Employee Spotlight! Denise Andracki
Did you know that Abt sells both furniture and mattresses, and that we have more to show off than ever on our sales floor? Our February Employee Spotlight, Denise Andracki, is one of our in-house specialists in mattresses, making her the perfect person to highlight as we showcase our new, expanded collection! Whether it's snowing or the ice is melting outside, it's a great time to take a look at our collection of furniture on the second floor at Abt, as well as our full selection of mattresses (complete with soft, firm, cooling and adjustable beds). It's where you'll meet sales experts like Denise Andracki.
An Early Intro to Abt & Sales
Even before she began as a salesperson here at Abt, Denise was no stranger to the store. She grew up in Norwood Park, and her parents chose to come to Abt for some of our most popular products. "My family always purchased all of our appliances and TVs from Abt's Niles location. My father was a career salesman, and he always believed that the quality, merchandise variety and customer service you found at Abt was clearly unsurpassed." While we've moved from Niles to Glenview since Denise's family made their purchases, we've always held fast to our values, with mottos like "Always do the right thing" and "The answer is always yes to any reasonable request."
Before she started as an employee here at Abt, Denise spent time cutting her teeth in the world of sales, both here in the U.S. and as a buyer for fabrics in Europe. "Prior to coming here, I had been selling mattresses and furniture at a major department store for 20 years," Denise said. "I was extremely excited when Abt opened their new mattress department. I knew I had to come over when it opened. I have always loved this store and could not wait to join the team."
Why Mattresses for Denise?
Denise is experienced across the furniture department, but she can help nearly anyone find their next mattress. When we asked why she chose to specialize in mattresses, our Employee Spotlight had a great response. "I love working closely with customers to understand their sleep patterns, preferences, and any pain or pressure points they might describe, and then match them with a luxury mattress that fits their lifestyle." We have a large collection of beds, bases, headboards, pillows and sheets here at Abt, and pairing a person with their perfect bed can be a challenge—but it's one that Denise is well ready for, even as mattress technology changes.
Denise continues, "customers come into the Abt mattress department with very specific needs they want addressed. Whether their #1 priority is motion isolation, temperature regulation or pressure point relief, I can target their specific needs and fit them with a perfect mattress suited for them."
Abt's New Furniture and Mattress Department
Within the last year, Abt has completely overhauled our furniture department, both online and in-store. We are now displaying a much wider selection of the products we sell from brands like Four Hands, Hooker, Flexsteel and many more. If you're in the mood to restyle your home, head to the furniture space near our mattress department or shop online. Experts like Denise will be waiting and can help you find what you're looking for...even if you don't have all the details hammered out yet.
Our collection of mattresses is larger than ever, too, and Denise knows it like the back of her hand. From beloved brands like Beautyrest and Aireloom to all of their specialized mattresses, she knows how to pair a person with their perfect bed. And with a broader selection of mattresses on the floor, there's more to try out than just "firm" or "soft." Our Employee Spotlight knows every nook and cranny of our collection—with help from her or any of our mattress specialists, you'll walk away from Abt knowing that you've found the perfect mattress for you.
The Best Part of Her Job?
With as much experience as Denise has (both on the sales floor and across the world), we wanted to ask what made Abt so special to her. She had a great response: "My favorite part of working at Abt is working with the customers and hearing the stories of their many years of shopping here. They love to share their long and rich history with the store, and how many of them know members of the Abt family. They share that it is their favorite place to shop and also how friendly and knowledgeable all of the employees are. They acknowledge that it must be a great place to work because everyone is always smiling. And I confirm that working for this family allows us all to express our views, offer suggestions, and always strive to be the best we can be."
A Mattress for Every Sleeper
Our Employee Spotlight reminded us that the lifespan of a typical mattress is about ten years while we were speaking with her. If your bed is getting a bit worn out or you're looking for something new in your next mattress purchase, she's happy to help find the perfect choice for your home, even if you're a bit picky. "Sometimes it can be a two-to-three-hour process; sometimes people may need to come back the next day. And mattresses are something people keep for a decade. Everything is different from bed to bed, whether you're a side sleeper, a back sleeper, need cooling properties, or like the latest adjustable bases. There's so much that's become popular in the last ten years, and that's about the lifespan of a mattress." While we're spotlighting Denise and her years of experience, the entire team of mattress specialists at Abt can help you find the most comfortable bed for your sleep style.
We're happy to have Denise and her years of experience here on our team, especially as the mattress and furniture department evolves. If you're a local shopper and haven't seen our furniture department, head upstairs in the Atrium to check out the newest part of Abt—it's an exciting experience. And whether you live nearby or far away, you can check out our latest furniture and mattresses online or in-store. No matter how our collection expands, our Employee Spotlight Denise will know every product from front to back, and even if you don't know quite what you want yet, she'll help you discover exactly what you need.
