Life History of Marcel F. Lauper
I was enjoying some measure of success with my work at Bruner’s, having gained the confidence of their super Sales Manager, who had picked me for the job and called me in following Viola's resignation from the firm. He had made me first a buyer, then a Department Manager and my volume rose to 3/4 million dollars. My name became well know with a firm doing $50,000,000. worth of business annually. But--I was growing restless, somewhat dissatisfied, and had conjured the idea of going into business for myself. President David 0. McKay has said, “The thought precedes the deed". So it might be said "Lauper's Furniture" was born one day in the mind of MFL sometime late in the year of 1956, nearly one and one-half years before the doors actually opened in February, 1958. Several times, through the years as an employee of the big John Breuner Company, some of my co-workers had suggested, “we" go out on our own. They proposed that I be the 'horse trader' or 'buyer' and that they provide the esthetic touch. Some of these same people came even after I had opened, and offered their services with their shoes shined and their suits pressed and with an abundance of appeal, but I was never tempted by any of them. I planned to free myself of any connection or leanings toward the big corporate face. So it was, with this in mind, lingering with periodic pressure for some one and one-half years, until the breaking point came and I served my notice. I told my manager, Mr. Breuner: "R.W., I've given you a hundred years head start, (The Company was, that year, celebrating their Centennial Year), now I'm going out on my Own". The officers took me into their dark room and tried to dissuade me. It was good to hear what they said about me, it was satisfying, and I felt some pressure; but the "dye was cast”, and I realize now that I am one of five brothers--all of whom have had the hardheaded urge to work under a "Lauper shingle". My plans were projected over a year's time--in sales, costs, and needs in detail. The man who put up the original $7,900.00 was Mr. Duffin (I later referred to him only as 'Duffy'). He became panicky, almost at the outset, about his investment. He envisioned doom, as did several others I knew. I had taken 'Duffy' as a counselor in the Bishopric, making him a High Priest etc, but be turned on me. He had plenty of money and there was no excuse for his actions, but before ninety days had passed I was forced to buy him out.
'Duffy' even made difficult the negotiations for buying him out, resulting in a definite hardship for me. At that time, we as a family, were in the process of selling our Whelan Avenue home and moving into 948 Evergreen. In order to meet the pressure and financial strain, we dropped the selling price of 1991 Whelan Avenue --this costing us perhaps more than two thousand dollars. So in the end, 'Duffy's' $7,900. cost me a minimum of $6,500, over and above the principal. IT WAS, AND IS STILL, WORTH IT! After six months of business we began drawing our first store check for family use and have done so ever since, and we are so grateful. I must make this fact abundantly clear, had my wife, Frances, ever bucked me on this venture either before or during implementation, it would have ended in sure failure. It is strange to me, now as I look back, that she might well have done just that. She has not always agreed with everything I've done during our married life, and she has made that perfectly clear, but in this business venture, Frances was with me all the way. Incredible! This remained true even after the store opened and sales came only very slowly, and we were forced to draw heavily upon our food storage. Brother Serge managed to spend several free hours in setting up a system of bookkeeping and accounting, and his comment was, "I was broke and didn't know it". From his view, and professionally, I guess he was correct; for I certainly could not have sold any Company Stock. My wife said then, "None of them know you --they don't know that no one will ever get you away from this store until they take you feet first”. As for me, like the bumblebee--'I didn't know that I couldn't fly’, and so, I continue to ‘fly'.
I worked alone in the store for a good while until joined by Joseph R. Johnson, my warm-hearted, affable brother-in-law. Joe was doing very well for all of us until his untimely death nine months later. Word of Joseph's passing came as a real shock. He was on vacation from the store, having taken all his family for a camping trip on Russian River. His daughter, Linda, phoned from Guerneville; "Uncle Marc, our dad just died; he had a heart attack". Those words are indelibly printed upon my mind and heart.
Following Joe's death, I was in need of help and Dennis chose to join me, and later Ralph came in also. I can't say we haven't had disagreements nor that we have never scrapped, for we have--just as we did on the farm; however, we 'keep coming back for more', and by-and-large, the firm has continued on until now, it is in its twentieth year. Comments have been made, "Just don't know how it keeps going”! But I recall Joe stating long years back, "Marc, I don't know where they come from, but they just keep coming". Ralph's explanation is, "The Lord wants you to be in business, there is no other excuse”. Serge wryly adds, when he sees a customer entering the store, "Marc, they have to pass a lot of furniture stores to get to your place". At this particular point and time, I think the business is sound and on it's way up (it should be by now), and again, I must emphatically state that it is Ivan and Helen who came to our rescue at a crucial moment, with good advice and counsel, along with solid financial assistance, to set us on the right track, and I believe that even though we are old, 'we shall overcome'. We have unity and singleness of purpose and that, of course, with us three old brothers, shall see us through.