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This article was published 21/1/2015 (2068 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

FACING a bank call on a six-figure loan, David Keam is hoping Winnipeggers will, you know, find him and his six stores.

The president of Best Sleep Centre has paid off more than US$1.1 million of a loan in less than a year, but he's being pressured to pay off the balance of US$113,000 by the end of the month.

So, he's going to liquidate $2.1 million worth of tables, chairs, couches and bedroom suites at wholesale prices and hopefully bring in $1 million or so. "You can't pay your bank with dressers, only with sold dressers," he said.

Keam said his problems started last winter when poor sales, which he blamed on a combination of the coldest winter on record and construction-related gridlock near his St. James location, caused him to over-extend his credit limit.

The bank -- Keam didn't want to identify it but said it's not one of Canada's Big Six -- no longer has representatives in Winnipeg, and his new out-of-town account managers decided to call the loan.

"They have a right to get upset about it, but when you've been with a (lender) for six years and everything has been fine, then you have one bad year, I don't think they should be upset," he said.

Even if you've never bought something from Best Sleep Centre, chances are you'll recognize Keam from his television advertisements and his "Yooooouuu'llll find us!" tag line.

In order to help boost his revenue, Keam is starting a buyers club, too. A $1,100 membership will enable a customer to buy at wholesale prices -- either to a maximum of $20,000 worth of furniture for $11,000 or five years.

"We're going to go out and find every product in the furniture business that people could want and buy 50 of them at a time," he said.

Keam said the company isn't in any danger of shutting its doors.

"We've been arguing with these guys since March. We can argue with them for at least one more month. I'm sure they'll continue to work with us if progress is being made," he said.

The discounted bedroom suites are at all six stores, but the tables, chairs and couches are only being sold at the St. James store. Mattresses will not be part of the liquidation.

geoff.kirbyson@freepress.mb.ca