Ashley HomeStore is an American furniture store chain that sells Ashley Furniture products. Opened in 1997, the chain comprises over 800 locations worldwide. The chain has both corporate and independently owned and operated furniture stores.
History
The first Ashley HomeStore opened in Anchorage, Alaska in 1997. Since then, the company has become the #1 home furniture retailer in North America. It has stores located throughout the United States, Canada, Chile, Mexico, Central America, Japan, Kazakhstan, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Bangladesh. Though many Ashley HomeStores are independently owned and operated, all of the furniture sold is manufactured by Ashley. The 100th HomeStore store opened in 2003, the 200th in 2005. It became the fastest-growing furniture chain and top selling furniture brand worldwide in 2006 and open its 300th store in 2007. At the time when Jennifer Convertibles filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in July 2010, Ashley was listed as having a $1.4 million claim against Jennifer. When Jennifer emerged from bankruptcy in February 2011, it controlled six Ashley Homestores in the New York City area. In February 2014, Ashley HomeStore opened its 500th HomeStore in Longview, Texas. As of November 2017 there are over 750 Ashley HomeStore locations across the globe. In April 2015, Ashley HomeStore made its first incursion in South America by opening its first store in Punta Arenas, Chile.
The parent company of Ashley HomeStore, Ashley Furniture Industries, headquartered in Arcadia, Wisconsin, is the world's largest home furniture manufacturer. Owned by father and son team, Ron and Todd R. Wanek, the company manufactures and distributes home furnishings throughout the globe. The company employs more than 18,000. In 2013, the company built a 3.8 million square foot manufacturing and distribution complex in Advance, North Carolina.
Charity
Ashley Homestore has raised over $6 million for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The company hosts the annual Midwest Ashley for the Arts, whose proceeds go towards children's charities, school and other different humanitarian initiatives. Most Ashley Homestore locations also support the Hope to Dream foundation which donates mattresses to kids aged 6-16 that do not have one.
