Out of the Box

Hunting for Treasure at Great Prices

By Janette Calabro 

 

Do you love the hunt for unique, high-quality home treasures? Out of the Box offers the finest in recycled and reclaimed furniture, lighting, entire kitchens and baths, cabinetry, doors, art, décor, and so much more. Jody Strauch, who owns Out of the Box along with her husband, Steen Lundberg, believes that these beautiful, one-of-a kind pieces are worth the drive to their 20,000-square-foot showroom at 7401 Main Street in Ralston. The store’s nickname is “the Tiffany’s of recycled goods,” and you’ll immediately see why!

 

“Ninety percent of our showroom items are recycled out of multi-million dollar homes in Vail and Aspen, Colorado,” Jody shares. “Our strategy is to offer very high-end, high-quality, interesting pieces to the general public and to the design world.” They would like to invite all interior designers to visit the showroom. “We have some incredible pieces that designers could offer their clients!”

 

Every six weeks or so, Jody and Steen travel to Colorado on a treasure hunt, often loading up a 30-foot truck with the finest items for the public to buy. Jody says the designs they choose are very much like new. “We offer our pieces at approximately 50 percent off the new retail value, if we can find the value.” 

 

To determine an item’s retail price, Out of the Box researches each piece by designer or manufacturer. One example is the high-end furnishings brand Theodore Alexander. Jody features several Theodore Alexander furnishings at half their retail price! Another contemporary designer, RH Designs, sells upscale furniture, lighting, tables, and cabinetry that often appeals to the 40-year-old plus crowd. “I have an RH Designs leather couch called the Maxwell in my store,” says Jody. “It retails for about $8,000, and we priced it at $3,400.” 

 

Interior and exterior doors are another stunning choice at Out of the Box. Usually made from solid wood and customized for a new build, a new buyer can repurpose the door for a beach house, a lake house, or their primary residence. “Doors send a message as to what the room will look like,” Jody points out. “If someone is going from traditional to contemporary, doors send the message very quickly. You can save huge amounts of money on doors here!” 

 

Jody is delighted to announce that an additional 5,000 sq. ft. is opening, which is intended to allow for a more interactive experience for the shopper: a treasure hunt for the customer to mix and match pieces in a more interactive environment. “People love the hunt!” Jody says. “We have the pieces set up for you. It’s cleaned, it’s tested. You can take it off the table and straight into your home.” If the store doesn’t carry what a customer requests, Jody and her team will find it on their next trip out. 

 

The entire concept of Out of the Box is environmentally green, and that’s the way Jody likes it. “Repurpose everything!” she advises. “Many people are proud to buy a recycled piece and put it in their home because they feel like they’re contributing to the good of the environment. I think that’s really cool.” 

 

She’s also proud of the customer service her team provides. “We work with people sometimes for an hour or two,” she notes. She loves it when a customer is at the counter and says, “Thank you so much for working with me,” as they make their purchase. “It all boils down to a conversation, to making eye contact,” Jody says. 

 

Her customers appreciate this sentiment! Thomas writes that Out of the Box is an “absolutely incredible experience. The quality of the reclaimed furniture and decorations are spectacular. If you are looking for unique but tasteful accent pieces, or even bedroom sets, this is your place.” 

 

Lucretia adds, “The store is stunning and offers inspiration for every room of your house. I highly recommend taking the time to browse their enormous space full of doors, furniture, lighting, rugs, and décor.” 

 

Jody loves working with shoppers in the Omaha market. “They’re coming in and looking for a character piece. People who like architectural salvage or reclaimed building products and furniture will really enjoy our inventory. My recommendation is to start on our website and browse through our content. I’m shipping pieces all over the nation because people are just blown away by the pricing.” Don’t just browse online, though—the showroom is well worth the drive in. “It’s a destination visit! We encourage people to come over with a girlfriend, husband, or wife. Take the morning or afternoon and have lunch in Ralston.” 

 

If you haven’t been to Ralston lately, you’re missing out on a lot, including a treasure hunt at Out of the Box! Visit the showroom at 7401 Main Street and check them out online at outoftheboxstore.net. 

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