We spoke with the team at McGannon Showrooms to learn a little more about this longstanding member of the Dallas Design District. They’ve been serving their DDD clientele since 1984, and everything in their showroom— from furniture to art and accessories — must pass two tests to make it on the floor.
Tell us a little bit about McGannon Showrooms and how it came to be.
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McGannon Showrooms was started by husband-and-wife duo Sharon and Bill McGannon almost 40 years ago. Bill was initially a furniture rep out working the road while Sharon stayed at home base and ran the office.
The pair built up so much business that furniture manufacturers offered them consignment samples and partial rent to sell their product. While that business model no longer stands today, it segued into a strong business platform. Special thanks to sweet Sharon and wild Bill McGannon for founding this company.
Value, trust and professionalism are at the heart of McGannon Showrooms. Why are these three values so important and why do they set McGannon apart from other showrooms?
Value, trust, and professionalism are at the core of the “McGannon Experience.”
To us, it’s about every person who walks through our doors. Whether you are a salesperson, delivery truck driver or designer, we want you to have the best experience possible. What we do at McGannon Showrooms is find solutions and build relationships. We love to share our knowledge with you — and we know a lot — as furniture experts.
Come visit our showroom and you will see and feel the positive energy swirling about.
McGannon has many furniture lines. Why is this wide selection important to you and how do you choose which lines to carry?
The wide selection is important to us because in reality, the selection is far and wide. When we chose a line, it starts on the emotional level. The Love Test rules it in or out. Does it give us a twinkle in our eye? Flushed cheeks? Rapid heart rate? Can’t live without it? Keeps us up all night?
If all those questions are a yes, we move onto the Reality Test. Is it quality construction? Does the price match the quality level? Does the company have a good support team to work with? How long has the company been in business? Do they have easy-to-use sales tools? Does this category fill a need?
After the Reality Test, we either chose to go for it or not.
How is traditional furniture different at McGannon Showrooms?
“Traditional furniture” itself is a very subjective word. To us, traditional furniture is like the eternal Audrey Hepburn: always classic and elegant. We have a deep love for traditional styles, but most people would say we have become more transitional with our furniture. Transitional furniture pieces are basically traditional pieces cleaned up a bit.
Any favorite collection and/or item at the moment?
At the moment, I would say I’m most looking forward to the Adriana Hoyos teal velvet Rumba swivel chairs that should land soon. But until then, I am crushing on our sculptural decorative accessories playfully arranged on cocktail tables and consoles.
Do you have any special events or sales clients can expect this year?
Yes, indeed! For evening cocktails, Adriana Hoyos will be at our showroom October 4th from 5-7 PM for a book signing and to introduce her Rumba Collection.
We also love to host education classes for designers. We have two classes focused on product knowledge for designers, including our "Chaddock: Anatomy of a Chair" class on Sept. 12th and our "Benjamin Moore: The Art and Science of Light Technology" class Nov. 13th.
Last but not least, we are hosting a class by Julia Malloy, an expert in the luxury design business, on January 24. This class is extra-special because while designers normally pay a fee to attend Malloy's classes, McGannon will gift the class to designers. You can rsvp@mcgs.com or check our events page http://mcgs.com/event.php for details.
Which design tip do you always keep in mind when helping clients?
We have two salespeople who are Designers and a Saturday Designer-on-call. I think each would have a different tip.
If I had to choose, I would say be mindful of scale and how it relates to other pieces in the room — this is one of the hardest things to master as a designer.
What do you enjoy most about being located in the Design District neighborhood?
We love the energy of the community and creatives all around us.
Complete this sentence: “When choosing furniture, it is always best to choose a piece based on…”
Love, of course! Then ask yourself, is it for form or function? Does it fit that need? And if yes, then you have yourself a winner.
Give the McGannon Showrooms' experience a try next time you’re in the Dallas Design District. No matter what you’re looking for, the team has the expertise to help you find it.
