Local furniture business changes ownership, name

A furniture business with locations in Springfield and Bolivar has a new owner and a shortened name. 

Ryan Schuette is the new owner of Hometown Furniture after purchasing the business from Randy Herion for an undisclosed price. Schuette said the deal, which included buying the 16,000-square-foot building that houses the 4773 S. 135th Road store in Bolivar, closed April 28.  

The business formerly was called Hometown Furniture and Mattress, but Schuette said he shortened the name after taking ownership. However, he said the company still sells mattresses, along with sofas, sectionals, recliners, coffee tables, dressers and tables, among other products. Aside from Bolivar, where the business originated, the company also operates a Springfield location in leased space at 520 E. Battlefield Road.  

“The website got completely revamped. I really think we’re going to be really competitive, if not beat everybody in town on pricing,” he said. 

The website notes Hometown Furniture sells products at 40%-70% off retail prices.   

Schuette said he became a first-time business owner with the purchase, noting he’s transitioning to retail after working in corporate sales for roughly 20 years for medical technology companies. He most recently worked remotely in a sales position with Highridge Medical, according to his LinkedIn page.    

“I was really just ready for a change to be honest and to get into something I had more control over, and yeah, it just kind of worked out,” Schuette said, noting he owns Hometown Furniture via Nandina LLC. 

Schuette said Herion, a longtime friend of around two decades, approached him last year about his desire to move on from the furniture business and interest in selling it. It was an attractive proposition, Schuette said. 

“I’ve always been entrepreneurial minded. Running a business has always been very intriguing but just finding the right one and the right fit was important,” Schuette said, adding he took his time to research the retail business.   

“The more digging I did into it, I really enjoyed it. I really just thought there was a ton of upside and potential,” he said. “Honestly, the Springfield market just felt like it lacked that hometown personal feel.” 

Declining to disclose startup costs or his three-year lease rate with landlord Kenny Morris for the 8,000-square-foot Springfield store, Schuette said he employs a staff of 10 between the two locations. That includes four delivery drivers, he said, adding Hometown Furniture typically delivers in southwest Missouri but will go outside that area and out of state on occasion.  

“I just got a good feel about it all the way around. There are a lot of good people I’m surrounded by in this business, and it just felt right,” he said in purchasing the venture. “I’ve really enjoyed the heck out of it, to be honest with you.”