How Blane Cox Built Carson Home Furnishings
By Aubree Lewis and Noelle Thornton
Success in business often comes down to timing, risk, and the people you surround yourself with. For Carson Home Furnishings owner Blane Cox, building a successful business meant taking a gamble and trusting the odds would fall in his favor.
Starting a business means putting your ideas, your reputation, and sometimes your financial security on the line. For many students who dream of starting something of their own, that moment of commitment can feel intimidating. Like sitting at a blackjack table, there’s a point where you stop calculating every possibility and simply decide to play the hand in front of you.
Cox understands that very well. In fact, he openly admits that the path he chose was never the safest one. “There are smarter and more logical ways to do things,” he said. “But sometimes you just have to follow your gut and say, ‘Hit me.’”
Starting out was not easy. Blane admits the fear of failing was a huge part of the journey. “I could not even sleep at night,” he said. “But I knew that I would only truly fail if I quit, so I kept going.”
“My wife Melissa and I sold our house, we sold our extra vehicles, we drained our life savings, moved to Carson, and put all our money into this business,” Cox said. “It was scary. But when it’s yours to lose, no one will work harder than you.”
Despite the uncertainty during the COVID pandemic, he pushed forward and focused on building strong relationships within the industry while investing in more products and warehousing. Over time, those simple moves became a major part of the company’s success. Cox says something unexpected happened: things began to fall into place.
“Our business just took off like a rocket ship,” Cox explained.
Cox says that having 20 years of prior experience in the retail furniture industry has been very beneficial in sustaining success. Much of that success comes from knowing how to function as an owner-operator within a localized community and economy.
“It is so important to keep the money local and also to support the small business owners that support us. This creates a big circle—a local group that supports each other,” Cox explained.
Carson Home Furnishings has also grown into something deeply personal for Cox: a true family business. Cox says one of his greatest sources of pride is knowing that the business provides a strong living not only for his immediate family, but also for extended family which for Cox, means his employees.
“I really feel like the goal of our business is ‘Let our family help your family.’”
That sense of connection is something he believes many businesses overlook. Too often, he says, companies damage relationships that could have become valuable long-term partnerships. Cox believes entrepreneurs should focus on keeping relationships strong and opportunities open.
For Cox, mindset is just as important as strategy. Businesses inevitably face setbacks, challenges, and uncertainty, but how an entrepreneur responds to those moments can shape the outcome. Positivity and persistence, he believes, are essential.
“If you surround yourself with great people and positivity, you already are successful,” he said.
Looking back on his journey, Cox believes success often comes from recognizing the opportunities in front of you—and having the courage to take the risk when the moment arrives.