Co-Owner Dean Pelligrini in the 40,000 cubic feet of warehouse space so inventory is ready to deliver.  : Mackenzie Macht

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Inventory and Expertise

Feb 25, 2019 | 1:07 PM

Leon’s Furniture and Appliances in Prince Albert has found a way to adapt to the ever-changing marketplace and provide consumers with services not offered by other retailers in the area or online.

“We believe that customers should not have to wait for an order to come in. If you need a fridge, stove, deep freezer, washer, dryer, TV, bed, sofa – you name it; it’s in-stock and can be taken home the same day it’s purchased.” Said Leon’s Prince Albert’s Manger and Co-owner, Dean Pellegrini.

Located at 102 15th Street East in Prince Albert, the Leon’s store has over 35,000 square-feet of showroom for customers to browse and displays the largest furniture selection in the region. “At a retail price, we stock close to $3 million dollars worth of furniture, appliances, electronics, and accessories,” said Pellegrini.

Viewing the products before a purchase allows customers to experience the quality of the merchandise, leading to more satisfied customers. For example, when shopping for living room furniture, Pellegrini described the Leon’s advantage. “In our store, you can compare dozens of different styles of sofas feel the fabrics and leathers and judge the quality and color in person. You can sit on the furniture to test its comfort level and get an idea of the scale of the pieces,” said Pellegrini.

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The slogan, “Leon’s part of the family,” holds true for Leon’s Prince Albert store. It’s designed with the customer experience in mind. “Every customer that walks through the door is greeted with helpful staff and yes, you’re welcomed into the store like you’re part of our family,” said Pellegrini. “We want them to feel comfortable at home here, to sit on the furniture, and talk with our staff.”

An emphasis on a positive customer experience has created many repeat customers throughout the Prince Albert stores 57 years of business. Manager and Co-owner Randy Pellegrini agreed, “There’s no substitute for first-hand experience. Our staff receive training and know a lot about our products.”

Eight sales associates are available to answer questions regarding appliances and furniture. Staff can assist with product selection, purchases, financing, delivery, and warrantee. One of the store’s sales people has worked at the store for 35 years.

The displays are arranged with complimentary accent decor and help customers visualize what the furniture would look like in their home. Sofas and loveseat are paired with side tables, coffee tables, wall art, and accent vases. Kitchen and dining room tables are featured with matching chairs, hutches, buffets, and curio cabinets. Upstairs, customers can view assembled bedroom furniture for people of every age and at various price points.

In the showroom, clients are welcome to test over 35 mattresses by various manufactures. The styles run the gamut and vary from traditional, modern, rustic farmhouse, craftsmen, eclectic, industrial, contemporary, and many styles in between.

The building has another 40,000 cubic feet of warehouse space to store inventory explains Pellegrini. “We have big city merchandise and big city distribution in a small community. Most of the kitchen appliances, television, and sound systems that you see on the floor are stored the warehouse; new from the factory and packaged in crates and boxes, ready to take home.”

The Prince Albert store serves a number of communities. Leon’s has three delivery trucks that run daily. If we must go way, way out we can do that to with the help of transport companies.” Said Dean Pellegrini. “Having well-trained staff at our loading dock and on our delivery team means fewer mishaps.”

Financing is offered with the Leon’s Visa Desjardins Card for customers looking to make payments on the merchandise or pay for their purchase later. “It allows them to complete their room in the style they desire and enjoy it all at once. For some that means paying for the living room furniture and financing the accent tables.” Leon’s also offers promotions such as the save the tax event and zero percent interest for two years.

A 60-day price guarantee with Leon’s exclusive Integrity Pricing is another perk enjoyed by Leon’s customers. If an item is found cheaper elsewhere by an authorized Canadian dealer in the same trading area or the price drops in the store, Leon’s will refund the difference.

The Prince Albert location is privy to the Leon’s merchandising and marketing prowess and ensures customers in small centers have the same access to quality furniture from top suppliers as those in populated cities.

The Prince Albert store was founded in 1961 by two brothers, George and Ab Pellegrini and began as Modern Home Furniture. George passed away and Ab is still going strong. He pops into the store from time-to-time to see his two sons, Dean and Randy Pellegrini, who own and operate the store today.

In 1992, the store became part of Leon’s Furniture Limited. Over 70 percent of the furniture at Leon’s is built in Canada. Some is made overseas by Canadian owned manufactures. The Pellegrini’s were ideal candidates for the franchise as Leon’s stores are only awarded to businesses with experience in the field, a reputation for service, integrity, and dedication to customer service. Leon’s Canada stated, “It’s proud to see its name so well represented by these independent entrepreneurs.”

“We offer online shopping at leons.ca. A lot of merchandise that you see online can be seen in our store. The website is a good place for some people to start looking when they are trying to decide on what styles they like.” Leon’s can also custom order sofas in style and material of your choice from samples in their store.

Buying from Leon’s offers peace of mind when compared to some websites. “What if you don’t like it? What happens then? What if it shows up with a rip or a tear which can happen when things are made from cloth. Who’s going to pick it up and take it away?” Lamented Pellegrini.

“Here a customer is never stuck if they change their mind or find a problem. We have a fulltime service technician on staff who does repairs. We also have very competent office staff that work with customers financing and warranty issues.” Pellegrini mentioned.

The national Leon’s chain supports the www.leons.ca website. The site includes pictures and descriptions of thousands of products available at Leon’s. “Across Canada, Leon’s stores are already set-up to be a distribution centers for online. We can easily get merchandised to customers,” describes Pellegrini. Leon’s products are also featured in periodic sale flyers and customers can also stay up to date by following their Facebook page.

The Prince Albert business has made a point of giving back to the community and supports local charities such as the SPCA, Victoria Hospital Foundation, Herb Basset Home, Mont St. Joseph Home and many more. “Our latest sponsorship is with the Prince Albert Youth Soccer Association. We sponsored the clothing for the high-performance teams for the next five years,” said Randy Pellegrini as he sported one of the PAYSA jackets. Randy also referees soccer for PAYSA and has been a coach of the past seven years. Leon’s Prince Albert proud to serve Prince Albert and surrounding communities.