When Sharri Trott first opened iWork Bda selling office furniture she kept getting questions about the comfortable looking lounge chair in the corner.

It was meant for the commercial sphere, but people wanted it for their living rooms.

“Then my commercial clients asked me if I could get a couch to put in their office so they could take a nap,” Ms Trott said.

Recognising an opportunity she has relocated to the ground floor of the Washington Mall, in the suite previously occupied by the store Lookie Lookie.

She has pivoted from offices to homes, and this week began selling couches, chairs, credenzas and other household furniture.

The old store, previously located upstairs, was about 999 sq ft compared to the new one which is 1,600sq ft.

“Upstairs was a great location, but I just did not have the foot traffic that I needed,” Ms Trott said.

Ms Trott went all the way to China to select the furniture for her new showroom.

“I went on a business trip checking out several factories,” she said. “I watched how they were making the couches and how they were making the wool pieces. I got a good feel for the work.”

She is now ordering merchandise directly from a factory in China.

“It is not name brand furniture so I can sell it more affordably,” she said. “Some of the factories I was looking at were making products for major companies such as Restoration Hardware.”

Because she is importing directly from Asia, she is bypassing American import tariffs that would hike up the price.

Ms Trott admitted that selling home furniture is a little more fun than office equipment because she can play with colours, style and textures.

She has also partnered with Milton Jones and Max Curtis of Ace Installers to sell vinyl flooring. (The company has no association with Ace Hardware).

Mr Jones has been in the business for 48 years.

“We started off installing carpet and vinyl sheet goods and branched off,” Mr Jones said.

“We met Sharri through my wife,” Mr Curtis said.

Ms Trott explained that customers were always asking her is she offered flooring.

“Eventually, I thought, I need to go find a supplier and a local installer,” she said. “We are now selling vinyl flooring that is premium quality at a very accessible price. This also comes directly from a China factory so there is no middleman.”

Ms Trott said she has not left the commercial space entirely.

“I still have lounge chairs for commercial clients,” she said.

She urged clients to speak to her if they were looking for something specific.

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