Carolina Farmhouse, Cecil Mack, Sam Utt-Grubb Design and now.... FARMHOUSE SOUTH

UPDATE!

I want to preface this post by saying this - I had decided sometime back that I was not going to be writing a blog post with the update to the findings on the Utt-Grubbs bankruptcy.  But...I changed my mind.

The Utt-Grubbs were granted bankruptcy in November 2013.  The thousands & thousands of dollars that many customers lost is lost for good.  Unfortunately for all of us it was a pretty draining experience.

I think it says a lot about our system and how it works.  The message I got from this is entire experience... (and believe me I read/heard stories from so many different customers that would literally make your stomach turn, along with hearing from neighbors & locals that emailed me that between new cars, eating out & vacations they didn't understand how this could happen).  

Oh yes...the message I got is this - You can open up a business, run that business poorly (using the money from orders to go on vacation, buy new cars, go out to movies, etc instead of purchasing materials to build the orders that are already fully paid for), get into financial trouble for multiple reasons, and then file for bankruptcy.  So I can take in custom work, take your money, use it for myself, not have enough money to buy materials to finish or even start what you already paid for.....and then after enough time file bankruptcy and never have to pay you back!  Oh and then open the exact same type of business under a different name.

And, then change my name not once, twice but THREE times with each time using the same photos of the same furniture, using the Extreme Home Makeover and the other great media coverage that helped push their business in a manner that any of us small business owners would dream of having.

I received this screenshot from an anonymous person that knows the Utt-Grubbs

I was emailed a screenshot last night of their new business name - Farmhouse South.  It has a new logo, but it's all the same.  

The whole experience made me rethink buying local or from a small mom & pop shop.  This is sad because guess what? I am a small business owner!  I also like to cheer on small business owners & see them succeed!  In fact, I'd much rather buy & support local, and/or small businesses for many reasons!!  Bottom line is do your research, read up on not only the company, but the owners (operators/founders).  It is easy to change a logo & a name of a company, to even change the address or location.  

You as the consumer have the right to make your decision based on reviews of a business and even the ones that run it.  My reviews on any purchase I make is only to help someone else make their own decision on whether or not to spend their hard earned money.  

I have received emails from people from all different walks in life - an attorney that represented a client against the Utt-Grubbs.  A family that pretty much bought every single new piece of furniture to be put in their brand new home.  Several that had saved each & every penny (some that went without a vacation, or gave up eating out & packed lunches, going out to movies, etc) in order to be able to purchase custom furniture.  I've even recently received emails from different consumers who read reviews, found my blog, and emailed me to say thank you....thank you!!

A group of us pulled together a document that was over 100 pages with evidence of reasons as to why the Utt-Grubbs should not be allowed to own or operate another furniture business.  We sent it to the North Carolina Attorney General, the District Attorney, the bankruptcy court.   It was all comprised of factual documents sent directly from customers and taken directly from websites that were updated by one of the Utt-Grubbs.

This is why I say that I have lost faith in our system.

So...  Farmhouse South was founded by Kelly Utt-Grubb that Sam Utt-Grubb is the furniture designer (which according to their Facebook page shows started on September 2013...which means they are using the old Sam Utt-Grubb design page).  The Utt-Grubbs started Carolina Farmhouse, changed the name to Cecil Mack and then Sam Utt-Grubb design.  Kelly Utt-Grubb & Sam Utt-Grubb d/b/a Carolina Farmhouse filed bankruptcy and was granted in November 2013.

You can also read an article that ran in the January issue of Angie’s List Magazine as part of the annual “Best/Worst contractors” package. Here is a link to the online version: http://www.angieslist.com/articles/raleigh-best-worst-contractors-2013.htm#box2! 

All my best!

~Lynn

To make it easy to find additional posts -
http://www.onfernavenue.com/2013/09/carolina-farmhousececil-mack-co-status.html
http://www.onfernavenue.com/2013/06/did-you-know-that-carolina-farmhouse.html
http://www.onfernavenue.com/2013/06/you-had-questionsthe-answers-carolina.html
http://www.onfernavenue.com/2013/05/do-you-have-questions-for-carolina.html
http://www.onfernavenue.com/2013/05/a-little-information-carolina-farmhouse.html
http://www.onfernavenue.com/2013/05/carolina-farmhouse-update.html
http://www.onfernavenue.com/2013/05/fascinated-by-all-stories-carolina.html
http://www.onfernavenue.com/2013/05/another-victim-of-carolina-farmhouse.html
http://www.onfernavenue.com/2013/05/moving-forwardone-step-at-time.html
http://www.onfernavenue.com/2013/05/stealing-carolina-farmhouse-update.html
http://www.onfernavenue.com/2013/04/the-need-to-stand-up-for-ourselves.html
http://www.onfernavenue.com/2013/04/update-to-big-ole-let-downcarolina.html
http://www.onfernavenue.com/2013/04/a-big-ole-let-down.html

5

Carolina Farmhouse/Cecil Mack Co - Utt-Grubb - BANKRUPTCY FILED

Well folks it happened as we had pretty much knew was going to happen.  The Utt-Grubbs have filed personal bankruptcy!

I have had a good 15 - 20 emails & several blog comments asking about status.  Here is the email from the FORMER attorney -

All -

 

I wanted to provide you an update as soon as possible. I understand and appreciate your frustration with the process, particularly as I have not been authorized by my clients to provide any additional information or updates recently.

 

I am now able to communicate the following:

• The Utt-Grubbs have terminated my representation of them in this matter. All future contacts regarding Carolina Farmhouse, Cecil Mack, or the Utt-Grubbs, personally, should be addressed to Stephanie Osborne-Rogers.
• Her contacting information is 

Ms Stephanie Osborne-Rogers 

Northern Blue LLP 

1414 Raleigh Rd., Suite 435

P.O. Box 2208 

Chapel Hill, NC 27515 

Phone: 919-968-4441

 Fax: 919-942-6603 - 

sor@nbfirm.com - 

http://www.northenblue.com/attorneys/stephanie-osbourne-rodgers/

On September 10, 2013, the Utt-Grubbs filed for personal bankruptcy in the Middle District of NC Federal Bankruptcy Court.

• The assigned Bankruptcy Trustee is Sara Conti
• Her contact information is:

Sara A. Conti

U.S. Bankruptcy Court

Middle District of North Carolina

Durham Division

Box 939

Carrboro, NC 27510

Phone: (919)967-3375

 

I will place this notice on my website on the Carolina Farmhouse page. I will leave the website and information in place until September 30, at which point I will remove the page from my website.

• I have been listed as a Creditor of the Utt-Grubbs' in their bankruptcy proceeding, as such I am very limited in what information I can provide at this time. Between my role as a Creditor and as a former attorney for the Utt-Grubbs, I am extremely limited in what I can share or disclose in this matter. Generally, I will direct any inquiries to Ms. Osborne-Rogers.
• I am able to advise you that, because the Utt-Grubbs have filed for Federal Bankruptcy Protection, you are very limited in your rights to collect on the debt(s) owed to you. You should consult with an attorney to understand your rights and responsibilities as a potential Creditor and/or the "priority" of your claim.

I am, on a personal level, so sorry for the way this has turned out. Best wishes and good luck to all of you.

 

John

 

I had sent an email to John letting him know that I heard about the bankruptcy.  I had also sent one the day prior letting him know I had seen their website was down along with their facebook & twitter pages for Cecil Mack.  John emailed me back letting me know he was putting the above together to send out.  He was asked by the Utt-Grubbs not to provide any updates or information for a while now.  He was their former attorney so he is prohibited from saying much other than what is in the above update.  Please know that if you have questions he's willing to answer them if he can. 

I emailed the new attorney for the bankruptcy and received an email with a letter back just a few minutes ago.  The content of the letter is -

RE: Utt-Grubb d/b/a Carolina Farmhouse Bankruptcy Case 13-81144

 On September 10,2013, Kelly and Sam Utt-Grubb, d/b/a! Carolina Farmhouse (the

"Debtors") filed a petition for relief under chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code. I represent the

Debtors in their bankruptcy case, which is pending in the Middle District of North Carolina,

Durham Division. Sara Conti has been appointed the interim trustee in the case.

As attorney for the Debtors, I am not aware of any assets in this case that will be

administered by the trustee, and believe that it is unlikely that creditors will receive any

distribution in this case. However, this determination is not mine to make. A chief role of the

Trustee in a chapter 7 bankruptcy proceeding is to determine if a debtor has assets that can be

Liquidated to pay creditor claims. If the trustee concludes that there are assets that will be

available to pay claims in the Debtors' case, you will receive a notice from the Bankruptcy Court

and instructions on how to file a claim in this case.

Pursuant to §362 of the Bankruptcy Code, the automatic stay immediately went into

effect in the Debtors' case at the time the petition was filed. The automatic stay provides for an

injunction that restricts most creditor actions relative to the Debtors and their property, if such

actions are intended to collect a prepetition debt or obligation. For example, creditors may not

begin or continue judicial proceedings against the Debtors, they cannot take actions to obtain the

Debtors' property, and they cannot take actions to create, perfect or enforce a lien against the

Debtors' property. Additionally, creditors cannot contact the Debtors for the purposes of

enforcing a claim, harassing the Debtors or pressuring the Debtors to satisfy a prepetition

obligation. The Bankruptcy Court takes violations of the automatic stay by creditors very

seriously and monetary sanctions are often imposed on creditors who choose to ignore the

injunction. The protections of the automatic stay apply to the Utt-Grubbs and Carolina

Farmhouse and the property of their bankruptcy estate. I encourage you to contact a bankruptcy

attorney prior to taking any action against the Debtors.

Kelly Utt-Grubb has written a blog recently about her being an entrepreneur.  An entrepreneur (ⁱ/ˌɒntrəprəˈnɜr/, a loanword from French) is an individual who organizes and operates a business or businesses, taking on financial risk to do so.

She has created and opened many different business ventures - letterberry (which no longer exists), name counsel,  the creative media people, cecil mack (was under the name Carolina Farmhouse which neither no longer exists), and her newest Thanksforward. 

She & her husband Sam Utt-Grubb had every opportunity with Carolina Farmhouse.  You see they had the chance most of us would love to have had - featured on Extreme Home Makeover in less than a year of starting up their business!!  Orders pouring in...

I am beyond sorry that this is the end result.  I really wanted to see each & every customer get their money back that they were owed. 

I started writing the blog about our situation & I became vocal because I felt there were lots of people out there that just didn't know what their options were.  I then became compassionate because I heard story after story of so many that had been saving for a long time to make this kind of purchase.  It is heartbreaking to know that someone was using wedding money to purchase their first dining room table together, or someone had lost their job and had finally regained themselves, saved the money to celebrate by buying their family a new table....  We are no exception of where the money came from for our pieces...  I mean we were supposed to be getting a table given to us from the Utt-Grubbs program "Farmhouse Families" due to losing our home in a fire.

I wonder how it feels to lay your head down each night knowing that you had your hands wrapped around a successful business that was able to give back in such a big way, but instead you let it slip from your grasp for not managing your business properly....multiple vacations in a year, brand new cars, etc.

Give me one successful running business any day over starting 5 or 6 different business that never become successful enough to provide for my family...

I wholeheartedly believe this was coming down the pipeline for sometime.  I just don't think there was any other solution for the Utt-Grubbs.  I have my thoughts on what was going on over the last several months.

I wish everyone the very best of luck!  If I receive any additional information I will update you here!

~Lynn

6

You had questions..the answers - Carolina Farmhouse/Cecil Mack Co.

I was inundated with emails on Monday going into Tuesday about the name change of Carolina Farmhouse to Cecil Mack Co.  There are some pretty angry customers out there and pretty much every single one of you that contacted me had the exact same comments - They shouldn't be able to hide under another name and run from their broken promises and making shoddy furniture. 

As of today we have answers to a some of the questions you had asked.  The attorney is still working on the other questions that were asked.  The attorney for Carolina Farmhouse/Cecil Mack Co. has answered the questions for you.  You can also find a link on their attorney's website with the information as well found HERE.  At the bottom of the questions you will find a link to take you to the answers to the questions.

 

The list of questions asked were (some may have been changed to better represent the question):

1.      If Carolina Farmhouse has no money, how are they going to provide refunds?

2.      Also, will they be issuing refunds in order of purchase dates?

3.      How long do I have to wait to receive my refund?

4.      How many customers are currently on the refund list?

5.      How many customers are on the store credit list?

6.      How many customers are still waiting for the furniture to be made, and how long have they been waiting?

7.      How many employees do they have?

8.      Is Carolina Farmhouse planning to file bankruptcy?

9.      What happens to my money if Carolina Farmhouse files bankruptcy?

10.  If Carolina Farmhouse files bankruptcy, do they plan to open another furniture making business?

11.  What legal obligations is Carolina Farmhouse under?

12.  Is Carolina Farmhouse still taking orders?  If so, what is the lead time for previously ordered furniture?  What is the lead time for newly placed orders?

13.  How is Carolina Farmhouse communicating to new customers there is a lengthy lead time?

14.  What is Carolina Farmhouse doing to become better at customer service/customer interface?

15.   Who is handling customer inquiries?

16.   What role does Kelly have in Carolina Farmhouse?

17.  What role does Dan have in Carolina Farmhouse?

18.  What role does Sam have in Carolina Farmhouse?

19.  Can Carolina Farmhouse lose any privileges of owning/operating another business in North Carolina?

20.  What type of protection does the customer have now that Carolina Farmhouse has their money?

21.   If this is the livelihood of Sam, Kelly & Dan, how is their home and cars protected from being seized as an asset should they not be able to refund the existing customers?

22.  How are they paying their bills if they have no money and no new business?

23.   It appears that Carolina Farmhouse changed their name to Cecil Mack.  Why did Carolina Farmhouse make the name change?

24.   What legal obligations is Carolina Farmhouse under now that they’ve made the name change?

25.   What legal obligations is Cecil Mack now under since it was once Carolina Farmhouse?

26.   What roles do Kelly, Sam & Dan now have in Cecil Mack?

27.   Now that they’ve made the name change to Cecil Mack, is Carolina Farmhouse filing bankruptcy?

28.   Now that Carolina Farmhouse has changed their name to Cecil Mack, how is the business formed?  Is it a sole proprietorship, LLC, S Corp, or partnership?  How was Carolina Farmhouse formed?

29.    If I ordered and received my furniture, and it is now showing poor quality such as warped boards, cracks between boards, or splinters coming through, what are my options?  Do I get a refund or will someone be fixing my furniture?  If someone is going to be fixing my furniture, what kind of a timeframe am I looking at for it to be completed?

30.   When will CF start to pay back customers?

31.   Do they have a start date?

32.    Are they going to wait until they have so much money in the bank or when they feel like they have all their needs taken care of?

33.   How do we know they are actually paying people back and will we be able to see and verify that people are indeed being refunded? And I would like some time frame.

34.   Why am I not being offered one of the ready-made tables?  I’ve offered to take one that has been posted for sale at an extreme discount and would have been happy to have it.

 

In regards to the name change from Carolina Farmhouse to Cecil Mack Co. CLICK HERE!

FAQs for Carolina Farmhouse CLICK HERE!

 

Happy weekend everyone!! 

~Lynn

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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