad has been a big asset for the store. He helps with estimations and job visits for both residential and commercial customers. He’s much more savvy with technology than I am, and just an overall good person.”
When asked why customers may choose Ward over any other furniture store, Jackie stated, “I want our community to know that we care. We’re not in this just for making a living. It’s been very successful for us, and it’s done us well. God has blessed us. But one of the biggest compliments I ever remember getting is a customer came in here and said when he left, ‘This is a Christian business’; I could not have been more proud, because that’s what we’re hoping they can sense…that we’re real, we’re not putting on a front, we want the best for them, and we think they’ve come to the best place to get that.
Jackie’s words were met with actions as a customer walked in during this interview – Jackie got up to greet the customer, who seemed to be a regular. After a few moments, she sat back down – but with a genuine smile beaming from her face that had not been there before. Jackie says David coined a phrase often used now when referring to their business: “Where personal service is a tradition.” And this customer service and kindness is something David Ward has aimed to keep going, from the days of his grandfather’s smalltown furniture store – to now a now bustling enterprise that services many surrounding towns and cities.
Scottie Ward, much like her father, grew up around the business. When she was a child, she often went with her dad on deliveries, and she is now officed alongside her parents, helping the family continue the 80-year legacy of providing quality furniture and services to Huntsville and surrounding areas and building relationships that last. Scottie says, “I don’t know what the future holds, but I’m watching and listening. We will keep evolving and becoming better.” Echoing what her father says about “keeping up with the times,” Scottie has her sights on the betterment of the store and offering the best to their customers.
David said, “When we are thinking about the future of this business, we look to Scottie – she’s the future. The younger staff members bring fresh and new ideas to the table, and I need to get out of the way and let them do their thing.”
If you would like to keep up with what is happening at Ward Furniture & Flooring, you can join their priority customer list which offers you early access to sales and specials. Text WARD to 76626 or email wardfurniturespecials@gmail.com. The store also has active Facebook (Ward Furniture & Flooring) and Instagram (WardFurniture44) pages where new arrivals and information are posted regularly. (sidebar)
Located at 180 I-45, Ward Furniture and Flooring has easy access from the interstate and offers quality parking. Owners David and Jackie Ward; bookkeeper Scottie Ward; designers Kim Sanders and Janice Edwards; project manager Bradley Sherman; along with support staff, delivery drivers, and more–the team at Ward Furniture and Flooring–welcome your business and would love to show you how they have created a culture of values that transcend the bottom line.
180 IH 45 S
Huntsville, Texas 77340
936-295-2514
wardfurniture.com
Postcards Magazine
936-293-1188
PO Box 690
Huntsville, TX 77342
