Today we’d like to introduce you to Greg & Elizabeth Armich.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
In 2014 a few months after being married and between jobs, we found ourselves traveling through Asia and Europe, taking in the sites and local culture. We enjoyed searching through shops, open air markets, and meeting the locals to see everything that each country had to offer. During this trip, we decided we would start to bring back items from some of the most interesting places we visited.
The large open-air markets in Bangkok, Thailand offered a great variety of items, so we started there. We met with some small vendors who had booths barely big enough to stand in. There we selected some accessories such as jewelry, tote bags, glasses, yoga statues, and voodoo dolls keychains. After our time in Bangkok, we moved on to India.
We started our search in India by visiting shopping districts in Delhi. After asking lots of questions of where to get items that interested us we found ourselves on an overnight train headed south to Rajasthan. Once we arrived we continued to ask questions and visit places that had a wide range of reclaimed and rustics furniture and decor. At this point, we decided to pull the trigger and fill a container full of various types of furniture and decor.
All of our items from Thailand and India were on the way back to America, but we still didn’t have a place to start selling them from. With our shipment less than three weeks away, we started to panic. Luckily a location in Logan Square opened up just two weeks before our shipments were due to arrive. The location we found was previously a church for 30 years. The pews and pulpit were still in place when we received the keys. Lots of painting, new floors, and a few large windows to let the light pour in and we were ready to go.
George & Augie officially opened January 17, 2015. Since opening our selection has grown and is constantly changing. We continue to offer reclaimed, industrial, and antique furniture and decor. Customers have loved the addition of candles, soaps, and some other locally made products.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
There are always good and bad days. The struggles of the bad help us appreciate when business is going well. When we first opened we knew nothing about importing from other countries. This process has been frustrating to learn, but a network of people has helped us along the way. Being a small store with leaves us to learn and do many tasks on our own. Website building, social media marketing, and online advertising are just a few things we learned how to do. We struggle at time to keep up, but our customers have encouraged us all along the way.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with George & Augie – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
We mostly specialize in Reclaimed, Industrial, and Antique furniture and decor from India. Our items are made from real wood, no particle board, and generally, are appreciated for their unique style and quality materials.
We are most proud of our customers reactions to our selection and prices. “I want everything,” and “Reasonably priced,” are the two most common comments we get.
Our customer service and antique assortment sets up apart from others.
We want to serve our customers and will help when we can. When we can’t do something, we are upfront and try to provide a solution that will please everyone. We would rather under promise and over deliver. Simple services like bubble wrapping items before transport when needed and providing felt pads for the bottom of items are appreciated because they help protect the customers investment.
Our antique assortment has been received lots of compliments because each piece is truly unique after years of use. This is the type of age that can’t be faked. The drawer on a table opened thousands of times has a beautiful look that can’t be replicated.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
We continue to increase the size of our shipments which has made us able to offer a wider range of products and reduce our prices which benefits our customers.
We are also looking to place some of our products at other shops in the greater Chicago area which will give more customers the opportunity to enjoy the items we bring back from our buying trips.
Pricing:
- Reclaimed Wood Side Tables $145 and up
- Metal Side Tables $75
- Antique Trunk Coffee Tables $280 and up
- Reclaimed Wood Tables $400 and up
- Live Edge Tables $550 and up
Contact Info:
- Address: 1953 N. Campbell Ave.
Chicago, IL 60647 - Website: georgeandaugie.com
- Phone: 312 375 2018
- Email: georgeandaugie@georgeandaugie.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/georgeandaugie/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Georgeandaugie/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/georgeandaugie
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/george-and-augie-furniture-chicago
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
