Official Blog of Gallery Furniture's Mattress Mack of Houston, TX

Gallery Furniture Employees Participate in NAMI Walks 2008 Houston

Gallery Furniture employees showed up this beautiful morning in support of NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) - as Gallery Furniture's own Jim "Mattress Mack" McIngvale served as honorary chair for the Houston NAMI Walk 2008.

Early Birds Get the Racing Worm at NAMI Walk Houston 2008 - from left to right are new salesperson Emma, salesperson Carmen, marketing and internet guy Gil, salesperson and vocalist Darrel, and internet sales specialist Ray-Ray.

The weather was gorgeous and perfect for the walk - and Mattress Mack went on stage and presented NAMI with a donation of $5,000 in support of raising not only awareness of mental illness but, in Mack's words "we have to come together as a human family - because mental illness, when it affects one member of a family, often affects others, and we need to raise awareness and understanding of mental illness nationwide."

With that, Gallery Furniture's own Darrel Luckett sang two beautiful songs - the National Anthem of the greatest country on earth (the United States of America) and a soaring rendition of God Bless America where the crowd spontaneously erupted in song along with Luckett!

Click On the Video Above to See the On-Stage Performance of Gallery Furniture Vocalist Extraordinaire Darrel Luckett!

Mack cut the ribbon for the event and it was off Gallery Furniture went to start the event - and even though it was NAMI Walks the Gallery Furniture crew started off running on the trail - which ran down Houston's gorgeous Allen Parkway (starting at Sam Houston Park) to the Waugh Bridge and returned to downtown Houston on the inbound side of Allen Parkway.

Here's some photos from the rest of the event!

Gallery Furniture's Darrel Luckett and Mattress Mack go over the sequence of events for the stage - songs to sing and what not.  Also, Darrel Luckett takes time to express to Mack that today is Luckett's day - and that he will beat Mack to the finish line.

Even some of Houston's finest pets came out - a wire-haired JRT stands ready to do his part to walk for NAMI!  Walk, Ubu, Walk... Good Dog!

Houston's George Parnham reads a proclamation from Houston Mayor Bill White concerning NAMI Walks 2008 having May 3rd listed as an official NAMI Walks Day for the City of Houston.

Mattress Mack, honorary chair of NAMI Walks 2008, takes time to explain the importance of understanding the nature of mental illness, and how folks need to come together as a human family to assist in the awareness of mentall illness and to help families become a voice for those who have no voice. 

Salesperson Dennis showed up to join the crowd (far left in Gallery Furniture attire), everyone tensely waiting for the NAMI Walk 2008 to begin! 

The opening banner is held up for the photographers!  From left to right: Gallery Furniture's Darrel Luckett, NAMI Walk Manager Mary Robins, Houston area attorney George Parnham, and Mattress Mack!

Watch out!  Mattress Mack takes the lead - turning the NAMI Walk into a run.  No surprise - Gallery Furniture's beloved leader works out everyday.  It looks like Mack is running on the American General lawn!  Talk about adding a challenge!  That's our Mack!

Way to go Dennis!  Gallery Furniture Sales Professional Dennis runs his heart out at NAMI Walks 2008 Houston!

Way to go Ray-Ray!  Gallery Furniture Internet Sales Associate Ray-Ray has rounded the Waugh Bridge and is on his way back to gorgeous Downtown Houston as he completes NAMI Walks 2008!

Emma is the Gallery Furniture Power Walker as she makes her way to the Waugh Bridge on Allen Parkway during NAMI Walk Houston 2008!

Wow, folks!  It was a great day for Gallery Furniture as we helped to participate with NAMI Walks 2008 - and all of the dedicated employees of Gallery Furniture helped out with a great cause in Houston today.  The weather cooperated, and everyone was filled with a sense of pride and accomplishment today. 

Gallery Furniture - We Deliver Customer Service, too!

Sometimes, it is the little things that please a customer!  Read below...

Gallery Furniture's Service Department professionals received a kind word from David B. of Houston, a man who needed a very specific item for a recliner he had bought in 2002.  He contacted Mike Kelly of the Service Department after a long search for a recliner part...

Below is his tale as he told us via e-mail:

"About three weeks ago I was sitting in my recliner when a sharp popping sound came from the recliner. I could tell that something had happened but didn’t turn the recliner over at that time to try and see what it was.

A day or two later I found a small piece of metal on the floor that I figured was from the chair. I turned the chair over and saw a spring dangling from the frame. The eye in the end of the spring had broken accounting for the piece I found. I removed the spring and decided to see if I could find a suitable replacement in my immediate vicinity.

After several trips to local hardware stores it became clear that none of the standard expansion springs would work; I even tried a web search and came up with nothing.

I knew then that my only chance for finding a replacement spring would be Gallery Furniture. I had my paperwork from the time the chair was purchased in December of 2002, called the number and asked for help in finding a replacement spring. The operator connected me with Customer Service and Mike Kelly answered the phone. From the very first word Mike seemed interested in helping me with the spring replacement, it was very reassuring. When I described the spring he seemed confident that Customer Service would have the needed part, and suggested I come over and it could be checked out. I asked him if I could e-mail him a picture and confirm the replacement part was available before I drove the considerable distance to Gallery Furniture and Mike gave me his email information.

The following morning I called Mike back and within a short time he confirmed that the part was in stock. I told Mike I would come over right away. When I got there Mike was very busy answering the phone and dealing with people; he asked me if I could wait a few minutes which I was happy to do. After a short time he referred me to James who took me back to the service department and gave me the needed replacement spring.

I was overjoyed to get the spring; after all of my looking at hardware stores and on the internet I had begun to wonder if I could ever find the right one.

The spring is now installed and the chair is working perfectly; I’m truly grateful that my spring search had such a positive ending and I actually enjoyed meeting Mike, he’s a special person and an asset to Gallery Furniture.

Sincerely,

David B."

Wow!  That's a great tale from David B. of Houston, who had provided Gallery Furniture with a lot of information for the team to work from - according to Mike Kelly of Service: "David sent over a detailed PDF of the broken spring, showing dimensions, wire width, length at rest of the spring, everything - I knew, though, just when I saw the picture that we did have one."

Gallery Furniture is here for Houstonians both before and after the sale.  It's not hard to practice great service, most furniture stores in Houston won't bother once they sell you something.  That's what sets Gallery Furniture apart from the other guys in town - that desire to go the extra mile.  Gallery Furniture - delivering great furniture and great service... TODAY.