Art Van Furniture to end relationship with Paul's TV

[Hudsons81]

http://www.thenewsherald.com/articles/2015/04/14/news/doc552d11bc4fa8f347878327.txt

Art Van Furniture to close Paul's TV outlets

Art Van Furniture will close its 19 Paul’s TV outlets in Michigan by May 31 and replace them with Scott Shuptrine Interiors, Art Van Flooring and Modern Living galleries.

The decision is part of the furniture and mattress retailer’s strategy to satisfy the increasing demand of its home furnishings business, according to a press release. The announcement was made by Kim Yost, CEO of Art Van Furniture.

“Transforming the Paul’s TV outlets into galleries within our stores allows us to showcase more of our luxury brands, premium flooring and our new home furnishings business, Modern Living,” Yost said.

All Paul’s TV warranties and customer service issues related to products purchased will continue to be handled by Paul’s TV. Art Van Furniture has invited the approximately 50 Paul’s TV sales associates affected by the upcoming transition to apply for positions within Art Van Furniture, Art Van PureSleep, and Art Van Flooring.

For additional information, visit artvan.com.

Source: Art Van Furniture

http://www.freep.com/story/money/2015/04/13/pauls-tv-outlets-closing/25719305/

Art Van pulls plug on Paul's TV

Art Van Furniture is pulling the plug on Paul's TV.

The furniture company announced today that all 18 of the Paul's TV outlets in Michigan that are located within its Art Van stores will soon close.

The closures are to happen by the end of May, and each outlet will be replaced with space featuring Scott Shuptrine Interiors, Art Van Flooring and Modern Living galleries, the furniture company said in a news release. The Toledo Paul's store also will close.

Based in Irvine, Calif., Paul's TV is a separate business that partnered with Art Van to make its Michigan debut in 2010. All of Paul's outlets were within an Art Van store. The outlets also sold audio equipment and a few sold fitness equipment.

Asked Monday if his Michigan stores were profitable, Jason Stern, president of Paul's TV, said "It was close. Different times of the year produced different results."

Liquidation sales at the 19 stores began Monday.

"So for anyone out there, it's a great time to go buy a TV...you'll see a deal that you've probably never seen before," Stern said.

Paul's TV will continue to handle warranties and customer service for its products.

The 50 Paul's TV employees can apply for positions within Art Van Furniture, the furniture company said.

Paul's TV will continue to operate in California, Colorado, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. The company is named for its founder, Paul Goldenberg, who is now retired.

Good thing I got at least one photo of the Paul's TV in the Art Van Furniture in Taylor, Michigan today.

[retailisking]

I wonder if the Paul's TV locations in New England (most of them in Jordan's Furniture stores) are next. Electronics have lower margins compared to furniture, and in a price-driven market this store-within-a-store concept appears to be vulnerable.

[BillyGr]

I wonder if the Paul's TV locations in New England (most of them in Jordan's Furniture stores) are next. Electronics have lower margins compared to furniture, and in a price-driven market this store-within-a-store concept appears to be vulnerable.

Most likely it depends on what else they have in mind for the space.  The MI chain has other options (looks like at least a couple are their own brands), where other chains that they are in may not, in which case lower margin electronics are better than no margin vacant space.

[Hudsons81]

Well, either Paul's TV is staying put or Art Van just forgot to remove the signs, as I just went on Google Street View and noticed at least two still with Paul's TV signs (the one in Taylor, Michigan, the portion of Eureka Road on which this Art Van is located on was updated in July 2015; and the one at Great Lakes Crossing Outlets in Auburn Hills, Michigan, I haven't been up there in two years but the parking lot perimeter roads around that mall were visited, mostly for the first time, by Google in August 2015).

[TheFugitive]

Well, either Paul's TV is staying put or Art Van just forgot to remove the signs

Maybe it's just an Art Van Delay?  (cue Seinfeld bass riff....)   ;D

[BillyGr]

Well, either Paul's TV is staying put or Art Van just forgot to remove the signs

Maybe it's just an Art Van Delay?  (cue Seinfeld bass riff....)   ;D

Does that come with a vegetarian burrito? ;)

[retailisking]

Paul's TV has gone out of business after 51 years.
http://www.paulstv.com/

Founder Paul Goldenberg died in August
http://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-paul-goldenberg-20150815-story.html