Generations of families in downtown St. John’s have found quality, one-of-a-kind furniture pieces from Osmond’s for over 50 years. Having started from a small shop close to George Street, the family business eventually grew to expand its showroom to a nearby three-story building. Still in the family, Osmond’s continues to provide a wide variety of primarily Canadian-made furniture.

First move

The Osmond family’s entrepreneurial journey started with Douglas Osmond Sr. (a.k.a. Doug Sr.). In 1972, Osmond opened a namesake furniture store at a small shop on the corner of Adelaide Street and George Street in downtown St. John’s, Newfoundland. Also around this time, a handful of Canadian families across the country began producing furniture. So, since its beginning, Osmond’s Furniture has focused on carrying Canadian-made products and built business relationships that have lasted decades.

Osmond’s youngest son, Doug Jr., became involved in the family business at an early age. Together, the father and son team started their day at the railway station to pick up new furniture. Then they’d head to the shop to help customers on the sales floor, and in the evenings, they’d deliver everything they sold that day.

Upsizing

As their business grew, the Osmonds needed additional space for storage and found some nearby on the second and third floors of Furlong’s Central Barbour Shop. They later acquired the entire building to expand their furniture store. But, around when Doug Sr. started retirement plans, the City of St. John’s took over the property for City Hall construction plans. Eventually, Osmond’s Furniture made a home in the old Hickman Motors building on Water Street West. The building’s three floors allow for plenty of showroom space, and parking is available for employees and customers.

A third-generation member of the family business, Laura Osmond, says the type of products in-store today is similar to what her grandfather would have stocked. Osmond’s primarily carries quality, real wood, Canadian-made products, and they focus on having a unique selection of products for all ages. Generations of customers have shopped at Osmond’s, and Laura shares that her family has always valued providing honest service. “My father actually keeps a quote from an old fortune cookie on the front desk that says ‘a good reputation is more valuable than money.’ It’s always been our philosophy.”

The biggest change in recent years has been building a website to display products. As of about six months ago, their team finally decided there was no longer a need to keep a handwritten inventory record.

Still home

Today, Osmond’s Furniture remains a fully family-owned business operating in downtown St. John’s. Doug Jr. is still involved part-time and works with his son Michael, daughter Laura and long-time employee Chris Kelly on the sales floor, plus three warehouse and delivery staff. Laura says her oldest brother, Matthew, also worked at the family business for about 15 years before moving to Toronto.

Still a family business at its core, Osmond’s sits on 53 years of history.

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