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More than 270 golfers participated in HOM Furniture's annual charity golf tournament to help local organizations.

Shop Talk

A gorgeous golf course. A sun-kissed Minnesota morning. Dozens of golfers eager to help a local cause. HOM Furniture. All four made for a perfect recipe for the 30th annual HOM Open Charity Golf Tournament last month. About 270 participants enjoyed a perfect day on the greens and fairways at Majestic Oaks Golf Course in Ham Lake, Minn. By the end of the day, HFA member HOM helped raise more than $300,000 for Minnesota Adult & Teen Challenge (MNATC) and other charities. The tournament is one of HOM Furniture President and CEO Rod Johansen’s favorite days of the year. “It’s

October 14, 2019

News

Fires, power outages challenge California retailers

Fast-moving fires and long, dark nights. Those are some of the challenges Californians – including furniture retailers – are facing. “The ridgeline is burning toward us, but the wind is blowing against us,” Norbert Moniz, owner of Home Furnishings Association member A Royal Suite in Santa Clarita, said Friday afternoon. “If the wind doesn’t change, we’ll be fine.” The Saddleridge fire, raging south of Santa Clarita, covered 5,000 acres, destroyed dozens of structures and forced some 100,000 evacuations. It’s bad, but Moniz, who has three stores in the area, has seen worse. “We typically open our store and warehouse for

October 11, 2019

Image shows a safety sticker on a dresser drawer

Policy Matters

Harper’s Law takes effect in New York

Harper’s Law takes effect Oct. 12 in New York State, putting greater responsibility for furniture safety on retailers there. Under this law, retailers may not sell new clothing storage units that don’t comply with ASTM’s stability standards. In addition, they must display, keep in stock and offer for sale tip-restraint devices. The law also requires retailers to post an easily seen notice warning customers that, “Certain furniture may become unstable and tip over, leading to possible injury or death. Tip restraint devices may prevent tipping of furniture when properly installed.” The law defines those devices as “straps, wall brackets, steel

October 10, 2019

Policy Matters

Don’t increase tariffs, HFA asks

Higher tariffs are set to take effect Oct. 15. The Home Furnishings Association submitted comments asking the government to change course. “The Home Furnishings Association fully supports the administration’s objectives in reaching a comprehensive trade agreement with China, but we do not agree that tariffs should be a negotiating tool,” HFA said in comments filed with the Office of U.S. Trade Representative. “Therefore, we respectfully ask that the government suspend the October 15 increase in tariffs on List 3 imports from China and eliminate the existing tariffs.” List 3 covers most home furnishings products imported from China. Those products are

October 9, 2019

From left, Jameson Dion, Chris Fox and Greg Crowley lead a discussion on furniture safety moderated by Doug Clark

Policy Matters

HFA government advocacy update: Take the lead on safety

Take the lead on safety, HFA members tell industry Three retailers of different sizes shared a common message at a Regulatory Summit on the furniture industry’s tip-over issue: Don’t wait for regulators to tell you how to do what’s right – take the lead yourself. “The issue isn’t going away,” Greg Crowley, of Home Furnishings Association member Crowley Furniture & Mattress in the Kansas City area, told a roomful of manufacturing executives, “so it only makes sense to get out front on this and be the change you know is coming.” Crowley’s comments, along with those from Jameson Dion of

October 8, 2019

The Canadian Furniture Show canceled its 2020 event following years of declining attendance from retailers and manufacturers alike.

Shop Talk

HFA members in Canada lament loss of show

Home Furnishings Association retailers in Canada are lamenting the loss of the Canadian Furniture Show, their country’s only furniture market, but they’re not surprised. After 47 years, organizers of the Canadian Furniture Show canceled the 2020 event. The show, annually held in May in the International Centre just outside Toronto, never gained footing after a 2015 comeback. Fewer retailers in attendance meant less interest from manufacturers over time. “It was just a downward spiral in recent years,” said HFA member Jim Fee of Stoney Creek Furniture in nearby Stoney Creek, Ontario. “It’s sad because it used to be a big

October 7, 2019