3 ms·

Does anyone here know what exactly is NFM’s moat? Price, Selection, Customer Service? All the above?

kodablah 7y ago
Personally, all of the above. Most of my furnishings and appliances have been purchased there, the sheer volume of choice coupled with reasonable pricing and ease of purchase/delivery sets them apart from niche stores and/or difficult purchasing processes. It's much easier spending an afternoon walking around dozens of couches than traveling store to store (knowing evaluation must be in person for such an item).
- koyote 7y ago
  Can they compete against Ikea?
  - madengr 7y ago
    Yes, if you are looking for something that is not particle board.
    - icebraining 7y ago
      Are you sure? IKEA has quite cheap solid wood furniture.
      - whenchamenia 7y ago
        And it still seems to last a single move. I hate this disposable culture.
tomrod 7y ago
Selection, IME. We purchased couches and a desk chair from them. There tends to be three grades: entry, mid, affluent. Their entry are 2X Ikea and maybe 3X the quality of most of what I've seen from Ikea. Mid prices tend to be better than smaller furniture stores, and I can't really comment on affluent.
solotronics 7y ago
They finance at zero interest for three years and provide good warranties on anything. There are made in America options for everything.
tim333 7y ago
Buffett 89 letter: > NFM and Borsheim's follow precisely the same formula for success: (1) unparalleled depth and breadth of merchandise at one location; (2) the lowest operating costs in the business; (3) the shrewdest of buying, made possible in part by the huge volumes purchased; (4) gross margins, and therefore prices, far below competitors'; and (5) friendly personalized service with family members on hand at all times. the rest of that is a good read. (http://www.berkshirehathaway.com/letters/1989.html http://www.berkshirehathaway.com/letters/1989.html)

Personally, all of the above. Most of my furnishings and appliances have been purchased there, the sheer volume of choice coupled with reasonable pricing and ease of purchase/delivery sets them apart from niche stores and/or difficult purchasing processes. It's much easier spending an afternoon walking around dozens of couches than traveling store to store (knowing evaluation must be in person for such an item).

koyote 7y ago
Can they compete against Ikea?
- madengr 7y ago
  Yes, if you are looking for something that is not particle board.
  - icebraining 7y ago
    Are you sure? IKEA has quite cheap solid wood furniture.
    - whenchamenia 7y ago
      And it still seems to last a single move. I hate this disposable culture.

tomrod 7y ago

Selection, IME. We purchased couches and a desk chair from them. There tends to be three grades: entry, mid, affluent. Their entry are 2X Ikea and maybe 3X the quality of most of what I've seen from Ikea. Mid prices tend to be better than smaller furniture stores, and I can't really comment on affluent.

solotronics 7y ago

They finance at zero interest for three years and provide good warranties on anything. There are made in America options for everything.

tim333 7y ago

Buffett 89 letter: > NFM and Borsheim's follow precisely the same formula for success: (1) unparalleled depth and breadth of merchandise at one location; (2) the lowest operating costs in the business; (3) the shrewdest of buying, made possible in part by the huge volumes purchased; (4) gross margins, and therefore prices, far below competitors'; and (5) friendly personalized service with family members on hand at all times. the rest of that is a good read. (http://www.berkshirehathaway.com/letters/1989.html http://www.berkshirehathaway.com/letters/1989.html)