Farmers Home Furniture: Hiring, Background Check & Employment Verification FAQs

Farmers Home Furniture was founded in 1949 by Sherwin Glass (1926-2005) as a hometown store in Soperton, Georgia. The company built its identity around serving small-town and rural communities across the Southeast with quality, affordable furniture and a customer-centric approach, including smart in-house credit options that allow customers to make purchases without relying on outside banks or lenders. This direct financing model has remained central to the company's business strategy for decades, helping first-time homeowners and families access furniture and appliances with flexible payment plans.

Farmers Home Furniture grew steadily over more than 75 years to become one of the fastest-growing furniture retailers in the country and one of the top 100 furniture companies in the United States, as well as one of the largest privately owned businesses in Georgia. The company transitioned to become a 100% employee-owned company through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), a structure that shapes its culture and operations to this day. Farmers Home Furniture operates major distribution centers in Dublin, Georgia, and Russellville, Alabama, supporting efficient supply chain management across its growing store network.

Today, Farmers Home Furniture operates more than 260 retail locations across Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, and South Carolina, with its corporate headquarters based in Dublin, Georgia. The company employs approximately 1,000 to 1,100 people, offering a wide range of products including living room, bedroom, and dining room furniture, appliances, electronics, and seasonal items such as lawn equipment and outdoor living sets. Farmers Home Furniture's workforce includes sales associates, delivery drivers, warehouse and distribution staff, and store managers supporting its retail locations across the Southeast.

Company culture and employee programs: As an ESOP company, Farmers Home Furniture emphasizes a culture of collaboration and shared ownership, with employees having a direct stake in the company's success. The company highlights core values including ongoing training, treating employees and customers as individuals, and encouraging volunteering and civic involvement in the small-town communities it serves. Benefits reportedly include a 401(k) plan with employer matching, group medical, dental and life insurance, paid vacation and sick leave, and employee merchandise purchase discounts. Benefits, scheduling, and advancement opportunities can vary by location, so candidates should confirm specifics with a recruiter during the hiring process.

Yes. Employers in the furniture retail industry, including Farmers Home Furniture, are legally permitted to conduct pre-employment background checks on job candidates, provided they comply with applicable federal, state, and local laws. In the United States, employment screening is governed by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), which requires employers to obtain written consent, provide disclosures, and follow adverse action procedures.

Farmers Home Furniture is generally reported to conduct background checks as part of its hiring process, which is standard for furniture retail employers, particularly given the company's in-house financing model, which involves handling sensitive customer financial and credit information.

The hiring process for sales, warehouse, and delivery positions at Farmers Home Furniture typically includes an application, an interview with a store or district manager, and a background check prior to a final offer. Delivery roles may also involve a review of driving records.

Background check timelines can vary based on the type of screening requested and how quickly records can be verified. Learn more about typical background check turnaround times to understand what factors can affect the process.

A typical pre-employment background check for a furniture retail role may include:

Under the FCRA, criminal history reporting is generally limited to seven years for most background checks, though state laws may extend or restrict this timeframe depending on the type of record and jurisdiction.

Hiring decisions involving candidates with criminal records are generally made on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the nature of the offense, how much time has passed, and its relevance to the role, particularly for positions involving customer financing, cash handling, or entering customers' homes for delivery. Some states have adopted "ban-the-box" laws that restrict when employers can ask about criminal history during the hiring process.

Candidates can generally expect to provide personal information such as full legal name, date of birth, and Social Security number, along with signed consent authorizing the background check, in compliance with FCRA requirements. Delivery roles typically also require a valid driver's license.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) is a federal law that regulates how employers can use background check information in hiring decisions. It requires employers to notify candidates before running a check, obtain written consent, and follow specific adverse action procedures if a decision is made based on background check results.

Running a personal background check with Checkr lets you preview what Farmers Home Furniture may see during the hiring process, helping you address any concerns before you apply. A personal background check can include:

Learn more about Checkr Personal Background Checks and explore your Checkr Profile to see what information may appear in your own background check.

If you're a candidate with a background check in progress through Checkr as part of your application to Farmers Home Furniture or another employer, you can check your status through the Candidate Portal. For additional support, visit the Checkr Help Center.

The information provided in this article does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice. All information is for general informational purposes only. Checkr does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of this information and is not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for the results obtained from the use of this information. This article may contain links to other third-party websites. Such links are only for the convenience of the reader. Checkr does not endorse the contents of the third-party sites and disclaims any affiliation with the companies mentioned in this article unless otherwise stated.