Walk into most furniture or mattress stores, and you’ll see beautiful merchandising, strong sales teams, and aggressive promotional signage. But in many cases, financing is still treated like a closing tool. That’s the mistake. The highest-performing retailers in today’s environment don’t use financing to “save” a sale. They use financing
Profits don’t improve by accident. It improves when leadership can clearly see how marketing, eCommerce, product performance, and operations influence margin. Many retailers generate significant volumes of data, yet still struggle to translate it into disciplined retail profit management. Reports often live in separate systems and then in spreadsheets so
For business owners, change isn’t a seasonal disruption, it’s the daily reality. Customer traffic fluctuates, employee availability shifts, and unexpected challenges can turn even the most carefully crafted schedule upside down. In today’s fast-moving environment, staying competitive means staying flexible. That’s why more organizations are rethinking traditional scheduling models and
Joining an established furniture retail sales team can feel daunting for a new associate. Walking into a showroom with seasoned professionals, well-defined processes, and performance expectations already in motion can be overwhelming. Without the right support, even talented hires may struggle to find their footing. A well-structured mentorship program bridges
The G.R.O.W. Sales Coaching Model Part 1 In speaking with hundreds of furniture retailers over the last two years, I have heard that everyone is experiencing economic challenges and feeling the same pain at different levels and in different parts of the business. Challenging times increase the need to look
What Smart Retailers Are Doing About It Consumers across the country are suing retailers over ADA website accessibility. Avoid becoming the next target. Here’s a practical overview: why ADA compliance matters, how the law is being used against retailers, and immediate steps you can take to stay compliant and reduce
More important, what should they do? At a peer group meeting of eight successful construction industry CEOs years ago, the members began discussing how to get the most out of an industry standard software package. One CEO asked another a question about how to key in data to produce a
For many independent furniture retailers, succession planning is more complex than expected. The next generation often chooses different careers; employees rarely have the vendor credit support to carry on, and outside buyers may not value the business the way the owner does. Understanding the realities of exit strategies — and
In Shakespeare’s King Lear, an aging king divides his kingdom among his daughters based on flattery. The daughter who speaks honestly is disowned, and Lear ultimately loses everything. This story is a cautionary tale for family furniture business owners: poor succession can erode not only the business you’ve built but
You don’t need another research firm telling you what happened last quarter. You need a heads-up on what’s coming so you can buy smarter, staff smarter, and market smarter. That’s where Zelman, a Walker & Dunlop company, comes in. Now an HFA Solution Partner, Zelman is bringing its industry-leading housing
When service contracts are presented alongside customer furniture selection, they feel natural and valuable. When they are saved for the
The trade and tariff landscape remains fluid, with several developments—and non-developments worth monitoring. While there haven’t been many substantial changes
Search engine optimization remains one of the most influential parts of digital marketing today. Organic search continues to drive a
How Strong Leadership Drives Performance, Culture, and Consistency Traffic patterns fluctuate, customer expectations continue to evolve, and competition remains strong
I’ve been in the furniture business for over 20 years, and I’ve witnessed every marketing trend, from loud holiday ads
Join Peter Theran and Steve Fodor, LCB, MCS, Founder and CEO of Customs Services & Solutions, for a practical discussion on IEEPA tariffs, refund developments,
Chasing volume is no longer enough in retail today. Sustainable profitability comes from disciplined, high-impact decisions about assortment, floor space, inventory, and capital allocation.
