There’s this great little business on Lexington Road called The Louisville Furniture Dudes. I’ve followed their blog for several months now, and last week’s entry caught my attention in a major way. The Furniture Dudes have begun to accept bitcoin as payment for furniture purchases.
The Louisville Furniture Dudes sell all kinds of furniture. They have a showroom and a warehouse, but they also accept and sell consignments, can order just about anything you’re looking for, and occasionally make or refinish their own stuff. According to Furniture Dude Zac Jackson, there are “No limits on what we’ll do as long as it’s worth our time.”
I recently stopped into their shop to meet two of the three Dudes and to interview them about bitcoin. Furniture Dude Ryan Besand explained they are an innovative company that welcomes technology, and bitcoin was a logical step for them in their business. He added they have a business mentor who has helped them and made suggestions along the way, and this was the most recent one the Dudes have embraced. As of press time no one has attempted to pay with bitcoin yet.
Besand also introduced me to BlockChain, a bitcoin marketplace with an app that helps users find businesses that accept payment in bitcoin. As far as either of us can tell, The Louisville Furniture Dudes is the only place in the area that accepts bitcoin as payment, and the next closest area is in Dayton. He also explained to me a new concept that is building up around the bitcoin marketplace. Adjacent businesses are banding together and agreeing to accept bitcoin in order to entice bitcoin tourism and travel.
Louisville is positioning itself to become a great tech startup hub. Forward thinking businesses like The Furniture Dudes can help make Louisville more attractive place to set up shop. All it takes is a few businesses willing to take the plunge into uncharted territory to make the tech world stand up and take notice.
Here’s an infographic that can help you learn the basics of bitcoin:
Photos Courtesy of mobilepaymentstoday.com and Maggie Kimberl, cover photo courtesy of shutterstock.com/igor.stevanovic
