A little more than two decades ago, receiving a subpar furniture delivery while Grover Geiselman was in business school at Stanford led to the creation of Top 100 Living Spaces, one of the industry’s fastest growing retailers.
In a 2022 interview with the Houston Chronicle, Geiselman compared that experience to an earlier, better one he received in his hometown of Houston, courtesy of Top 100 retailer Gallery Furniture. Inspired by that experience, he would eventually learn from owner Jim McIngvale while he did a little bit of everything for the retailer, along with Sharm Scheuerman. They later founded Living Spaces in California in 2003.
“When we were getting started, Sharm and I just wanted to make that first store in Rancho Cucamonga (California) a success. We hoped we could grow the business into something bigger, but we were too busy sweating the details to worry about the future,” Geiselman said in a video Living Spaces posted to LinkedIn last year to celebrate its 20th anniversary.
While there were a few bumps along the way, Living Spaces found its groove and has been in growth mode ever since. Currently, it has 40 showrooms total, with 20 in California, 10 in Texas, four in Arizona, two in Utah and one each in Colorado, Kansas, Nevada and Oklahoma.
“We have nurtured a culture of unyielding support and relentless improvement. Our people and our culture are the driving forces that will carry us to new heights,” Geiselman said in the 20th anniversary video. “In the next 20 years, we will continue growing until we have stores in the top 50 metro areas in the country.”
As it’s grown, Living Spaces has added, or has plans to add, a Philanthropy Council and a Sustainability Council, and last year, it got involved with Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing a positive and recreational experience for children with cancer and their families.
“We are incredibly thrilled and honored to be launching this impactful campaign to support Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times,” said Geiselman. “This amazing organization goes above and beyond to provide crucial assistance and support to families in need, and we are immensely proud to be able to contribute in any way we can. Together, we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of those who need it the most.”
All the while, Geiselman remains focused on what’s ahead and how the company can sustain its growth and successes for years to come.
“Building a business is like crossing a river; it’s dangerous to stop in the middle. We have to continue innovating and growing and building new competitive advantages.”
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