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This is a collaborative post. All opinions are my own.
What am I talking about? Local discount stores! In Spokane, our best-kept secret is Wallaroo's Furniture & Mattresses. You know, that bright turquoise building on the corner of Division and Cataldo, just north of downtown? The next time you drive by, you should stop in! By shopping there, you'll be supporting a local, family-owned small business in our community. And just as importantly, you'll get the BEST deals on high-end furniture and name-brand mattresses--better than at an online retailer or big box store.
I got to meet with the owners, Nathan and Bailee, and was so impressed when I learned their story! Wallaroo's started in 2014 out of Nathan's garage. He was an accounting student at Gonzaga, looking to pay his way through college, so he began flipping furniture found on Craigslist and at local auctions. Soon, he also started purchasing high-end overstock from companies like Macy's. Then he added factory-direct mattresses from Serta and Simmons. Before long, he had so much demand that he decided to unenroll from his Master's program and go all-in. He opened his first storefront in 2015, called Spokane Overstock.
In 2016, he started dating Bailee, who quickly got involved with the business. She told me. "I was really inspired by Nathan's ambitions and what he had made already. He was only 22 when I met him! I think I fell in love with his chutzpah and confidence and business acumen, which is pretty much at the core of who he is." Nathan and Bailee opened the first Wallaroo's store in 2018. Today, they have a total of six stores throughout Spokane, Spokane Valley, Couer d'Alene, Boise, and Missoula!
They also told me how they're able to get better prices than their competitors. First of all, Wallaroo's buys directly from the warehouse in bulk, instead of placing specific product orders. They get the previous year's models, scratch and dent items, and overstock unsold by the big retailers...whatever is on the truck. Then they negotiate additional discounts for volume and cash payment. They don't spend a lot of money on remodeling their stores (paint can do a lot), and they don't work with any middlemen, which allows them to keep prices super low.
We went in for a mattress and (after laying on a bunch) decided on the Serta iComfort memory foam mattress. It would normally retail for $3500 but Wallaroo's had it for $1050 (in a king!).
Here it is in our room!! After sleeping on this mattress for over a month, we can confidently attest that it is suuuper comfy and we looove it.
But the other great thing about shopping local? You don't have to listen to my opinion. You actually get to test out different options in person and decide for yourself. With online-only retailers, you have to rely on pictures and reviews, which aren't that helpful for something like a mattress (everyone's personal preference is different). By going into a local store, you can compare different mattresses in person and choose what feels comfortable to you.
Have I convinced you that shopping local really is the secret to finding deals on furniture and mattresses? If you live in Spokane, be sure to check out Wallaroo's and let me know what you think!
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Great tips. I know that there are lots of little shops that are locally owned that have great finds. I like Homekor for art. They have great sketches that I can incorporate into my home.