A UCBJ Special
FAVORITE RETAIL ESTABLISHMENT: Honoring the various retail outlets in the Upper Cumberland for customer service, varied or unique product selection, convenience and overall value to the community.
HOMECORR | PUTNAM COUNTY | 28 W. Broad St. Cookeville (931) 400-2190
It can be overwhelming – taking on a home construction or renovation project. But HomeCORR is here to help.
Owner Adam Ryan, a design-build contractor for over 15 years, saw a market need. Thus, HomeCORR was created in 2014. The home renovation center aims to be a one-stop shop. While its main focus is design and product sales, like cabinetry, countertops and tile, there’s also plumbing, light fixtures, hardwood and carpet to choose from.
“Whether it’s remodeling or new construction, it definitely can be an overwhelming process, and I just felt like there had to be a way to make it easier,” he said. “Our showroom does precisely that; we’re trying to help people get their head around a big project. We can sell somebody a faucet or we can design-build a new home. At the end of the day, our goal is to be a resource and an advocate. That’s what I think we do well and how we set ourselves apart from anybody else in town.”
A move to the West Side in early 2015 proved a better fit, not only in the eyes of the public, also in terms of exposure. HomeCORR is also expanding into insurance restoration/remediation work. Another good fit, Ryan said. And while the construction market is hot, HomeCORR plans to reap the rewards.
“It’s been a steady rise from day one,” Ryan said. “We’ve been very product-driven, and that’s been a good thing. But it’s never as much a volume thing for us, it’s about getting each job right.”
THE LAMP & LIGHTHOUSE | PUTNAM COUNTY | 2 S. Washington Ave., Cookeville (931) 528-2615
A family-owned business since 1974 – there’s currently three generations now working at the store – The Lamp & Lighthouse is a trademark presence on the Putnam County Square, occupying a space once home to Terry Brothers Department Store.
The nowadays retailer, in a 4,000-square-foot showroom, is a classic choice for light fixtures – that’s the biggest seller – to ceiling fans, laps and lightshades, even art, home decor and candles should the need arise.
“We have a variety of products, and they’re quality products. Stuff you can’t find at the big box stores,” said owner Janice Ballinger. Daughters Jennifer Moran and Amy Weaver help in selecting inventory.
Ballinger said they made the move to their current space from a location across the street in 1984 – literally carrying lamps across the street in the move. They’ve added items over the years to fill floor space – and to create a cushion when construction slows. That’s certainly not the case this year. Cookeville’s in the midst of a building boom, and Lamp & Lighthouse aims to be a one-stop shop for new construction, remodels, even when updating office decor.
“We’ve been doing this for years,” Weaver said. “And customer service is everything to us. We’re going to do everything we can to take care of our customers.”
SHAFFIELD’S FURNITURE | PUTNAM COUNTY | 450 S. Jefferson Ave. & 410 Joff Drive, Cookeville | WHITE COUNTY | 140 Churchill Drive, Sparta (931) 372-7328
Last year was a challenging one for Shaffield’s Furniture. It’s Cookeville store, HOME & SLEEP by Shaffield’s, was hit hard by the February ice storm. Flooding resulted in a months-long partial shutdown. Every piece of furniture in the store had to be replaced.
But, as owner Jacob Shaffield says, they “made lemonade out of lemons.” While waiting out repairs, the company worked to secure several new top outdoor brands – like Summer Classics and Lloyd Flanders, now exclusive to Cookeville – and, this spring, completed construction on a covered outdoor living area, which allows for expanded offerings, like Big Green Egg. There’s a new sleep center on the main floor with a lineup of mattresses from Restonic, TempurPedic and Scandinavian. And a new upholstery gallery includes Stressless and Magnolia Home by Joanna Gaines, star of HGTV’s Fixer Upper. Bassett, Kincaid, and Flexsteel continue to remain staples.
“We constantly refresh the floor with great new styles, presented in unique ways,” Shaffield said.
But that’s not all. The retailer recently relaunched its original Shaffield’s location in White County as Sparta Furniture. Shaffield said they’ll be “bringing a taste of what we do in Cookeville” to his hometown. And Shaffield’s third store, Cookeville Furniture, located off Jefferson Avenue on Joff Drive, will relaunch in the near future as an outlet store. It opened earlier this year.
The company is also looking to work with builders in the area to stage model homes. Its first partnership came with Zurich Homes, a 2010 Ovation Award winner, for a project in Fairfield Glade.
“For us, our staff truly makes the difference,” Shaffield said. “We always say we want our customers to decide – instead of the furniture making the decision for them. We won’t deliver anything that we wouldn’t take into our own (home).”
SMITH COUNTY DRUG CENTER | SMITH COUNTY | 1210 Main St. North, Carthage (615) 735-2223
Smith County Drug Center was founded by Steve Wilmore in Carthage in 1976. But after 40 years of owning and operating the successful hometown retail pharmacy, Wilmore retired in March and sold to his four partners: Cozette Manus, Lisa Harville, Jan Trainham and Jay Wilmore. Today, each handles a different aspect of the center, while working together to maintain its core values, which include fast and friendly service, genuine care and concern for patients and modern efficiencies that keep costs as low as possible.
“The business has grown so much through the years, it takes all of us to do it well,” Trainham said. “Our main focus is personal customer service. We all four grew up here, so we pride ourselves on knowing our customers and knowing them by name. They’re our neighbors.”
Trainham said the business will soon offer immunizations – a new service – and recently rolled out a mobile app and upgraded website. In the future, Smith County Drug Center looks to offer more clinical testing and counseling like for smoking cessation and weight loss.
“As pharmacy evolves and the pharmacists’ role in health care (evolves), we really want to be able to meet our patient’s needs,” Trainham said.
SEE THE REST: Ovations 2016
Excellence in Tourism Promotion
Best Individual Citizen/Excellence in Business Leadership
Excellence in Professional Services
