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Pontzer combining natural health product business with furniture warehousing |
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Tuesday, 02 January 2007 |
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 Tom Pontzer is back in the furniture business.
Pontzer’s PEP is expanding their current natural health and fitness specialty business and stocking the building with carpet, mattresses and furniture.
For Pontzer, working in furniture stores has been what he always loved to do and he is excited to get another chance at it.
“There was need and a love of a lifetime occupation,” Pontzer said.
Pontzer worked as sales manager at the Bayer-Volk Furniture Store growing up throughout his life. Customers that knew Pontzer were a motivating factor in getting the furniture in.
“People encouraged me,” Pontzer said. “I had the building and sufficient space. It was something I was used to.”
Customers are who Pontzer aims to please. He said knowledge of the product as well as giving people the best possible price are important to him.
“I don’t want to sell something and not know what it’s about,” Pontzer said. “I do try to grade what I sell.”
He said low prices don’t necessarily mean low quality.
“(There’s) the need to get a better price for good quality,” Pontzer said. “I just love selling. I’ll show the price list.”
Pontzer was part of a business called “Pontzer’s Decorators,” which provided home furnishing. However, illnesses and cancer played a part in making Pontzer leave the furniture business behind. He is extremely grateful to have a second chance.
“I didn’t want to quit the business,” Pontzer said.
Pontzer gives a tremendous amount of credit to the Cancer Treatment Centers of America. He went to the center in Philadelphia known for its team of doctors educated in many specialties, and pastors who can give patients help. He gave credit to them for being able to have this opportunity.
Today, Pontzer enjoys making trips to Chautauqua Lake as well as Jamestown, N.Y. and other stops around Ohio, New York and Western Pennsylvania to buy warehouse furniture from various factories. He said the warehouse concept as well as what he described as a “lower overhead” allows him to sell furniture at lower prices than at a traditional showroom.
“I like the warehouse concept,” Pontzer said. “We have a lot of fun going on buying trips. I want the best I can give them for the least amount of money.”
Starting out, Pontzer said he had to begin again from scratch.
“I did basically start from scratch,” Pontzer said. “I never borrowed. I had to build slowly from profits.”
He said business has been great as of late with more people coming in from places such as St. Marys and Johnsonburg, while the natural health supplements do tend to pull in more people from out of town.
Pontzer said 85 to 90 percent of his sales are customer pickups and he still does some deliveries.
Something Pontzer wasn’t used to was the natural health food aspects. Pontzer has special supplements and foods which say helps him and others stay healthy and fit while alleviating pain.
“I think I have the greatest array of health products around,” Pontzer said. “I’ve become known as a product specialist.”
Pontzer admits while the combination of selling health supplements and furniture might seem a little odd, it does work.
“I never knew it could blend together, but it does,” Pontzer said. “It’s a crazy combination. My wife’s very astute in it.”
Pontzer has a bookshelf and table full of notes and pamphlets about health supplements. In 2003, PEP Health and Fitness was selected by major natural health products as one of the 10 best and No. 1 Health and Fitness Product Centers in the United States. He says the learning about natural health products is continuous.
“My learning continues daily,” Pontzer said.
He also noted the balance the health products and the furniture is now providing.
“We get so deeply involved in one business that it’s nice to have another love,” Pontzer said.
Pontzer truly enjoys the opportunity he has today and feels lucky to have it because he didn’t know it would come again.
“I never expected it,” Pontzer said. “But I’m glad it happened.”
He notes that he is available by appointment.
His activities don’t stop with the business, though. He said he works out regularly at the YMCA and particularly enjoys playing basketball a few times a week. His balance of leisure and business is giving Pontzer a new perspective.
“I’m enjoying it more every day,” Pontzer said.
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 05 April 2007 )
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