When Jim Ballam’s father first began working in the furniture business in 1957, La-Z-Boy had a choice of four fabric and design options for its iconic chair. Today, there are more than 1,000!
And when Jim Sr. opened the doors on his own store in Chilliwack in 1981, a white sofa for anyone with children and pets would be unheard of, but not anymore. “We have lots of new fabric options, including La-Z-Boy’s innovative new iClean: you can buy white for a young family,” Jim says.
With two locations – Ballam Furniture Gallery on Young Road and the Bedroom Gallery downtown – this is a family business in the truest sense of the word, as the third generation joins the team: son Ryan and daughter Nicole.
Generation to generation, the philosophy has remained the same: focus on quality – in construction, design and service.
The right style for you, and your home: Good design, like quality construction, stands the test of time. Whether contemporary or traditional, find the looks you’ll love now … and tomorrow. “That’s the benefit of investing in quality furniture from quality manufacturers – you know that when you find that perfect sofa, dining table or bedroom suite, it will last – and you won’t be replacing it in two years,” Jim says.
The right fit: Like a good pair of shoes, the right piece of furniture needs to be tried on for size. That means sitting down on a sofa, making sure the seat depth and back height are the right proportions for you, for example. If a chair will be your go-to seat for movie watching, does it give you the lumbar support you need? “We take a lot of pride in making sure the furniture will fit you, and your home,” Jim says.
The brands you want … and won’t find anywhere else: As the only La-Z-Boy dealer in the Fraser Valley and the only Natuzzi dealer in Chilliwack, Ballam is your source for quality furniture from the brands you love. And if you don’t see the piece or brand you’re looking for, just ask, Jim says. “We don’t have room for everything on the showroom floor, and after 60 years in the industry, we work with a lot of other manufacturers. Chances are we can find what you’re looking for and save you a lot of time and effort!”
A custom look: “We also do quite a bit of custom furniture,” Jim says, pointing to the thousands of fabrics available, for example. “Our experienced team is happy to work with you to create your perfect piece of furniture.” And for those unsure of the best option for their home, the Ballam team also works with two local interior decorators who can lend some expert advice.
