Yesterday’s Tree celebrated its 25th Anniversary with a fabulous all-day party on Wednesday at their 8,000-ft design store on 780 Hendersonville, Rd. in Asheville. The fun fete will included great refreshments, amazing door prizes and special savings in addition to their fantastic 25% off all furniture and accessories (normal exclusions apply).
“It’s hard to believe we opened in 1985,” says Peggy Yarborough owner of Yesterday’s Tree. “Time flies when you are having fun. And we have been having a blast celebrating all year long.”
Yarborough, originally from the Washington, DC area opened Yesterday’s Tree as an unfinished furniture store. Twenty-five years later YTree has evolved into a complete home furnishings and design experience and one of Asheville’s finest, family-run businesses.
“Many of my relatives were from the Hickory area and my family had always been involved in the furniture industry including my brother who owned two furniture stores in South Florida,” says Yarborough. “I researched and found that Asheville needed a business of this type and so we opened in 1985.”
“You’d be hard pressed to find a business in her category anywhere with such a surprising, exciting look,” say Mark Wilson, the creator of YTree’s famous canine advertising campaign, which has been running for an amazing 22 years. “But what makes Yesterday’s Tree so special is that it’s not fussy or nose-in-the-air.
Yesterday’s Tree is truly an extended family business. Yarborough’s daughter Jayme Ray, son Nick Wilkinson, daughter-in-law Stephanie Wilkinson, and husband Alan Yarborough all work at YTree. Donna Temple, who heads up YTree’s design services, Robin Thomas, Carol Smith and Robin Johnson have all been with Yarborough since the start. And four-legged family members, Reba, Bailey, Sam and “local advertising star” Penny, are always there to welcome you to the store.
The YTree family has experienced a lot of joy and challenges over the past two and a half decades. A fire on July 14, 2003 completely destroyed the store but thanks to tremendous support from friends, family and loyal customers, YTree was up and running in a make shift location two short weeks later. And by April 2004 they moved in to their current 8,000 sq. ft. space at 780 Hendersonville Rd. in the Ingles Shopping Center.
“The encouragement and generosity we received from the community after the fire was overwhelming,” says Yarborough. “A bank worked with me on a no interest loan, a store near us accepted our packages at no charge and my daughter’s father-in-law drove up and down Hendersonville Rd. looking for new retail space the day after the fire.”
Yesterday’s Tree has also enjoyed tremendous growth over the years introducing rugs, fabrics, accessories and design services a long the way. But the recent economic changes have affected them too. As a business YTree constantly looks at what is working and what’s not and how they can better serve their customers. They are investing resources in social media marketing and creating better “floor” appeal for the 8,000-ft design store. And YTree will launch a new website soon.
“I am so grateful for the tremendous support we have received from Asheville and the entire WNC community,” says Yarborough. “I hope and pray that YTree continues to be known as the freshest, friendliest and most fun home furnishings and design store in the WNC area for the next 25 years!”
Yesterday’s Tree is located at 780 Hendersonville, Rd. Asheville, NC 28803. Store hours are Monday-Friday, 10am-6pm. Saturday 10am-5pm. For more information call 828.274.4296 or visit yesterdaystreefurniture.com.
