Commitment-phobes, rejoice. Fernish, a smart, sustainably-minded option for renting stylish, top-quality furniture just launched in Dallas.
“The pandemic kicked the need for flexibility, convenience, and great value into a higher gear,” says President and COO Kristin Smith. “The uncertainty — the fact that home suddenly became the center of our universe — made it the perfect time for furniture rental.”
The premise is simple enough: Founders Michael Barlow and Lucas Dickey loved the idea of moving. What they didn’t relish was the reality — the expense and hassle of moving existing furniture into a new space that never quite gelled.
There had to be a better way. After working together at another Los Angeles startup, the pair discovered an affinity for moving wasn’t their only commonality. Michael and Lucas also shared an entrepreneurial spirit and a belief that they could flip the home furnishings industry on its head in an eco-friendly fashion.
With successful operations already underway in Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange County, and Seattle, the growing company had its eye on expansion. The Dallas/Fort Worth area was a logical choice.
“In terms of growth and energy, we could not be more bullish on the Texas market.”
“Dallas has been an up and coming city for years and we’re finding more and more people have been moving to the hub,” says Kristin. “It was, honestly, the perfect time and place for our service.”
Here’s how it works: Peruse the Fernish website for pieces suited to your space, tastes, and lifestyle. Decide how long you want to keep everything. Place your order online; in about a week, the company’s team of professionals will show up at your doorstep to deliver, assemble, and arrange your new furnishings.
“We put each and every item together and double-check that it’s safe, sturdy, and ready to be lived with,” says Kristin. Among the most popular pieces: sofas, beds, and dining tables. “These are the core pieces. Having one that you love can make a big impact.”
Renters remorse? Not a problem.
Fernish will swap out items within the first three days at no additional cost. Or if borrowed pieces turn into must-haves, customers just pay the difference between the value and what they’ve paid to date.
Business has been brisk. Among the newer additions to the line-up: sit/stand desks, office chairs, shelving, lighting fixtures, and televisions.
“We’ve actually doubled our offerings in the past year,” says Kristin. “Over time, we’ve gotten to know our customers and their style preferences. As a result, we’ve increased our selection in nearly every category.”
Fernish: By the Numbers
247: The number of tons of furniture saved from the landfill in a single year by eliminating the need for cheaply-made, “fast” furnishings.
1042: The metric tons of CO2 prevented from entering the environment.
610: The number of days of furniture assembly time saved. Case in point: The Fernish team recently put together an order of 25+ pieces within two hours—eight hours less than it would have taken the customers to do it themselves.
11: The number of steps in Fernish’s sustainably-minded sanitation program and refurbishment process. Furniture gets a second life once customers are done using it.
70: The approximate number of people the growing company currently employs — including 12 projected to work the DFW market.
784,267: The number of hours spent working on Fernish desks in 2020.
30,000,000: The number of customers Fernish has the ability to serve across its five main metro areas.
