Quality Furniture: Keeping customers happy, one sofa at a time

By Alayna Ward

The secret to Quality Furniture’s half-century of success can be summed up in simple terms: Keep customers happy, keep staff happy, provide great service, give back to your community and treat everyone like your neighbour. “We’re not a big box store and we work to be the first name in everyone’s mind when it comes to quality, service and community,” says Jeannie Rocher, operator of the downtown Yellowknife business. 

Quality Furniture had its humble beginnings in the late 1950’s, when Jeannie’s father, Johnny Rocher, parlayed his love of collecting treasures into opening a second-hand store. He ran the store with his wife, Mary and, with the help of their son Les, eventually started stocking new furniture in the same retail space as the used items. That was a hit with Yellowknifers, who were looking for new furniture that was available locally. The Rochers expanded to open Quality Furniture in 1986, becoming the largest furniture retailer in the North. 

Today, the business remains a true family affair. Jeannie Rocher runs the store with help from her husband Yves and their two daughters, Jessie and Michelle. Store staffers are like extended family. “It’s great working with family because the trust is there. And we have wonderful, dedicated staff that are customer-oriented and have worked with us for decades,” says Rocher. 

Quality Furniture’s range of furnishings and home décor appeals to varying tastes: from those who like classic country charm, or perhaps retro tech, or all the way to the other end of the spectrum for the more eclectic preferences (zebra print couch or ceramic ptarmigans anyone?) 

While there is no accounting for individual customers’ tastes, Quality Furniture works hard to provide a vast array of options to meet their customers’ needs. They stay current with styles and trends to provide just the thing to make a house a home. “We’re always busy and we know that in a city the size of Yellowknife, when you operate your own business, word of mouth is key,” says Rocher.  “People know they can get good service here and that we’re going to treat people right because they’re our neighbours. We want everyone to leave happy.”

Quality Furniture has been a trusted name in the Yellowknife retail furniture business for three decades and the Rocher family collectively has a half-century of friendly customer service experience.  They’ve done it by being versatile, listening to what their customers want and responding to changes in the market. “There’s no telling what the future holds,” says Rocher. “But what we’re doing has worked so far and we’re just going to keep on doing what we’re doing!”  YKCI