By JEFFREY SMITH
Leader staff writer
Crafton’s Furniture and Appliance store is celebrating its 60th year in business this month.
To mark the occasion, Crafton’s will be having sales from now until April 1 at their two stores — 2126 N. First St. in Jacksonville and 215 W. Race Ave. in Searcy.
The business, owned by Ken and Mary Beth Crafton, has always been in the family.
As a teenager in 1955, Ken and his brother, Derwayne, helped their father, David, and their uncle, Ulman Cooper, start the furniture store on Hwy. 161 South across from The Hook restaurant in Jacksonville.
Crafton’s was at the Hwy. 161 location for 40 years until moving in 1995 to the Jacksonville Shopping Center off West Main Street.
The store moved again in 2009 to their current location near the old Walmart.
Mary Beth Crafton said customers used to purchase a couch or chair that would be displayed in a room for years.
But now “people are replacing their furniture more often. Our customers are becoming more interested in American-made products and staying in touch with new trends,” she said.
“The trends right now are more colors and clean lines,” Crafton said.
She added, “We have quality products and service after the sale.”
The showroom has sofas, chairs, dining room sets, bedroom sets, mattresses, paintings, lamps and table décor. The brands include Sealy, Ashley, Bassett and England.
Crafton’s also sells washers, dryers, dishwashers, ovens and refrigerators from brands General Electric, Hotpoint and Crosley.
The store has sponsored many city baseball teams over the years, Crafton continued.
And salesman Mike Evans added, “We have lots of loyal repeat customers. We have served three generations of families.
“We will go the extra mile for the customer, and we stand behind the products we sell. We offer free setup and delivery. Crafton’s has a good relationship with the people of Jacksonville,” Evans said.
He also said they continue that level of customer service by following up if there is an issue.
Crafton’s is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.
