Commercial Furniture Refinishers

What they do

Commercial Furniture Refinishers provides furniture moving and reupholstery services for business and government clients. The company is owned by Marshall Franklin, a member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Community in Oklahoma, and at the time of underwriting, the exclusive furniture moving company for the sprawling FAA complex nearby.

As told to the Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribal Tribune, Marshall moved back to Oklahoma City to care for his father and learned about the opportunity to purchase the business from the original owners, who were looking to retire, allowing him to stay near his family. He began working in the business to learn the ropes, taking over management duties one year in, and starting the purchasing process a few years later in 2022.

Why we invested

Commercial Furniture Refinishers represents the first deal for both the Cheyenne and Arapaho Community Development Corporation (CACDC) and the Indigenous Futures Fund.

CACDC is a nonprofit, commercially focused, Tribally owned CDFI (Community Development Financial Institution) approved by the U.S. Treasury to provide access to capital for Native entrepreneurs and small businesses.

Commercial Furniture Refinishers needed to replace an aging moving truck to continue providing their primary services. Capital from the fund enabled Marshall to purchase a new truck and pay down other liabilities.