J. Conn Scott celebrates 91 years in business
Nearly 100 years after opening its doors, iconic Selbyville business J. Conn Scott fine furnishings is celebrating longevity with sales and new designs at both Sussex County locations.
Since 1924, the family-run business has grown to offer fine furnishings at a 35,000-square-foot flagship location in Selbyville and a design showhouse in Rehoboth that changes weekly.
"We're not any furniture store," Richard Scott, president of J. Conn Scott fine furnishings, said of the design process at his stores. "We're vignettes. This is how people live. A collection of different brands - not all one vendor or one era."
With an array of lamps, sofas, floor coverings, end tables, seating, light fixtures and upholstery, designs at the large store in Selbyville are not only inspirational, they are customizable.
In more than 10 decades, the family-owned furniture store has survived a Great Depression, recession, changing trends and populations in coastal Delaware by maintaining high quality, reasonable pricing, inspired designs and personal service, Richard said.
His grandfather, founder J. Conn Scott, first operated the business as a general store with his wife, Helen. After more than a decade of profitability, he consolidated the business to offer home accessories and furniture in the 1930s.
Soon after, his children Jane and William stepped in to work in the furniture store, and they opened the flagship location at 6 East Church St. in Selbyville in 1946.
By the early '70s Richard's father, William Conn Scott expanded the store to nearly double the size of the sales floor to its current dimensions.
As a member of the third generation of the Scott family to run the business, Richard was handed the reins to his family's business by his father in the 1980s and in 2000, he acquired the showhouse on Baltimore Avenue in Rehoboth with his wife, Lisa.
Since then, the family business has cemented its place in the lifestyles of residents in lower Delaware.
Today, Richard runs the business, with Lisa in charge of the showhouse, and his brother Robert Conn Scott runs their business marketing. Seven designers on staff are responsible for maintaining the inspiration with their vignettes and showcasing the fine furnishings.
When Richard's oldest son, Wesley, fills in during summer months, he represents the fourth generation to work in their family business.
Since they opened the Rehoboth Beach Showhouse on Baltimore Avenue, Richard said a substantial portion of their sales in Selbyville are fed by clients who check out the ever-changing array of designs they import into Rehoboth each week.
The brothers agreed, investing their substantial floor space in designs created to appear as vignettes of coastal lifestyles has been a successful approach to sales, as they can offer the eclectic scenes of coastal influence in the quality their clients are looking for.
At least twice yearly, Richard and Lisa travel to furniture shows throughout the Southeast to bring back new pieces and ideas, but most days, more than one member of the Scott family can be found at either of the showrooms, fulfilling orders or helping their clients find the look they are after.
"A lot of people come in looking for inspiration," says Robert. "They come in to get some sparks...We are a unique store; you will not find stores like us in the area."
He also announced the store is currently holding an extended semiannual sale.
For more information about J. Conn Scott fine furniture, call the Selbyville store at 302-436-8205, the Rehoboth Showhouse at 302-227-3780 or go to www.jconnscott.com.
