If you're hunting for just the right pieces of furniture to finish off a room in your home, you might want to check out an edgy little furniture store in Winnipeg's Exchange District.
And we're not just talking about just any furniture store here.
You see, Hoopers, found at the corner of Albert Street and McDermot Avenue, specializes in stocking furniture that is distinctly different from the norm.
"We've been in the Exchange District for about eight years, this location for the last two," says owner Warren Hooper. "At first, we started out doing antiques and collectibles. In the last couple of years, we refocused and came up with the concept of being more of an urban lifestyle store with European sourced retro furnishings. Although we've been around awhile, we're still a bit of a secret."
Lately, thanks to stocking more Danish-sourced modern furniture, Hoopers has been drawing more people into its store which, while not big-box huge, gives shoppers plenty of space to peruse the vintage 1950s, '60s and '70s pieces spread throughout the store.
"Our goal is to keep the space relatively open to give people a better idea of what the furniture might look like in their home. When furniture is all jammed together, it's hard to see in your mind's eye how it might fit a particular space," he says. "Even though we're going to be bringing in more furniture to increase selection, we're still going to maintain that open feel."
Many of the furnishings are constructed of solid teak with teak veneer on major surfaces to enhance durability. Low-slung sofas and curved end-tables make for a clean-lined look that can add a unique sense of style to any room.
"Besides the different look, all the pieces we stock are solid and very well-made," Hooper says. "Once people buy one piece, it can be addictive. The people who buy here want to express their individuality with unique pieces. The platform beds, tables and chairs and sideboards (or credenzas) work well, and add a different, distinct look to any space."
While most of the furnishings aren't inexpensive -- the quality doesn't allow for that -- there's another benefit of going with the Danish retro look, Hooper says. "A lot of this furniture is an investment. Over the years, it will maintain and even increase in value."
Unlike the so-called big-box stores, a smaller, independent outlet like Hoopers also has more flexibility to offer its customers, he adds.
"I think, as a smaller store, we can work with people and offer customer service that big-box stores can't. For example, we have a layaway plan available that has proven to work really well for younger people on a budget. If you like some pieces, you can put some money down and pay them off."
If you're looking for a piece that has a particular look, that's not a problem, either.
"We will also find specific items for people. Once we find it, we can send them a picture of it and the price by e-mail. That way, they can see if it works for them. If not, there's no harm done. We've found that people really appreciate that service.
"We're also always buying and selling furniture, so if you're downsizing and want to sell some furniture, come see us. We also do consignment."
A longtime retro-furniture afficianado, Hooper says he loves finding unique pieces that can potentially add just the perfect finishing touch to a customer's home.
"I really enjoy the challenge of finding nice stuff to pass on to my customers," he says. "It's a thrill for me to search for and then present people with unique items that you can't just run out and buy anywhere. It's getting more challenging, but I'm up to the challenge because it's something I love to do."
Stay tuned for a Hoopers website that will soon bring visuals of the store's stable of retro furnishings to the web at www.shophoopers.ca.
