Bob Mills and his oldest son cut through two ribbons in late August and officially brought a Bob Mills Furniture store to the Rio Grande Valley market.

The company’s 12th store in its chain is located in San Juan and is the first one south of San Antonio. The Oklahoma City-based company now has nine stores in Texas. It represents a significant addition among the Valley’s furniture store offerings with a 50,000-square-foot showroom. 

The Bob Mills store in San Juan is found along Expressway 83 amidst luxury store dealerships. In San Juan on opening day, family and team members, local dignitaries, PSJA Early College High School mariachis, and the community celebrated the new store.

“The community gets really excited when they see new businesses coming here,” said San Juan Mayor Mario Garza. 

The store opened to the public on August 28.

“We found this property and made a deal in fewer than 10 days,” said Bob Mills, the company’s owner and namesake. “That proves we are here to stay. When you buy property, you don’t just leave town.”

Technology & Customer Service

The company has two stores in Oklahoma and one in Kansas to go with its nine locations in Texas. 

The Bob Mills motto: “If it’s not quality, I won’t sell it. If it’s not quality, you shouldn’t buy it.”

Corinthian, Homestretch and Moto Motion are among the prominent lines of furniture at the new store. Bob Mills Furniture is known for offering “Companion Pricing” in which customers can purchase the parts of a set together in a bundle. They also offer a “No Shopper Stalkers” policy that allows customers to browse without sales staff at their heels. 

The company’s BedMatch technology is another big draw. Customers lie down and BedMatch goes to work, gathering 18 measurements and using sensor technology to determine the best mattress for a customer.

“BedMatch is life-changing,” said Brian McIntyre, the San Juan store manager. “Rest is super important, and it scientifically proves which mattress is best for you.”

Getting Started & Established

The Bob Mills Furniture roots go back to 1971 and how the company’s namesake got started in business.

Unable to find work, college graduate Mills took a $400-a-month job typing late-payment notices for an insurance company in his home state of Oklahoma. He met an insurance salesman at the company who had previously worked in the furniture business. Over time, Mills asked him what it would take to open a furniture store and the response was $25,000. 

“I went to mom and sold her on the idea,” Mills said of seeking startup funds from his mother. 

While in college, Mills lost his dad and his mom told her only child she would loan him the money, not give it to him. She expected a return on her investment. 

Mills and the insurance salesman renovated an old grocery store on SW 29th Street in Oklahoma City and bought merchandise to fill it. They sold some furniture but never seemed to have capital. Mills’ business partner would eventually hand over his keys, walk out the door and leave the business.

Mills knew he had two choices: close the doors or find a way to keep them open. He thought of his mom and of his own reputation and knew he really only had one choice. In 1975, down to two employees, Mills hired Ken Collins, just four years his senior but with knowledge of the business.  

“He knew what he was doing and I listened,” Mills said. “That taught me the value of good people. Without good people, you will fail.” 

Finding Success

Mills and Collins doubled their business four months after forming their partnership. Bob Mills paid his mother back, with interest, and rewarded her in another special way. 

“Mom got a new Cadillac every year,” he said. “At the end of every model year, she would call and tell me the car was making a strange noise.”

Laughing, he would ask his mother if she thought it was time for a new one. Her quick response was yes. 

Mills has a wealth of experience that dictates his company’s values. Mills and his wife, Margaret, have three children and their company is a family business. Oldest son Bryan is the chief operating officer, daughter Tuesday is the design director and youngest son Chris is the chief marketing officer. 

“We have a family rule, and it starts with me,” said Mills, the elder. “If you don’t work, you don’t get paid. It’s simple.” 

Mills said there is a reason his company is known for paying their sales hosts well.

“I want the best,” he said. “If we pray to God for help, we want His best. Why shouldn’t we give our best?” 

While paying well is important, Mills finds handing out “cold cash” for employee recognition is effective. He believes in discovering each person’s “hot button,” in finding what is valued and unexpected, and then blessing an employee with a gift they will treasure. 

“You want to find that button in everybody,” he said.                                                                                        

Mills does not believe in dwelling on errors.

“If we make a mistake, we admit it, quit it and forget it. We turn the page. Don’t hold people hostage.”

Now in his 70s, Mills has no plan to retire anytime soon. 

“How much longer will I do this?” he asked. “As long as God gives me the physical ability and I continue to have the idea that I don’t have to work. I get to come to work.”