Westwood Small Business Q&A: Buchanan Fireplace

Westwood is home to a number of small businesses, and as such we thought we'd speak with store and restaurant owners on a regular basis for some thoughts about what they do, what makes them unique and how they are faring in the economic climate. 

This week we check in with Michelle Buchanan, owner and manager of . 

Be sure to check back soon for a new Question and Answer session with another local business owner in Westwood!

Westwood Patch: What is one thing people might not know about Buchanan Fireplace?

Michelle Buchanan: We're not just a fireplace store. We have grills, we do outdoor kitchens, outdoor fireplaces, fire pits, and we have good high-end stuff you can't get at a box store that you need to replace every two years.

WP: How has the economy affected you in the last year?

MB: Sales were off for a couple of years. They are picking up; they are up this year, so that's a very good sign for us. But it's still a little uneasy, customers are a little uneasy. We appreciate the fact that our customers put so much effort into researching, becauase it really makes our job easier.

WP: What is your busiest time of year?

MB: Obviously the colder months are our biggest sale months. We have so many people who are staying in their homes because their houses aren't worth what they used to be, so they are upgrading their homes and putting fireplaces in them. So many people are doing projects, additions, opening their homes up so they can enjoy their houses longer.

WP: What has been your most popular item in the store? 

MB: Contemporary gas fireplaces. Instead of burning logs, they're burning shards of glass, stones. Even outside. They're gas or propane, and they have a coffee-table style, or pub style. We have smaller ones that do logs or gas. That's super popular now. Those contemporary gas burners are selling huge.

WP: What do you feel is a benefit about being a small business in Westwood? 

MB: I think for us it's about getting people the right product for their projects and being able to see how important those projects are for their homes.