York's link in the Wolf chain

Michael Warren manages the York location of Wolf Furniture, a family-owned retailer that has furnished homes in Central Pennsylvania and Maryland for more than 100 years. The York store opened in 2002 and is the largest home furnishings showroom in York County. Warren estimates accessories account for about 1.5% to 1.8% of his store's total sales, and puts lamp sales at an additional .5%.

Wolf Furniture's East York location is the city's largest retail showroom for furniture, bedding and accessories.

In addition to York, Wolf Enterprises operates stores in Lancaster, Harrisburg, Altoona, Bellefonte and Johnstown, Pa., and Hagerstown and Frederick, Md. Wolf's 2005 sales figure of $86.4 million for furniture, bedding and accessories landed it in 79th position on Furniture/Today's list of the Top 100 Furniture Companies in May 2006. The company employs more than 400 people and is headquartered in Bellwood, Pa.

"We have a highly trained, seasoned and salaried sales staff to assist customers," Warren said. The York store also has a designer onsite to assist customers and salespeople with product selection and accessorizing. "Joanne Neff, accessory buyer for the Wolf stores, is based out of Lancaster but she receives buying assistance and recommendations from the designers and decorators in our various stores."

The York store is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. Warren said the store maintains a relaxed atmosphere where it's fun to look around even if you're not in the market for anything. Wolf offers child care at in-store Kids Cottages while mom and dad shop, and eases the credit application process with in-store kiosks.

Much of the store's activity, past and present, is detailed on its Web site, wolffurniture.com, alongside weekly specials, sales events, store policies, company history and an interactive room planner. The Web site also features interior design tips from company spokeswoman and TV personality Hildi Santo-Tomas, with whom Wolf maintains a renewable multiyear marketing contract.

"We are a family business whose reputation is one of our greatest commodities," Warren said of the company, run by president J. Douglas Wolf since 2000. Wolf Furniture began in 1902 when Charles Wolf founded City Furniture Company with partner John Fox in Altoona, and changed its name to Wolf Furniture in 1915 when Wolf bought out his partner. The company maintains a strong community presence through its support of and participation in numerous local and national charitable organizations and service programs.