Jerold’s Catalogue Showroom Can Furnish Whole House
There’s always a reason that a particular store can offer a particular deal. Low overhead, volume buying and/or sales are the answers given most when I ask, “How can you sell at such a low price?”
Some merchandise, such as furniture, needs a lot of space and generates heavy shipping charges. The cost of rent, warehousing, shipping and insurance must be added to the retail price. This is where the catalogue discounter comes in. The discounter has the huge advantage of not having to pay warehousing expenses, which means lower prices.
Jerold’s Fine Home Furnishings in North Hollywood is one of the largest catalogue showrooms in Los Angeles. Jerold’s carries the catalogues of more than 100 manufacturers of high-end home furnishings--names such as American or Martinsville, Marge Carson, Bernhard, Hooker, Henredon, Sherrill, Harden, Century, Drexel and Stiffel. The emphasis is on manufacturers of fine traditional styles, but the contemporary crowd has plenty to choose from.
If you have shopped the fine home furnishings stores, you may have seen the Henredon Versailles dining room group. The table, two armchairs, four side chairs and a large china cabinet retail for a hefty $20,450. Ordering through Jerold’s brings that to $12,276. That’s quite a hunk of savings.
Century makes a cherry bedroom set called Cardella that retails for $9,440 with a king headboard, nine-drawer dresser with mirror, two night stands and a chiffonier, but through Jerold’s, it’s $5,664. Drexel’s Carleton cherry bedroom group is $2,154 via the catalogue instead of $3,590.
The catalogue discount runs from 30% to 40%, but floor samples are even better: about 50%. A contemporary Sherrill sofa in a beige and white stripe was $1,185, not the $2,370 retail price. A beautiful Weiman brass and glass oval coffee table that retails at $1,244 was much more affordable at $620.
Lamps and accessories are excellent deals as well. One of Stiffel’s top table lamps that regularly sells for $775 is discounted to $388.
Actually, you can do the whole house at Jerold’s. Carpet, drapes, blinds are all available at the same excellent discounted prices. On blinds, the price cut starts at 50%.
When ordering from the catalogue, delivery is anywhere from two weeks, if it’s a local company, to 10 weeks if the manufacturer is out of state or if it is stock-brokering (making a piece to order), as more companies are doing these days. Jerold’s charge for delivery usually ranges from $25 to $150.
For the shopper who has found the upscale furniture or lamp that is just perfect but too expensive, call Jerold’s (yes, they will quote prices on the phone). It helps if you’ve done your homework and have such information as the manufacturer and model number.
Incidentally, for Lladro fans, there’s an impressive collection, and Hummel lovers will find their own favorites.
Jerold’s is at 13441 Sherman Way, North Hollywood, (818) 788-8835. Open from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. MasterCard, Visa, Discover accepted.
Geri Cook’s Bargains column runs every Thursday in Valley View. Questions about shopping may be sent to her, in care of Valley View, Los Angeles Times, 20000 Prairie St., Chatsworth 91311. Letters will not be answered individually, but topics of general interest will be discussed in future columns.
