Keeping It in the Family

Keeping It In the Family

Photography by Joe Loehle

Sometimes change is a whirlwind. Other times it’s a subtle process. Like the difference between the way our beach can suddenly be transformed by a tropical storm or the daily shift of the sands with each tide. At Pierce & Parker Interiors, although the announcement that Fran and Jack Pierce were retiring after 40 years of running the successful business marks a landmark event, the changes at the store will be more like those shifting sands, as the Pierce’s daughter and son-in-law, Miller and Matt Dart take the reins as owners.

Fran Pierce is proud of the way that the way the St. Simons Island furniture and home store has grown since they originally bought it in 1980. She vividly recalls expanding into the addition in 1992. They began with approximately 10,000 sq. ft. Now they have approximately 19,000 sq. ft. to work with, and plenty of room to lay out the beautiful room settings that make Pierce & Parker so much more unique than your average furniture store. “I think that’s really what has always set us apart. It really helps the customers to visualize a finished design project. That, and our reputation for friendly, personal service.” The tradition of being a full service furniture store with professional designers on staff who offer free-in-home consultation will definitely continue with the next generation. Matt and Miller are quick to agree. Matt says, “We want to build on what has already been established. To continue to do the things that make Pierce & Parker distinctive, keep the traditions that have made it successful, while making some physical updates and upgrades to appeal to a new generation.” Miller adds, “We’ll be using social media more and looking at fresh ideas to reach a different market, while retaining the loyal base we already have.”

Miller and Matt, both St. Simons Island natives, dated in high school. But their connection goes back much further than that: Miller and Matt’s fathers were fraternity brothers at Georgia Tech. Matt also received his undergraduate degree from Georgia Tech, then graduated from Northwestern University with an MBA in Marketing and Finance. Miller has a degree in Business Management from Samford University, so owning a small business is a natural fit. It fits even better when it’s one you’ve grown up with!

After spending four years in Atlanta and four years in Chicago, Matt and Miller decided that moving back to the island to be near family was important. The opportunity to the run the family business was certainly an attractive one, and Fran and Jack are happy to be turning over the keys. They won’t be disappearing from the store altogether, however. Fran is staying on to help with the buying, and Jack will serve as a consultant as needed. In any case, the transition promises to be a smooth one. Miller and Matt see exciting future growth potential as they see trends in the changing ways people are using their homes and outdoor spaces. They’re looking forward to showing a new consumer base the one-stop-shopping furniture and design services that Pierce & Parker provides with their own personal stamp, but centered around creating your dream space. We have no doubt that this new era of Pierce & Parker will be just as, if not more, successful than the last.

Pierce & Parker Interiors is located at 3413 Frederica Rd. Stop in or make an appointment at 912.638.3641. Visit them online at pierceandparkerinteriors.com.