Morris Furniture pushes through pandemic to new store openings

The company’s new Fairfield Commons showroom soft opening is planned for Monday, a new message from the company said.

And yes, Morris is hiring. The company is looking for 50 employees in its home Dayton market, said Rob Klaben, Morris’ vice president of communications.

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Morris is remodeling and re-stocking its new Fairfield Commons and its Dayton Mall Morris Home showrooms, both set to open in coming days.

The Dayton-based company first unveiled plans for occupying about 50,000 square feet near the former Elder Beerman (Bon-Ton) site at the Dayton Mall back in February. At Fairfield Commons, Morris said it intended to open in the upper level of the former Sears.

The furniture company was forced to adapt to COVID-19, as was every other business out there. Its showrooms were closed for nearly two months and more than 200 employees were furloughed. However, nearly all have since returned to work, Klaben said.

The business relied on “contact-free delivery” of merchandise ordered before the coronavirus closures, and it expanded its support team to accommodate a growing online sales volume.

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“While our showrooms were closed, our online sales increased dramatically,” Klaben said. “With more time being spent at home, many consumers discovered that it was time to replace aging or uncomfortable furniture and mattresses, the dining table wasn’t big enough for the entire family now eating more meals together, or it was time for real home office furniture in order to effectively work from home.”

Sales have been strong since then, he said.

“There is pent-up demand for home furnishings,” Klaben said.

Anyone interested in applying for Morris job openings may visit www.morrisathome.com/careers.

Morris Furniture’s history goes back to 1947, and the company operates Morris Home, Ashley HomeStore and Morris Outlet retail showrooms in the Dayton, Cincinnati, Columbus and Northern Kentucky markets.