115 RIGBY HOMEMAKERS – Customer Satisfaction

A family business, Rigby Homemakers was founded by Arthur and Annette Rigby in 2005, with their sons Glenn and Aaron now at the helm.

Rigby Homemakers boasts the largest furniture and bedding showroom in South Gippsland, with the purpose-built facility sprawling 1400 square metres. Featuring more than 50 lounge suites and 40 beds, it’s the perfect place to try before you buy.

“Homemakers in the largest independent buying group in Australia, there’s about 55 stores throughout Australia,” says Glenn. “So as a group we buy furniture in bulk rather than one offs, so it certainly gives us a better buying power.

“It makes us more important to the manufacturers because we’re buying in bigger volumes. And by buying at bigger volumes, we buy it at better prices. And we sell it at better prices. It also enables us to have a wider range of products to the customers at a great price.”

Glenn’s father Arthur has long had an affinity for furniture. He imported furniture from Indonesia back in the 90s, selling it from a retail outlet in Inverloch and in Melbourne. It eventually evolved into more traditional furniture when Rigby Homemakers was established.

Now the company supplies lounges, recliners, dining furniture, mattresses, bedroom furniture and a huge range of outdoor furniture across South Gippsland and into Melbourne.

“We pretty much service all of South Gippsland and Phillip Island, from Foster through to Grantville right through to Mirboo North. And we do some business into Melbourne through people’s holiday houses, and we deliver into Melbourne. We also offer free local delivery.”

Rigby Homemakers stocks premium brands including La-Z-Boy, IMG Norway Sealy Posturepedic and Sleepmaker and an extensive range of furniture and bedding available through Homemakers Furniture buying group.

“Anything from a bedside table right through to a house full. Lounge, dining bedroom, everything that you’d need to furnish.” And with an onsite warehouse, and access to the Homemakers Furniture buying group’s huge Melbourne warehouse, what customers need is usually immediately available.

While Annette and Arthur Rigby have taken a step back from the business, they still add their flavour to the store. But having handed over the baton to Glenn and Aaron, along with three sales staff, customer service is still at the heart of the business’ success.

“We pride ourselves on our customer service and the range and quality that we have. If you see a lounge and you want it straight away, we’ll sell it to you, we won’t make you wait three months for it. If you see it on the floor, we’re happy to sell it to you. It’s that country difference.”