On what appeared to be another normal work day, local Badcock owner Kim Maphis was handling a delivery near the coast in Carrabelle when an email notification caught her attention.
The July 23 email stated details about a 4p.m. conference call, requiring Maphis to attend.
Maphis, who owns all three Badcock stores in Gadsden County, said there were about 200 people on the conference call, mainly owners and dealers.
On that call, Backcock President Mitchell Stiles, broke the news to everyone, explaining Conn’s Company was filing bankruptcy.
“And that’s how we found out,” Maphis exclaimed. “We found out 24 hours before bankruptcy was filed, she added.”
Within the hour, Maphis, in response to the devastating news, did not waste time arranging a 5:30 p.m. conference call for her staff to deliver the unwelcoming news. On the call, with all 13 of her employees, she let them know the store was closing.
“Lots of tears,” said Maphis, describing her employees’ response.
Maphis has worked with Badcock Corporations for more than three decades, working nineteen of those years as a dealer and becoming the owner of all three stores in Gadsden County in November 2022. Starting her career in 1991 as a part time saleswoman in Chattahoochee, after working for three years, and promoting to manager, Maphis, who also owns the buildings in Gadsden County, worked in Crawfordville for one year.
“I love customer service,” Maphis said. “I love my customers, my eldest customer is
101 years old and we still talk.”
Badcock Home Furniture and More has been a staple in the community for many generations. The 120-year-old store began as a family owned business.
Maphis, who also owns two stores in Enterprise and Elba, Alabama, said the Badcock family sold the business four years ago to FRG Company.
Later, a single FRG bought out the other investors, acquiring sole ownership, making the company privately owned. Seven months ago the private owner sold the business to Conn’s company out of Texas.
“Conn’s company was already having financial problems when they bought us,” Maphis said. “And we basically went down with them,” she explained.
Since hearing the devastating news, all thirteen employees continue to show up for work and have no plans of abandoning their positions.
Cynthia Reese-Donaldson is one of those loyal employees. Working with Maphis for six and a half years, despite learning about the company’s recent challenges, Donaldson remains committed to Maphis and their customers.
“It’s mentally draining,” Donaldson expressed, answering back to back phone calls. “I’m going to miss my customers,” she said.
Donaldson said she will remain through the end, and continue to be supportive to the customers, keep them laughing and keep their morale up.
“This does not seem real. This was not done on the local level and I fully intend to keep the furniture store. I’ve been in this business for too long, furniture is all I know,” Maphis said with a sigh of frustration.
While keeping her staff well informed, Maphis says she will understand if they accept another offer.
“That’s what irks the most, how it affects families, we’re just a big family.”
The store’s new hours of operation are Tuesday-Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The store is only accepting cash or credit card payments. The liquidation sale is offering up to 30 percent discount, with a possible deeper discount in the near future. The stores are expecting to close their doors for good within twelve weeks.
Kiwanis White – Gadsden County News Service
