Chris Olsen, owner of The Ranch Rustic Furniture and Home Decor at 6429 S. Crosstown Expressway, moved to a bigger and better location after first opening the business in September 2015. Photo by Carrie Robertson Meyer/Third Coast Photo
When life hands you lemons, open your own business. That’s what Chris Olsen did when the rustic furniture store he had his heart set on buying was sold to someone else.
After working 11 years helping to build the business in Victoria, Olsen was devastated but resilient when he lost out to another buyer.
When he learned that nearby Corpus Christi had a multitude of furniture stores, but none that strictly sold the rustic style he loved, he decided to venture into this untapped market. With the help of a local small business incubator, he established The Ranch, selling quality rustic furniture and home decor at 6429 Crosstown Expressway, Suite 102, in Corpus Christi.
“I actually went on the internet and found a 10-step guide to starting your own business,” Olsen said.
He then developed a business plan, which he took to be reviewed at Del Mar College. After getting the capital and proper licensing, he opened the doors of The Ranch in September 2015.
Helping with the family business are son Nathaniel and daughter Adra Olsen. His wife, Cassandra, helps promote the store on social media.
The Ranch carries high-quality, 100 percent Brazilian pine, all natural and easy to maintain. In a style evoking the Old West, dining chairs are covered in cowhide, and headboards and dressers are carved with Long Stars — thus the name, The Ranch.
“Each piece is handcrafted and unique,” he said of the furniture style he has chosen to grace his own home. “No two pieces are ever alike.”
Clients come from as far away as Kerrville with many of them from rural areas. However, Corpus Christi residents have embraced the style as well.
“We have clients here in Corpus Christi who want the feel of the country inside their city homes,” Olsen said.
Unlike other local furniture stores that only have a few pieces of the rustic look, The Ranch carries furnishings and accessories for the entire house, from living room to dining room to bathroom.
“We have a variety of wooden crosses, wrought-iron wall decor, key holders, salt and pepper shakers and whiskey holders with shot glasses to name a few,” Olsen said. “The solid-wood furniture comes already varnished and treated and some of the pieces can also come in certain colors.”
Purchasing his products directly from distributors in Pueblo, Mexico, has enabled Olsen to pass on the savings to his customers.
“Our prices are much more affordable than the competition,” he said. “I even encourage customers to check out the other stores and compare because I, myself, as a customer, would do the same.”
The furniture at The Ranch is handcrafted by skilled artisans whose families have generations of expertise in the art. The workmanship is as unique and organic as the material.
“The Brazilian pine is so natural,” Olsen said. “Sometimes, you might even find the occasional bead of sap.”
Olsen provides clients with a wood-care kit to go with their new furniture.
“Quality is what customers can expect from our store,” Olsen said. “Not just in products, but also in the service they will receive.”
The Ranch is located at 6429 S. Crosstown Expressway, Suite 102, in Corpus Christi. For more information, contact (361) 335-6302 or theranch7681@gmail.com. Visit theranch.cc to get a feel for how you can bring the comfort and style of the Old West into your home.
