Plymouth Furniture & Mattress Makes Home Furniture Shopping Personal & Stress-Free
Photographer / Tony Straw
The best furniture stores do more than sell sofas. They help people picture a life at home that feels comfortable, useful, and beautiful. That’s the promise at Plymouth Furniture & Mattress, led by owners Michael Bright and Kaden Rody.
Bright and Rody didn’t set out to own a second store this soon. They had recently opened Wabash Furniture & Mattress when a trusted sales rep shared a tip.
“A guy named Alan Fritz and his sister Marilyn Banfich owned it, and their dad had started the business,” Bright says. “They were wanting an exit strategy. They wanted to retire, and our La-Z-Boy rep came to us and said, ‘They were looking to step back, and we were looking to grow.’”
Following the purchase, the store formerly known as Banfich Furniture became Plymouth Furniture & Mattress.
Customers who frequented the former store can still find the brands they’ve loved for years, with deeper inventory and an expanded service mindset. Bright puts it plainly: “We’re in it for the long haul … I’m only 37 and Kaden is 21, and we plan to do this till we retire.”
The store layout makes it easy to imagine a finished space. Vignettes are built with tables, lamps, rugs and pillows so you can see how pieces work together. Bring a pillow from home or a fabric swatch. Snap a few photos of your room. The staff encourages it.
Many furniture pieces can be customized, including fabric choices, arm styles, wood finishes, and sizes that fit your real room, not just a showroom. Plymouth Furniture carries lines the region knows and trusts — La-Z-Boy, Ashley, Bernhardt, Archbold Vaughan-Bassett, Liberty, John Thomas, Uttermost, Oriental Weavers, Hunter Douglas, Carole Fabrics, and more.
Mattress shoppers can compare national leaders such as Tempur-Pedic, Stearns & Foster, Sealy, and Serta.
Plymouth Furniture’s secret sauce might be a familiar name.
Marilyn Banfich stayed on after the sale to continue the in-home design services that have helped local families for decades. Bright can’t help but smile when he talks about her. He explains that Marilyn has designed everything from custom bunk beds to full built-ins, noting that “she does everything. She’s got over 40 years of experience.”
When you work with Marilyn, the process is simple but personal. An appointment begins with a modest $200 deposit that goes directly toward your purchase—no extra design fee. She can meet you in the store, trade ideas by email or step into your home to take measurements and see the space firsthand.
From there, she brings in her decades of experience with window treatments, flooring, paint, lighting and the furniture that ties it all together. Customers appreciate her ability to listen closely and turn a wish list into a plan.
If you prefer to shop on your own, that’s welcome too. The floor is set with mix-and-match settings so you can compare a sofa with different chairs and tables. The team can help you double-check clearances for doorways and stairwells and talk through layout choices before anything arrives at your home.
Bright has experienced stores where a salesperson shadows your every step, which is why he trains against it. “We’re not shadow stalkers,” he says with a laugh. “Some people don’t want help. Some do.” The team will greet you, ask how they can help, then give you room to breathe.”
Service extends past the purchase. Delivery is free within 50 miles, and the crew will set up your furniture and remove the unwanted pieces you’re replacing. The personal help continues when special circumstances pop up. Bright shares simple examples: a customer needed a purchase dropped off at a son’s house, so the team made the extra stop. Another family needed help shifting heavy pieces from one room to another to make space for new items. “Other stores don’t do that,” Bright says. “That’s the personal touch that we have.”
Quality furniture is truly an investment. The store partners with Synchrony for customers with strong credit who want long promotional plans, and with Acima and similar leasing programs for shoppers building credit. Promotions change with the season, but the goal stays the same—spread out payments while you enjoy the furniture now.
If you’re new to financing, the staff will lay out the differences between interest-free promotions and lease-to-own plans, then help you choose what fits.
Bright hears it all the time — mattress shopping can feel overwhelming. He suggests a calm, simple approach. Start by deciding whether you prefer firm, medium, or plush. He encourages customers to try a few firm mattresses, then a few medium, then a few plush models.
“Just lie down on them and try it,” he says. “You’ll know more quickly than you think.”
No one rushes you at Plymouth Furniture & Mattress. You are welcome to take notes and return the next day to view or test your finalists again. The store keeps popular brands in stock, making it possible for most furniture items and mattresses to be delivered quickly.
Bright is aware that delivery is often where furniture shopping goes wrong at other stores. At Plymouth Furniture, reviews show it’s where the experience shines.
The level of care, combined with free delivery and haul-away service, helps explain why so many shoppers drive from other towns to purchase from Plymouth Furniture & Mattress.
If you like to plan ahead, Plymouth Furniture offers a short “quick-start” list that really helps:
- Measurements: jot down wall lengths, ceiling height, and door clearances. Measure the piece you’re replacing, too.
- Simple floor plan: a sketch on notebook paper is fine. Mark windows, doors, and traffic paths.
- Photos: a few snapshots of the room in daytime light tell the staff a lot about your style.
- Swatches: bring a cushion or pillow if you’re matching existing tones.
- Budget range: a flexible target keeps choices focused and avoids disappointment later.
There are often manufacturer specials tied to holidays. The team will tell you when a favorite line will run a promotion so you can time your purchase well.
Customers visit from Bremen, Culver, Rochester, Knox, South Bend, Mishawaka and beyond. Part of that is selection, part is service, and the rest is logistics. With two locations — Plymouth and Wabash — the company enjoys the economies of scale that keep inventory deep and deliveries moving. Their warehouses hold far more than a single store can carry, which shortens wait times.
Bright also sees Plymouth Furniture as a neighbor, not just a retailer. The team supports local nonprofits, churches and community events. They contribute to school raffles and volunteer their time to community projects.
The store’s design work doesn’t stop at the front door. The team has furnished community spaces, lodge-style gathering rooms, and lake homes that welcome summer guests. They know that bunk rooms often need special attention since many families want sturdy built-ins with a clean look and durable finishes.
At Plymouth Furniture & Mattress, special attention is paid to all projects. Marilyn coordinates with painters, flooring installers and window-treatment pros so timelines make sense and projects stay on track.
If your plans are modest, you still get the same care.
Currently, recliners and lift chairs are two of the most popular items from the store’s vast selection. Those with features that make daily life easier — power headrests, lumbar support, USB ports, and gentle stand-assist — are particularly in demand. Sectionals continue to shine, with open floor plans being so common in homes now.
As we head into the holidays, Mike advises shoppers to watch for Black Friday, December, and year-end promotions. The store posts specials online and in-store.
It is well-known that retail cultures are built by everyday habits. At Plymouth Furniture & Mattress, one habit stands out — respect for how customers like to shop. Bright returns to the idea often with standards such as no pushy chatter, no hovering, help when you want it, space when you don’t. From the first look to the final setup, the staff stays focused on comfort, function and value.
Bright and Rody are building their company in ways that will make it last.
Open the front door and you’ll feel it — easy smiles, tidy displays, and a pace that lets you think.
“Openness and friendliness, I guess would be my first thought,” Bright says.
Visit Plymouth Furniture & Mattress at 2127 N. Oak Dr., Plymouth, IN. For more information, give them a call at 574-936-1299 or visit them online at plymouthfm.com.
