KAPA‘A — The re-opening of Otsuka’s was truly a re-opening, Friday. “They were selling so much furniture, they actually had to close the doors,” said the mother of Jessica Hulser, the new general manager of the furniture store in Kapa‘a.
KAPA‘A — The re-opening of Otsuka’s was truly a re-opening, Friday.
“They were selling so much furniture, they actually had to close the doors,” said the mother of Jessica Hulser, the new general manager of the furniture store in Kapa‘a. “They re-opened the doors so they could have the re-grand opening.”
Hulser, doubling as the hostess for the evening, had her hands full, flitting between the entertainment which was set up in one of the store’s alcoves, customers, and well-wishers.
“We’re excited,” she said between stops. “Our team changed. We have 15 professionals working here and our new team of sales girls all have design backgrounds.”
Hulser said the store sports a new inventory of name brands with a good selection of value products.
“We’re re-introducing Kaua‘i to Otsuka’s,” Hulser said. “We want to be considered the place where Kaua‘i should be buying furniture for any household.”
As part of the grand re-opening, Hulser said Otsuka’s has two new partners — the Easter Seals of Kaua‘i and Pictures Plus.
“Pictures Plus is outfitting the store with new affordable art pieces and mirrors and koa veneer,” she said. “The container should be in shortly and the pieces will start appearing in the store.”
For the grand re-opening, Hulser said 10 percent of the day’s sales will be donated to the Easter Seals of Kaua‘i. Additionally, she said Otsuka’s will work on doing quarterly fundraisers to benefit the Easter Seals of Kaua‘i.
“We had clients working on sewing nine lei a day,” said Ellen Ching, director of the Easter Seals of Kaua‘i. “Otsuka’s has been great. They ordered and paid for 200 lei just for this opening so we had our clients working to fill the order. We are just so pleased with the support they show us.”
Easter Seals clients and staff greeted customers at the door, presenting each with a hug and a lei.
Customers were greeted with the music of Charles Iona of Waimea Plantation Cottages fame.
“That’s my uncle,” said Jill Faye-Papworth of the Otsuka’s sales team as she handed a “Do Not Sit” reserved slip to Skip and Nancy (Morgan of Lydgate Park’s Morgans Ponds fame) Schaefer for they newly-acquired sofa and chair set.
Hulser pointed out the set acquired by the Schaefers had literally just come in the door, adding to the excitement of furniture.
“Because our team has design backgrounds, we offer free design consulting,” Hulser said. “We will go to customers’ homes and help with their selections down to helping pick paint, wallcoverings and things which we don’t sell.”
Otsuka’s is open Mondays through Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Call 822-1405 for more information.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
