When Paula Clancy decided to open her own store in Knoxville 18 years ago, she knew she wanted to combine her two passions: modern furniture and local business.

That dream has turned into Nouveau Classics, a shop in the Bearden District that specializes in high-quality furniture that Clancy describes as “modern classic.” The furniture offers the clean lines and contemporary style of modern décor, but also is very comfortable and livable.

 “We offer high design and fabulous quality from top-of-the-line manufacturers,” she said. “I like it because it’s always what’s appealed to me. It’s classic and modern, but not trendy.”

 

Clancy takes pride in the quality of the furniture offered at Nouveau Classics. Although the prices may be a little higher than those found at big-name stores, Clancy says her customers always get a great deal at her store.

 “The quality is undisputed,” she said. “These pieces could easily last forever – they’re not temporary furniture. I want my customers to feel good about what they’re buying. If they compromise and get something cheaper that they don’t like as much, they’re going to be unhappy. Eventually they’ll go back and get what they really love, so why waste your money?”

 Nouveau Classics has three designers on staff who are available to lend their expertise to customers looking to change their home décor. These designers can help customers buy one piece at a time or decorate an entire room. The store also carries catalogs full of products that can be special-ordered.

 Clancy estimates her main client base ranges in age from late 30s to mid-60s. As she seeks to keep her store current, Clancy visits several trade shows throughout the country and overseas every year to ensure her products are edgy and sophisticated. However, she’s picky about what is displayed in the store.

 “It has to be high-quality, timeless design, and a good price,” she said. “We carry lines that even Atlanta doesn’t have. We know our product, and most lines we’ve carried for years.”

 Along with the quality of the furniture, Clancy says the customer service at Nouveau Classics is something to be proud of. Since options are not limited to what’s on the sales floor, it’s the staff’s responsibility to make sure customers know what is available to them and help them pick the best piece of furniture for their style.

 “I hope we give the same customer service to everyone, whether they’re buying one piece or a whole room,” Clancy said. “We’re not pushy salespeople – we sell to a well-educated base. They know what they like, so we’re here to help.”

 “I love it when I get an older customer who’s contemporary, because I know they’ve been that way their whole life,” she added.

 That customer service commitment carries over to the pieces of furniture Clancy buys to display in her store. She buys mostly from American and European companies, but tries to stay away from products produced in China because Chinese manufacturers are taking away jobs from American workers, she said.

 “I have a good relationship with the people I buy from,” Clancy said. “I won’t buy from the companies that don’t stand behind their product. I have to go the extra mile because I want all my customers’ business if I can possibly get it. I have to make sure they’re happy.”

 Nouveau Classics started out with a small location in the Old City, but Clancy moved the store to Bearden 10 years ago. She also opened a Nashville branch of the store 10 years ago.

 The store does not sell furniture over the Internet, which is part of Nouveau Classics’ identity as a local business. Clancy says she doesn’t try to compete with Internet companies, but takes pride in having a store where people can “touch and feel” the merchandise and support local business.

 “I found a niche in the marketplace,” she said. “I’ve always been contemporary, but it’s been difficult because people have not always been accepting of contemporary furniture. Now people are more educated through TV and magazines. Also, the downtown revitalization has helped with the contemporary mindset.”

 Clancy, an Iowa native who moved to Knoxville to attend college, has a degree in advertising from the University of Tennessee. She says she loves owning Nouveau Classics and hopes to keep the store around for a long time to come.

 “I love what I do, and I feel I’ve brought something to Knoxville that no one else has,” she said. “I’m really proud of this, and it’s been an amazing road.

 Nouveau Classics is located at 4614 Kingston Pike in the Bearden District. For more information,

call (865) 909-0044.