Scott + Cooner: A Story of Perseverance and Success

Jud and Amanda Taylor were driving home one day when the idea to buy Scott + Cooner hit them. Jud had been with the company since 2014 on the logistics side, while Amanda started in 2016 and went from an executive assistant to sales. The couple’s journey to ownership was not an easy one, but their determination and hard work ultimately paid off.

“I was like, ‘What if we tried to buy it?’” Jud said. “We were raised middle class, like we were fine, but we don’t have family money or anything…[but] you always hear these stories [where if] there’s a will, there’s a way, right?” The Taylors did find a way, officially closing on the company July 1, 2021. In their four years as owners, they’ve shepherded the Dallas-based modern furniture store toward its 30th anniversary in April and opened a new location in San Francisco.

But the secret to Scott + Cooner’s success is not unique to the Taylors’ tenure. “I think it starts with amazing people and amazing product,” Jud said. “We’ve got the world’s best customer service,” Amanda added. “If something goes wrong, we do whatever it takes to make it right, because we know gestures like that will come back.”

Company Overview

Scott + Cooner’s 21,000-square-foot flagship showroom has plenty of natural sunlight thanks to the windows on three sides of the store. The open floor plan makes it easy to walk among the furniture with pops of color throughout the space. Most of the business’s products featured in the showroom are high-end imported pieces from places in Europe like Italy, Germany, and Switzerland.

Each of the imagined living spaces on display is carefully designed to feel welcoming using Amanda’s background in interior design. The company’s commitment to quality and customer service has earned them a loyal client base and a reputation as one of the top modern furniture stores in the country.

Origin Story

The beginnings of Scott + Cooner first took shape when Lloyd Scott left her job in sales at Knoll to open her own showroom named the “Design Experience.” She soon met Josy Cooner (now Josy Cooner Collins), who was working across the street from her store doing sales at the Brueton Showroom. The two joined forces in 1995 to start Scott + Cooner, eventually moving to their current space in the Design District in 2003.

From the beginning, Scott and Cooner were dedicated to doing things their own way and forging their path in a city that has typically been dedicated to a more traditional style. “They were bringing modern to Dallas before anybody was,” Jud said. “They did things on their own terms, and if you don’t like it, take a hike.”

Challenges and Opportunities

While the Taylors took over in 2021, Scott + Cooner’s future almost looked very different. The founders were in talks to sell to a big company as they looked for an exit to retire. The deal fell through, however, giving the Taylors an opening to step in. The business stayed in the family in a way, preventing the company from becoming corporatized and protecting the back-of-the-house employees who might have been laid off otherwise.

When the Taylors became the owners, they didn’t change much. The announcement was small and they only told clients and vendors. They both had worked for Scott + Cooner for so long that people already knew them. They made it more of a “graceful transition” instead. Two years into their tenure as owners, the Taylors worked with San Francisco locals Joy Agcaoili and Samantha Hartley Hewitt to help open their 10,000-square-foot Scott + Cooner location there.

Keys to Success

Scott + Cooner’s continued success, in many ways, lies with its committed employees. Several staffers have been with the company for 10 or 20-plus years, according to Jud and Amanda. “We try to create a really positive, healthy environment where we’re really compassionate of what people’s family needs are and everything they’ve got going on,” Amanda said.

Like any business, Scott + Cooner has weathered the challenges that come from 30 years in an ever-changing world. Most recently, the company had to adjust to the COVID pandemic, but they took that obstacle in stride. Because so many people were not at work, they began to invest in their homes and new furniture. Scott + Cooner adjusted to the restrictions by creating a virtual showroom that remains on their website today.

Looking Forward

As Scott + Cooner enters its fourth decade in business, the company is up against its fair share of challenges. Most of the store’s furniture is imported, posing concerns about tariffs, which could increase the cost of goods. “Right now, there’s a 10% blanket tariff on everything,” Jud said. “It’s a question of, do you go back to the client and say, ‘Hey, sorry, I need to charge you this.’ Do you absorb it? So that’s really the big unknown because no one knows what to do right now.”

The Taylors’ strategy is to be upfront with their clients. “Going back to our honesty and integrity, like we don’t want our clients to have any surprises,” Amanda said. “It’s a delicate balance.” The Dallas store’s location in the Design District creates another set of roadblocks. Due to gentrification in the area, the rent costs for many of the retail spaces are rising, pushing out tenants that have been in their locations for years.

Conclusion

Despite the challenges, the Taylors are optimistic about the future of Scott + Cooner. They hope to see people gravitating more towards modern furniture with all the new modern builds in Dallas. With their commitment to quality, customer service, and their employees, Scott + Cooner is poised to continue its success for years to come.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is Scott + Cooner? A: Scott + Cooner is a modern furniture store with locations in Dallas and San Francisco.

Q: Who are the owners of Scott + Cooner? A: The owners of Scott + Cooner are Jud and Amanda Taylor.

Q: What is the history of Scott + Cooner