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Quality Furniture Company

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Submitted By Pauangel
Words 1761
Pages 8
Harvard Business School

9-199-009
July 8, 1998

Quality Furniture Company
In March 1992, Richard Allan, an assistant credit analyst for the Quality Furniture Company, was concerned about changes in two of Quality’s accounts in Minnesota—Lloyd’s, Inc., of Minneapolis and The Emporium department store in St. Paul. He therefore brought the credit folders of these two customers to the attention of Watt Ralphson, the credit manager of Quality Furniture. The Quality Furniture Company had its headquarters in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and manufactured a limited line of high-quality home furniture for distribution to department stores, independent home furnishing retailers, and regional chains. Lloyd’s retailed quality home furnishings from three locations—one in the downtown section of Minneapolis and the others in nearby suburban areas. Sales were somewhat seasonal, with a slight downturn in the midsummer months and a slight upturn during the December holiday season. Lloyd’s sales were approximately 75% for cash or credit cards and 25% on six-month installment terms. Installment terms called for 25% down and the balance in equal monthly payments over a sixmonth period. Lloyd’s had been established as a partnership and was later incorporated. In June 1991, two of the four original partners sold their shares in the company to the two remaining owners. Lloyd’s had been a customer of Quality Furniture for over 30 years and had previously handled its affairs in a most satisfactory manner. The Emporium was a comparatively new customer of Quality’s, having established an account in 1983. A medium-sized department store in downtown St. Paul, The Emporium was well-known for its extensive lines of home furnishings. Its account with Quality had been satisfactory through 1991. Both accounts were sold on terms of 2%, 10, net 30, and although not discounting, had been paying

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