Community Spotlight: Bobby T’s Mattress and Furniture
When Bobby Thompson first opened Bobby T’s Mattress and Furniture in 2001, he never imagined it would become a cornerstone of the Searcy community. From humble beginnings to becoming one of Arkansas’s largest individually owned mattress stores, Thompson’s journey is a testament to hard work, faith, and a commitment to his customers.
“I opened up in 2001. We just built this building over here, and there’s a guy who rented part of that over there. I’ve been self-employed for 47 years. I started an industrial chemical company when I first moved back from Dallas. I’m from here. My wife’s from here. We moved back here and I started the industrial chemical business” Thompson recounts.
After selling his industrial chemical business, Thompson found himself searching for a new venture. Fate intervened when a local mattress seller decided to leave town, providing Thompson with an unexpected opportunity. “The furniture business, you know, it’s funny. I bought him out for like $8,000. So, we started in ’01, and I started out as the smallest furniture store in Searcy.”
The turning point came in 2003 when Thompson decided to invest in Tempur-Pedic mattresses, despite his initial skepticism. “Tempur-Pedic was coming out, and I’d seen them at a show, but it’s like $2,000. I thought, ‘Ain’t nobody gonna spend $2,000.’… One of my reps said, ‘You need to do that because it’s a nationally advertised brand.’ So, I borrowed fourteen thousand dollars to get the deal, and it’s probably the best thing I’ve done.”
Thompson’s decision to switch to an all-mattress business in 2009 set Bobby T’s Mattress and Furniture apart from its competitors. “I thought, well, I can never be the biggest furniture store because (we) don’t have all that stuff. I can be the biggest mattress dealer in town… So now we are one of the largest individually owned mattress stores in Arkansas.”
Thompson’s success is not just measured by his business growth but also by his dedication to his customers and community. “We’ve been able to donate over 100 mattresses to faith-based recovery centers. It’s really been a blessing for me to pass my blessings on, and give God His glory, because I’ve never been in the business to do that.”
Despite his achievements, Thompson remains humble and grounded, attributing his success to his faith. “One of my favorite verses is Colossians 3:23, and it says, ‘And whatsoever you do, do it heartily, do it 100%. So, as unto the Lord and not as unto men.’ So we’re working for the Lord. It’s the Lord’s business.”
Thompson added, however, that no small business could grow without the help of a great team. “I have a really good team in Glenda and Tahj,” he said.
As Thompson looks toward the future, he hopes to find someone to carry on his legacy. “My kids are all grown. None of my family is interested in it. So eventually, I would like to find somebody that would like to be a partner, you know, carry it on because we’ve got a good business.”
Bobby T’s Mattress and Furniture stands as a beacon of reliability and trust in Searcy, AR. With a commitment to quality, community, and faith, Bobby Thompson’s story is one of dedication and divine guidance. “You just do the best you can every day and try it again tomorrow,” Thompson advises.
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