Augusta, GA
Few stores, but mighty: Georgia retailer boasts 6 million-dollar salespeople in 2023 – Furniture Today
AUGUSTA, Ga. — In most years, Weinberger’s Furniture & Mattress Showcase here tops $10 million between its three showrooms. Sounds like your typical community furniture store success story, right?
It is, but that’s not all. Look again, and you’ll find that the family-owned, 92-year-old retailer had six of its retail sales associates eclipse $1 million in sales in 2023. In all, those half dozen salespeople accounted for $7.5 million of Weinberger’s total sales volume.
Vice President Karly Weinberger, a fourth-generation member of the ownership family, told Furniture Today that six members of its Presidents Club (Weinberger’s name for its $1 million salespeople) is a record, although many of this year’s members have hit those numbers in the past. One of the salespeople, Susan Crow, set a new Weinberger’s record when she topped $1.5 million from the Augusta store.
In addition to Crow, Cambria Davis, Matthew Bruecks and Lisa Peeler topped $1 million from Augusta, while Kim Mattingly and Yolande Grogan were the two Presidents Club members from Weinberger’s Lake Oconee store.
In a year when many retailers reported sales slumps, what kept Weinberger’s going strong? Weinberger said a lot of it had to do with the store’s strong custom business.
“Our traffic is down, but the traffic that is coming in is spending and spending more. They’ve made up their mind and have done their research,” she said. “We’ve also got a good niche; if you want something truly custom, you can get it from us.”
And once in the store, she said the team of salespeople work diligently to earn the customer’s trust. She said that’s what separates a great salesperson from good ones, and she was fortunate to have six great ones in 2023.
“I think it’s the way they connect with the customers. A customer comes in, and they find out what their needs are,” Weinberger said. “Obviously, they satisfy those needs, and then they search for what else they can do. They keep in touch with those clients throughout the year, telling them about sales and getting them to pull the trigger in those periods.
“Those specific people who had $1 million are those who connect with the customer and get in their homes,” Weinberger continued. “When somebody trusts you enough to bring you into their home, it creates that connection that keeps them coming back.”
Several of the salespeople have been with the company for a while, which helps. “That is huge. You can’t put in words how valuable that is,” Weinberger said. “To know you’re going to open your doors and be able to advertise to customers that they will be able to take care of them.”
Weinberger noted that two have youth and enthusiasm on their side, which shouldn’t be overlooked.
“Two of our writers are in their early 20s, so we’ve tried to invest in young people. They haven’t even hit their potential yet,” she said. “To keep somebody like those two is really valuable.”
To celebrate, Weinberger said leadership took the six Presidents Club members to a nice dinner, plus they get to include the honor on their business cards and a cash bonus. She said those perks create plenty of incentive among the sales team.
“It’s a number all of our sales associates strive toward and ask how to get to that number,” she said.
So what’s next? “Now that Susan’s gotten $1.5 million, she’s got to keep going and break that ceiling, and we’ll create a whole new club for her,” Weinberger quipped.
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Housing costs are often the biggest Georgians deal with every month, so it’s important to try and save money where possible.
Last week, WalletHub released its ranking of the most affordable cities to buy a home. It analyzed 300 cities based on 10 metrics, with the biggest weight going to housing affordability and cost per square foot.
Best city to buy a home in Georgia?
Augusta ranked the highest among Georgia cities, ranking 8th overall and 3rd best in the midsized cities list.
Augusta real estate prices
According to Zillow, as of March, the median list price for a house in Georgia is $205,000 with a median sale price of $187,283. About 57% of sales are under the list price.
The average rent, as of April, is $1,365 per month.
Augusta cost of living
The MIT Living Wage Calculator reports the hourly pay needed to support yourself and/or your family, assuming full-time employment. For Richmond County (Augusta), it’s $20.31 for one adult, $28.16 for a two-adult household with one working, and $14.08 for a two-adult household with both working.
Children obviously increase the wage needed. Depending on how many adults are working, the necessary pay figures may increase by up to $13 for just one child, with more needed for additional children.
Worst city to buy a home in Georgia?
The Georgia city with the lowest ranking on the list overall was Sandy Springs. However, with 300 cities, landing at No. 151 doesn’t make it nearly the worst in the nation. Sandy Springs was No. 56 on the small cities list.
What are the best cities to buy a home in US?
- Flint, MI
- Detroit, MI
- Surprise, AZ
- Yuma, AZ
- Akron, OH
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Memphis, TN
- Augusta, GA
- Indianapolis, IN
- Cleveland, OH
Miguel Legoas is a Deep South Connect Team Reporter for USA Today. Find him on Instagram @miguelegoas and email at mlegoas@gannett.com.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – Senate candidate Derek Dooley made several visits to the area on Friday.
Dooley had stops in both Lincolnton and Augusta on May 29 and was joined by Georgia Governor Brian Kemp for his “Georgia First” tour. He spoke about one of the issues he finds in politics.
“But the other piece of it is the corruption. People sit on these committees. They have access to information that none of us have. And then you look up 2 or 3 years down the road and their wealth is just skyrocketing,” Dooley said. “You’re outperforming every investor out there. And I think it’s shameful. I think it erodes trust. It’s something that I will never do.”
“Politicians were out there getting paid. They were coming back home. They’re raising money and campaigning while the government shut down,” Kemp said. “What Derek’s saying, if he’s up there, we’re not going to allow legislators to get paid. We’re going to take away their benefits. That way, you won’t ever have another shutdown again.”
Dooley is facing Congressman Mike Collins in a runoff for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate.
The winner of the Republican nomination will face incumbent Sen. Jon Ossoff in November.
Photojournalist credit: Regynal McKie
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A man has been arrested after he was accused of hitting two women at Piedmont Hospital in Augusta.
The incident happened on May 14 around 12 a.m.
According to arrest warrants, Bruce Bland struck one victim with a closed hand several times in the face. Bland also threw a garbage can at the victim, hitting her in the head.
The warrant states the victim suffered a bruise on her face.
Bland also hit another victim with a closed hand on her mouth, according to the warrants. She suffered swelling and a bruise on her mouth.
Bland is charged with battery and simple battery, according to the warrants. Both charges are misdemeanors.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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