Business Q&A with Karen McQueen of Southern Furniture Warehouse

Karen McQueen, owner of Southern Furniture Warehouse, grew up around the business her father, H.C. Branscom started in 1974. Photo by Mike Shaw | The Burgs.

Name: Karen McQueen

Age: 49

Family: Randy, husband. Brandi, daughter.

Business Started: 1974

Location: 2110 West Main Street, Radford

What the business does/sells: Southern Furniture Warehouse sells top quality, name brand furniture at the lowest possible prices.

Q: How did you get into the business?

A: I was raised in the furniture business. My father, H.C. Branscom, started Southern Furniture Warehouse in 1974. I grew up helping him, from dusting furniture to assembling furniture. He taught me the ins-and-outs of the retail furniture business. After graduating college at East Tennessee State, I returned to Radford and took the reins of our family business.

Q: What’s your favorite thing about the business?

A: Meeting all the different people from the NRV. Some grew up here, as I did, and others have moved here from someplace else. Also buying all the new styles and fabrics for our customers is very exciting and rewarding.

Q: What do you think the keys to your success have been?

A: Our success has come from our great customers. The retail furniture business is totally customer driven. We strive to buy the right product mix, at the right price and to treat our customers as we would like to be treated, with respect and integrity.

Q: In what ways does your company give back to the community?

A: Southern Furniture Warehouse supports many local charities. We sponsor many activities with the local Humane Society. The walk for life to help the fight against cancer is another one of our charities we participate as well as sponsor this. We were a major sponsor of this year’s NRV Air Show. We also sponsor the NRCC Fiddle and Banjo club, which brings us great entertainment each and every year. We also support all the local high school sports activities.

Q: What might people be surprised to learn about your business?

A: People would be very surprised to see our newly remodeled showroom and all of the exceptional values. With over 15,000 square feet of top name brand furniture such as Ashley, Catnapper, Jackson, Serta, Vaughan-Bassett and many more. Our selection is second-to-none. Please, come by soon and see for yourself.

Q: What do you like about having a business in the New River Valley?

A: Having a business in the NRV is unique because of the diversity of our customers. They come from every area of this great community. We have farmers, factory workers, contractors, teachers, college professors, doctors, lawyers, students and stay at home moms and dads. They all have one thing in common that I like; they all at some point in time either want or need new furniture and this makes my world go round.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply