Cultivating a Culture of Excellence

I crave two things in life: to surround myself with great people, and to deliver the highest-quality work to our clients. It’s that simple. But getting to that point takes time, effort, and a bit of ingenuity. Over the years, I’ve discovered what works and what doesn’t. Today, I’m going to share some thoughts on achieving the best of both worlds – people who are as devoted as you are to learning and improving their skills, and how to consistently turn out products that you can be proud of.

Executing the process of finding the right talent is where it gets challenging. A person’s résumé may look amazing, and you read it over thinking, “This is going to be the one.” And then you meet them in person. During the interview, it becomes painfully apparent that this is definitely not going to be the one. My point? Just because a person looks great on paper doesn’t mean they will be the right fit for the company. That’s why I like to walk them around the shop and meet other team members during the interview process. It lets us both see what it’s going to look like working here, and whether or not the vibe feels right.

Building the right company culture is the key to finding and keeping the right people. Simply put, it’s the shared values, attitudes, goals, best practices, and commitment to excellence that everyone collectively promotes. Think of it as the collective personality of the company. I was committed to building an exceptional company culture at Sofa Spectacular. I knew it would take time and effort to do so, but the payoff would be immense – a strong, supportive, positive culture that would be alluring to prospective candidates and improve retention and engagement. Sofa Spectacular had to be that environment where people actually wanted to come to work every day.

And it starts from day one. We allow people to discover, make mistakes, learn how to do it right the next time, work as a team and not as competitors, and enjoy the work family’s camaraderie. Most importantly, we empower our employees to improve the quality of their work and craftsmanship through continual education on the job. We encourage creativity and innovative thinking, and we expect them to bounce ideas off one another, challenge each other to come up with solutions, and never be satisfied with mediocrity.

When mistakes are made – and they will be made, we’ve all got war stories – it’s crucial that constructive criticism be delivered in a blanket of commendation. We offer sincere commendation where appropriate, give the needed counsel, and then wrap up the conversation with one last piece of praise. The goal is to keep the employees’ confidence in place while assisting them to see what they did wrong. When people feel secure and appreciated in the workplace, they will accept correction, strive to improve, and demonstrate their commitment to the team. When the team is happy, we’re all happy.

Elevating the Craft

I’ve made it my mission to build and maintain an excellent reputation for Sofa Spectacular, and my team contributes to this goal every day on every project – big or small. In addition, I’ve built relationships with subcontractors who share a similar viewpoint on quality. It all comes down to communication. Cultivating collaboration is an art, and everyone needs to be on the same page.

We take the time to walk through the process of a project, not just what our team will be delivering, but also the other trades on-site. For example, even if your work will be covered up behind a wall, will you still perform the work in a way that you can be proud of? Attention to details, even those that will never be seen by the homeowner, is where we excel. Stapling wire on a stud, making sure that the Romex is flat coming down with plumbing pipes in the wall straight and plumb – it all matters. Even cleanup, everyone is responsible for keeping the job site clean and tidy. We set the example, and others will follow.

Keeping our promise to the client – that we will deliver exactly what was asked for – is a truly satisfying experience. When you empower your people, your work family, to strive for nothing less than excellence in quality, creativity, and craftsmanship, you are elevating your business to the next level. And when you apply those same principles to your product, you’ll be on the fast-track to success.

Crafting a Legacy

I believe that true craftsmanship is about more than just the final product. It’s about the journey, the dedication, and the relentless pursuit of perfection. At Sofa Spectacular, we don’t just want to be the biggest company in the industry – we want to be the best. We want our products to be the best, our digital experiences to be the best, and our customer service to be the best.

As Neal Sample, the Head of IT at Northwestern Mutual, eloquently stated, “Craftsmanship means you do things with a level of quality that you would want for yourself and your family and those you care about. It’s a very different approach than doing things as hastily or as cheaply as possible.”

That’s the philosophy we’ve embraced at Sofa Spectacular. We’re not interested in the “better, faster, cheaper” mantra that so often dominates the business world. Instead, we’re focused on delivering products and experiences that stand the test of time, that bring joy and comfort to our customers, and that reflect our unwavering commitment to excellence.

As the team at Aspire Poly Furniture eloquently puts it, “Craftsmanship is about more than just the final product. It’s about the journey, the dedication, and the relentless pursuit of perfection.” That’s exactly the kind of ethos we’ve instilled throughout our organization.

From the way we source our materials to the meticulous attention we pay to every stitch and every curve, every aspect of our sofa-making process is imbued with a sense of artistry and care. We don’t just want to create functional pieces of furniture – we want to craft heirlooms that will be passed down through generations, becoming the centerpieces of family homes and the backdrops to countless memories.

As Nick Schiffer of NS Builders so eloquently stated, “When you empower your people, your work family, to strive for nothing less than excellence in quality, creativity, and craftsmanship, you are elevating your business to the next level.” That’s exactly the kind of culture we’ve cultivated at Sofa Spectacular, and it’s what sets us apart from the competition.

So, if you find yourself increasingly dissatisfied with your current sofa, give us a call today to see what Sofa Spectacular can do for you. Let us craft something truly distinct, something that will become the heart of your living space and the envy of all your friends. We’re not just in the business of selling sofas – we’re in the business of creating legacies.