Cozy Home Solutions Opens on Jackson Road

A new furniture store is calling the Dexter area home. Cozy Home Solutions, 5301 Jackson Rd., officially opened its doors July 16. The store replaces House of Sofas, which closed this year.

“We started off with a soft opening, but this past weekend, we had a lot of foot traffic,” owner Matthew Murphy said. “We’re starting to see things pick up. I think the heat and the Ann Arbor Art Fair kept people away (during) our first week of business.”

Murphy said transitioning the business from House of Sofas, which his parents owned until his mother’s retirement this year, has been fairly easy.

“I purchased a 10-year lease from her, and we split the building in half,” Murphy said. “One half will be my business, and the other half she will lease.”

As part of the new store, Murphy said he plans to purchase and sell as much domestically made products as possible.

“What we’re trying to do is appeal to the middle-class average Joe,” he said. “I’m not in this business to buy a bunch of imported product, only to turn around and sell it for 50, 60 or 70 percent off with television packages like the megastores do. I’m going to buy quality products that people are proud to have in their home.”

Some of the furniture includes wooden beds, kitchen tables and chairs handmade by Amish families in Ohio and Indiana as well as products manufactured by El Ran in Canada.

“You have to give the customer a reason to come, especially in this economy,” Murphy said. “I can sell you the import sectional you might see at a Gardner-White store, but  I’d rather see you save up a little more and buy something that you’ll really get your money’s worth."

Murphy said he has also taken necessary steps to cut down on overhead and other retail costs that are often passed onto customers.

“I work seven days a week to help cut down on employee cost, plus I just love the business and dealing with people. The key to a sales business is making people happy,” he said.

One way of doing that is maintaining a high standard of quality, he said.

“We personally inspect every piece of furniture before we deliver it to make sure that there are no rips, tears or scratches,” Murphy said. “Our delivery guys are always getting compliments on being courteous and knowledgeable.

“I live in the community, so I don’t want to screw anyone over. I want to be able to sleep at night, and I want to be able to walk into a restaurant and not feel like I have to duck and cover,” Murphy said.

Once sales pick up, Murphy said he plans to have a grand opening celebration and customer appreciation event.

“We’ll probably try to do something at the end of August, once we get a little more settled in,” he said.

Cozy Home Solutions is open from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays; from noon-6 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays; and from noon-5 p.m. Sundays.

For more information, call 734-995-2616.