1959
18
$1,000,000
$50,000
$3,000,000
No
Step into a legacy of Midwestern excellence and high-quality home furnishings with the Art Van Furniture Franchise. Built on over six decades of trusted customer loyalty, elegant design, and market leadership, Art Van offers franchise partners an exceptional opportunity to deliver style, comfort, and value to their communities. With a powerful reputation as one of the largest independent furniture retailers in the U.S., combined with robust supply chain capabilities and a strong brand story, this is a compelling venture for investors seeking to make a lasting local impact.
Established Brand Equity: Art Van’s rich heritage, spanning from its foundational store in 1959 through its expansion across the Midwest, offers unmatched brand recognition.
Proven Scale & Expansion: At its height, Art Van operated nearly 200 stores—including corporate and franchise—and achieved close to $1 billion in annual sales.
Strategic Growth via Franchising: With successful franchise expansions in Michigan’s U.P., Ohio, Illinois (including Chicagoland), and Missouri, the model demonstrated adaptability across diverse markets.
Operational Synergies: Franchisees benefit from Art Van’s robust buying power, warehousing, logistics, and merchandising support.
Established: Founded in Eastpointe (then East Detroit), Michigan in 1959 by Archie "Art" Van Elslander.
Founders: Art Van Elslander initially owned and expanded the business, later bringing in partners before reclaiming sole ownership.
Franchise Footprint: Began franchising in early 2010s, growing to around 18 franchise units with approximately 16 franchise partners before the company's bankruptcy.
Acquisitions & Expansion: In 2017, Art Van was acquired by Thomas H. Lee Partners, enabling large-scale growth, including acquisitions of Levin Furniture and Wolf Furniture—adding 176 stores and propelling revenues toward $1.3 billion.
Market Presence: At its peak, Art Van operated ~141 stores across Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, and Missouri, plus franchised units and a full-service e-commerce platform.
Industry Category: Furniture retail—specializing in home furnishings, mattresses (via PureSleep), clearance centers, and design studio formats.
One of the strongest advantages of partnering with Art Van Furniture is the comprehensive support system designed to guide franchise owners through every stage of business growth. From the moment you sign your franchise agreement, the brand ensures you are never alone in your journey.
Site Selection Assistance – Art Van’s real estate and franchise development team helps analyze demographics, local competition, traffic patterns, and economic growth indicators to identify the best possible location.
Store Design & Layout – Franchisees are given a complete store design blueprint, covering interior layout, furniture displays, lighting, signage, and customer flow strategy to maximize shopping experience and sales.
Supply Chain Setup – Corporate logistics teams ensure smooth integration into Art Van’s warehouse and distribution system, guaranteeing a consistent inventory supply and access to exclusive products.
Pre-Opening Training – Franchisees and staff attend an intensive onboarding program that covers business operations, sales training, and technology setup.
2. Initial Training Program
Sales & Customer Service Training – Employees are trained in the “Art of Selling” method, focusing on consultative selling, upselling techniques, and long-term customer relationship building.
Operational Training – Covers POS system use, financial reporting, inventory management, staffing strategies, and HR policies.
Merchandising Training – Franchisees learn how to showcase seasonal furniture collections, mattresses (PureSleep), and clearance products for maximum turnover.
Leadership & Management Training – Guidance for franchisees and store managers on leading teams, managing budgets, and building a high-performance culture.
3. Marketing & Branding Support
National Campaigns – Franchisees benefit from Art Van’s brand-wide marketing efforts, including TV, radio, print, and digital advertising.
Local Store Marketing Toolkit – Personalized marketing assets (flyers, social media templates, direct mailers, email campaigns) to target local communities.
Grand Opening Promotions – A strong launch strategy is provided to build immediate buzz and establish a customer base.
Loyalty Programs – Integration into company-wide customer rewards and financing programs to encourage repeat business.
4. Ongoing Operational Support
Dedicated Franchise Consultant – Each franchisee is assigned a field representative for continuous operational guidance and store performance monitoring.
Inventory & Buying Power – Ongoing access to exclusive furniture lines, discounted bulk purchasing, and new product launches.
Technology & POS Support – Regular updates to point-of-sale systems, e-commerce integration, and IT troubleshooting.
Quality Assurance Audits – Periodic reviews of store performance, merchandising standards, and customer service quality.
Peer Network & Conferences – Annual franchise meetings and training seminars to share best practices and stay ahead of industry trends.
5. Academic & Leadership Development
Art of Selling Institute – Franchisees and staff receive advanced coursework in customer engagement, interior design sales, and leadership development.
Continuous Learning Modules – Online and on-site workshops covering marketing innovations, financial management, and new product categories.
The Art Van Furniture franchise is best suited for passionate, business-savvy entrepreneurs who want to combine a love for home décor and community retail with a strong, proven business system. The ideal franchisee isn’t just an investor—they’re a brand ambassador, a community leader, and someone who thrives in managing large-scale retail operations.
Enthusiasm for home furnishings, design, and helping customers create their dream living spaces.
A natural ability to connect with people and build long-term customer relationships.
Desire to operate a customer-focused retail business in the community.
Prior experience in retail, furniture, appliances, or lifestyle products is beneficial, but not mandatory.
Strong management and leadership skills, with the ability to hire, train, and motivate staff.
Familiarity with financial management, inventory control, and sales strategies.
Strategic thinker who can adapt to changing market conditions and consumer preferences.
3. Investment Capability
Adequate financial resources to support a medium-to-large retail format business.
Capability to manage:
Store build-out & infrastructure costs
Inventory purchases (high-value furniture & mattress lines)
Marketing & promotional budgets
Working capital for first 12–18 months
Typically suited for investors who can allocate $1M – $3M comfortably into a franchise business.
A strong presence in the local community, with the ability to network and build brand awareness.
Interest in supporting local charities, schools, and civic programs—continuing Art Van’s legacy of philanthropy.
Willingness to become a recognizable retail leader in their region.
Ambition to operate multiple units over time, not just a single store.
Ability to scale operations and invest in regional dominance (ideal for suburban and metropolitan Midwest markets).
Open to integrating new revenue streams (mattress stores, clearance outlets, design studios, e-commerce add-ons).
Suburban and urban locations with strong household growth, middle-to-upper income demographics, and space for large showroom formats (20,000 – 50,000 sq. ft.).
Midwest focus (Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Iowa) with potential expansion into other U.S. markets.
| Category | Estimated Range |
|---|---|
| Total Investment | $1 million – $3 million (store build-out, inventory, initial marketing) |
| Franchise Fee | $50,000 – $100,000 |
| Infrastructure Cost | Leasehold improvements, signage, fixtures: $500k – $1.5M |
| Marketing Budget (Pre-Launch) | $50k – $150k |
| Working Capital | $100k – $300k |
| Royalty Fees | 5% – 7% of gross sales (industry standard) |
| Expected ROI | 15% – 25% annual net margin post break-even |
| Break-Even Timeline | 18 – 36 months, depending on market and execution |
| Potential Revenue Streams | Furniture sales, mattresses (PureSleep), flooring/appliance add-ons, design services, clearance items |
