By Ingrid Howard
After more than 45 years in business, Larry Mantooth is getting ready to slow down and semi-retire from Mantooth Interiors, the interior design business he owns with his wife, Lynette.
Lucky for them, their son Josh is ready to step up and take his father’s spot in the business.
At 25 years old, Josh is two decades younger than the family business. He remembers growing up there and working around the store.
“I would help out in the warehouse sometimes and just kind of hang around here,” he said. “I just never really thought about it from a business aspect until after college.”
He went to the University of Alabama to get his degree in business management and marketing. From there, he entered the corporate world and spent two years working for Enterprise.
“Then, he was like, ‘Mom, dad, my name is on the building, too. I want this. I want to be a part of the family business,’” Lynette said. “He has the passion that we have.”
For the next few years, Josh will be learning about inventory, helping out in the warehouse and in the office and going to markets with his mom. Maybe after 10 years or so, Lynette said, Josh can take over the business, and Lynette can semi-retire, too.
“Everyone thinks it’s easy; you just open up a store and put furniture in it. But to be in business this long, you know, 45 years now, you’ve got to have a plan,” she said.
In addition to managing social media channels, Josh brings a younger perspective to the store. Lynette noted that in 10 years, Josh’s generation will be Mantooth Interiors’ customer base.
“So if he can be their eyes and ears, he (can) tell us how we can tweak our business,” she said.
Even though Josh and Lynette have a tight mother-son bond, they take things seriously when working in the store. They each have their own roles, but they are also able to pick up where the other one has left off.
“We cover for each other really well,” Josh said. “She’s able to take her days off without stressing about anything here because she knows I can handle it.”
Josh has been one of the greatest hires Lynette has ever seen at the store, she said.
“I feel like I’m the luckiest person in the world because I get to work with him every day,” she said.
When customers walk in the door of this 18th Street shop in downtown Homewood, they get what Lynette calls “The Mantooth Experience.”
“They get that personal experience,” she said. “They create a relationship, and they see that we’re passionate about what we sell and passionate about helping you find the right item or the right piece for your house.”
The interior designers at Mantooth sometimes spend weeks with their clients, picking out fabrics, trims and other specifics to help complete a home.
“Some of our clients are now some of our best friends. It’s just developed, and when you’re spending weeks and months with someone … . It’s a special bond, and I think that’s why our repeat business is so well, because they had a great experience. Sometimes they come in just to say hey and catch up with what’s going on.”
Customers can shop for lighting, beds, furniture, artwork and more when they walk in. Lynette said customers sometimes go in with a drawing or photo of what they’re looking for, and Lynette and her team usually can find something similar and order it.
Changing Styles
While whites and neutrals have been on-trend for the past few years, Lynette said she is excited to see color coming back.
“At market, we’re seeing colors. We’re seeing oranges; we’re seeing reds; we’re seeing purples; we’re seeing blues,” she said. “We haven’t ever lost our original look. We have added a few light pieces, but we have a very mixed blend and can’t wait for color to come back.”
No matter what a customer’s style is, Lynette encourages people to go in and see what the interior designers can create.
“Our philosophy is come in and have a conversation with us,” she said. “Talk to our designers. Let us get to know you. Every house we do, none of them are going to look alike. None of the rooms are going to look alike. They’re all going to be individual to your taste.”
