Dining Room Do-Over

With major holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas still a ways off, now may be a good time to begin renovate your dining room before you welcome extended family into your home for the holidays. Below are some things to consider as you begin the do-over process:

Theme: The first step when renovating your dining room is to decide on a theme, and appropriate colors for that theme. Do you want something rustic, or do you prefer contemporary décor? Your style and theme affects everything from the color of your walls, floors, furniture, etc.

Furniture: Picking dining room furniture is the next step, as you shouldn’t paint or wallpaper your walls until you’ve got your furniture selected to make sure everything jives.  You can choose to renovate or reupholster existing dining room furniture, or wipe the slate clean and buy a brand new set. You’ll need to consider how large of a table you’ll want and how many chairs can fit comfortably, whether or not the table has the option to expand, if you want a buffet and hutch, etc.

Flooring: If your dining room is currently carpet, you may want to consider making the switch to hardwood flooring. Hardwood floors give your home a sleek and luxurious feel, and you can always buy an area rug for under the table so the bottom of the chairs and table don’t scratch up the floor.

Painting: Now that you’ve got your furniture and flooring selected, it’s time to select a paint color that compliments both. You can chose to paint all of the walls, paint just an accent wall, or do a combination of paint/wallpaper. The possibilities are truly endless!

Light Fixtures: As you’re renovating everything else in the room, don’t forget about the light fixture. Elegant chandeliers can bring life to the room, and you might even be able to find a great fixture at a thrift store so you don’t have to break the bank.

If you begin the process now, come November, your dining room will be ready to be shown off, and your guests can truly dine in style!

Five Tips for Aspiring Business Owners

I started out in the furniture business in the early 90’s. A lot has changed since then, both in the furniture industry and in the business world in general. Jarons Furniture Outlet started as one store in Bordentown, NJ, and we’ve since grown to two brick-and-mortar stores as well as an online store.  We believe value is the key, and we simply sell the best home furnishings at the most affordable prices.

I’ve learned a lot over the years about how to operate and run a successful business, and thought I’d share some of my tips with you:

Know Your Customer: While market research is an essential component of your business plan, if you don’t know who is buying your product, know their needs, desires and emotional reasons they want to buy, you won’t succeed. Talk to your customers, it is the best way to learn the information you need to succeed.

Set Attainable Goals: Having goals is an important part of being an entrepreneur. However, the goals you set should be realistic and attainable. Set small goals that lead you step by step to a larger goal. It’s important to look at the big picture, but the day-to-day operational goals are just as important.

Put The Right People In The Right Seats: Your job as an owner is similar to a bus driver.  If you don’t put the right people in the driver’s seat, and the right person in the navigators seat, the bus may drive, but it won’t get anywhere fast. The people you hire should be a reflection of you and the image and reputation you want your company to have. While I am very actively involved in my business, because we have two locations, it’s impossible for me to be in Bordentown and Lumberton at the same time. I have complete faith in my staff at both locations to be friendly, knowledgeable, and welcoming to all new and returning customers.

Early To Bed, Early To Rise, Work Like Hell And Advertise: My uncle once said to me, ‘if you are giving away gold bars and no one knows about it, you won’t give many away.’ It’s so true: you must let people know you exist. Advertising is one of the keys to success, so never stop doing it.  You may be frustrated by the results at times, but my personal philosophy is that I am going to keep letting you know I exist until you are ready to find me.

Do What You Love, Love What You Do: Running a business requires an enormous amount of personal energy, time, and passion. For me, you could say the furniture business is in my blood. My grandfather operated a furniture store in Philadelphia in the early 1900’s; my uncle opened his own store in 1979; in 1992 I opened the Jarons in Bordentown with my uncle and father;  in 2012, I opened the Lumberton store. I love the furniture business, and am lucky to live my passion each and every day.

Interior Decorator Advice: Functional Furniture Arrangements

When you buy a new home, each empty room can seem overwhelming. Jaron’s Furniture Outlet can help you find furniture within your budget, but what happens when you get home?

Here are some furniture arranging tips from interior decorators Decorating Den Interiors:

The Vision

Establish a feel for the room. Maybe you want your bedroom to feel cozy, and your living room to feel open and airy. Knowing how you want the room to feel will help you place your furniture.

Determine function. If you’ll be using the living room for entertaining, you’ll need flexibility with your space and furniture choices.

The Steps

Find or create a focal point. The easiest way to arrange furniture in any room is to start with a focal point. In your living room, it may be your television or the fireplace. In your bedroom, it may be your headboard or a work of art hanging above your bed.

Assess the walkways. For your home to have an easy flow, your furniture shouldn’t create obstacles. Keep walkways between rooms clear.

Designer Do’s and Don’ts

Do allow about 20 inches in front of furniture for traffic.

Don’t forget about lighting. There should be a table or floor lamp by every seating area.

Do mix patterns and textures in your furniture.

Don’t make everything match. Colors should complement each other.

Decorating Den’s designers come right to your door, and create beautiful spaces that suit both your style and your budget.

Jaron’s Furniture Outlet Celebrates Grand Opening of Lumberton Store

Jaron’s Furniture Outlet, a discount furniture store offering quality furniture at affordable prices, is celebrating the grand opening of theirLumberton, NJ furniture store located at 1710 Route 38, at 11 a.m., Sunday, March 18, with special in-store sales and savings, celebrity guest appearances, giveaways, and more.

“We are thrilled to be opening our second furniture store in New Jersey,” said Greg Jaron, founder and owner of Jaron’s Furniture Outlet. “Our Bordentown, NJ location has thrived because of our commitment to providing quality furniture at affordable prices, and we are excited to bring that same guarantee to the residents of Lumberton, NJ.”

The Grand Opening celebration kicks off at 11 a.m., with Chris Rollins from WPST giving away great prizes, including an iPad 2 and circus tickets. Kathy Wakile from Bravo’s “The Real Housewives of New Jersey” is expected to be present from 1 p.m. – 3 p.m., signing autographs and taking pictures with guests. There will also be in-store Grand Opening special pricing and savings. The new store is located in the Evergreen Plaza at 1710 Route 38 in Lumberton, NJ.

Jaron’s Furniture Outlet’s are independently owned and operated discount furniture stores with two locations: Bordentown, NJ and Lumberton, NJ. With a wide selection of discount bedroom, living room, dining room, office furniture, mattresses, and more, Jaron’s Furniture Outlet offers the best values in home furnishings. Visit the Bordentown, NJ showroom at 600 Route 206 South, or the Lumberton, NJ showroom at 1710 Route 38. For more information, visit http://www.jarons.com.

Jaron’s Furniture Outlet To Open New Store in Lumberton, NJ

Jaron’s Furniture Outlet is excited to announce it is expanding!

The new store is set to open in February at 1710 Rt. 38, Lumberton, NJ, in the Evergreen Plaza shopping center. The store will carry the same great, affordable products as the Bordentown store, including a huge mattress selection. Hours will be Mon- Sat, 10 a.m. – 9 p.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.

There are tons of great grand opening specials planned, so be sure to check http://www.jarons.com for updates!

Upgrade Your Dining Room

The dining room is one of the most important rooms in the home, especially around the holidays. If Christmas, New Years, and other important holidays take place at your house, you may want to consider upgrading your dining room set.

Jaron’s Discount Furniture has a variety of dining room furniture in natural wood and contemporary colors, sure to match your taste, be it traditional or more modern.  If you’re planning to mark the holidays quietly with a few people, small but elegant sets are available from as low as $227.99. If you welcome grandma, grandpa, nieces ,nephews, and other extended family into your home for special occasions, than one of the below options may be more appropriate:

Brussels: This traditional style set is characterized by dark wood and beautiful accents. The seven piece package includes the table, four chairs, and two arm chairs for $1,399.99. The buffet table is available for an additional $499.99, and extra chairs can be purchased individually.

Franklin Park: This nine piece package for $1,799.99 features a table, six chairs, buffet, and china cabinet in a natural medium black walnut stained finish. The contemporary design is accented by banded detailing on the table and case pieces.

Savona: Constructed of hard wood solids and veneers, this nine piece set includes a table, four side chairs, two arm chairs, a china buffet, and a china deck for $2,199.99. The medium brown cherry finish with gold undertones perfectly complements a more traditional dining room, and the set includes a 20” leaf , perfect for expanding the table when extra space is needed.

Those who enjoy fine dining know that half of the dining experience is presentation. Why not showcase your homemade meals on something as presentable as your cooking? Contact Jaron’s Discount Furniture to find the option that’s right for you and your family.

Be A Jaron!

Here at Jarons Furniture Outlet, we feel like our customers should be treated like our family. That’s why we just launched our “Be A Jaron” campaign. Our customers are our top priority, and we want them to feel appreciated. So, we’re excited to announce we are running some amazing specials just in time for the holiday season:

Aston six-piece wood bedroom set for $599

Jaropedic  11 inch memory foam mattress for $699

Tyler two-tone sectional with chaise and designer pillows for $499

Staircase bunkbed for $599

Recliner in choice of three colors $149

Seabring Bonded Leather sofa and loveseat $699

You can see more of our special offers here: http://www.jarons.com/sales/our-latest-commercials

If you love unbeatable prices, you’ll love Being A Jaron. To be the first to know about all of our special discounts, visit http://www.jarons.com and enter your e-mail address on the box in the top left to become a Jarons VIP. Stop in to our Bordentown store, or call (609) 291-1110.

Thanksgiving Traditions

As an adult, I sit back and reflect on some of my fondest childhood memories and one that consistently rises to the top is Thanksgiving. I always looked forward to that nice fall day: the cool weather, football, yummy food, and family time.

I would marvel at the skillful way my uncle would carve the turkey. In the army he worked in the kitchen, and I always assumed he had cut thousands of these birds. I would often stand by his butcher block island, waiting for him to offer a choice morsel of meat for me to try. It all seemed so perfect, easy, and really beautiful. Everything was decorated with the holiday trappings, the table was set, and hors d’oeuvres were prepared. Even the formal living room was not just on display but actually being used.

Now that I’m older, I know how much hard work went into those preparations. At this time of year, many families are just beginning to think about the upcoming holidays, how their house will look (P.S. –  I know a great furniture store that can help with that), who will be invited, and how to find the time to pull it all together. Ahhhh, the stress. Gazing back into my childhood allows me to fully understand and appreciate how much all of that hard work means to families. So I encourage you to continue your family traditions, make some new ones, and make it beautiful. Your children are watching and will appreciate it….one day.

Furniture & Family

Want to know why the furniture business is natural for me?  It has to do with scrap steel and family. A strange combination, yes, but it’s interesting how things come full circle.

In the early 20th century, my paternal grandfather got into the furniture business. He operated in Philadelphia, and like most immigrants, worked hard to make a living.

My maternal great grandfather, also an immigrant, was a peddler of scrap metals. He built his business into the largest scrap-melting operation on the East Coast, amassing a great fortune. During the Depression, he continued to pay his employees and the banks with his personal wealth. His son, my maternal grandfather, took his knowledge of the metals business and made a living trading the metal lead. My father, who started out as a stock broker, got an offer to enter the scrap metal business. He opened his own scrap brokerage business in 1978, selling it in 1991. My uncle opened his own furniture store in 1979.

My working career started in 1988, working for a friend of my father’s in a scrap yard in the Bronx. I eventually joined my father in his scrap brokerage business. In 1992, my uncle and father opened a furniture store in Bordentown, NJ, and I joined them. Fourteen years later, my father and I bought my uncle out of the business. My father passed away in 2007, and I purchased the remaining shares of the business from his estate.

Today, Jaron’s Furniture Outlet continues to thrive even in difficult economic times because of our diverse selection, unbeatable prices, and commitment to customer service. So you see, I have come full circle working in both businesses that were in the bloodlines of my family for generations. Funny how life goes!