Several companies grew during the pandemic, finding ways to expand amid stiff headwinds and once-in-a-generation challenges. Old Brick Furniture & Mattress Company, the HFA 2023 Retailer of the Year (stores with more than 50 employees), takes pandemic growth and expansion to another level. I have to give you the back
You Can’t Do Business Like That In my travels as HFA’s CEO, I have been blessed to see many different ways to sell home furnishings. I have always said you could give separate store owners the same store footprint and the same product lines and you would end up with
When I started at HFA, the first picture I saw of David Gunn he was wearing a western shirt and a cowboy hat. This bigger-than-life Texan had an intimidating appearance. When I met him, however, I realized his heart was bigger than life—the heart he has for the home furnishings
It feels so good to be back on the road again! Zoom calls are great, and they fill a purpose; however, there is no better way to get to know our members than to visit their stores. Honoring our HFA retailers of the year winners, meeting their teams, and seeing
I am not big on gold watches or plaques. While they are historical ways to thank people for their dedication and service, I find that too often, a watch ends up in a drawer and forgotten, and the plaque languishes dustily on a shelf. To me, there is power in
I always remind myself and other people that I am not a furniture retailer. I do have retail in my background, but I don’t own a furniture store. As CEO of the Home Furnishings Association, my job is to serve members and always advocate for them and their businesses. My
I have been to Washington, D.C. twice to discuss furniture industry issues on behalf of HFA and our members. It’s a trip HFA makes annually to meet face-to-face with our lawmakers and various government agencies to make sure our voices are heard as people who make a living in the
As I write this, people throughout the country are dealing with crippling winter storms and need a helping hand. My area in Texas has been hit especially hard. In the six days my stores were closed, most of my employees were without power. City water facilities experienced power failures, generator
We use facial recognition traffic counters on our front doors to get as accurate of a count as possible of the people entering our furniture stores. It also captures a small image of each individual. A couple of years ago, we discovered that on more than 30 occasions, a particular
I am craving contact! I think in home furnishings, we all are craving contact right now. Our industry has many wonderful attributes, but the one thing that I fell in love with and that resonates with me is our business’ collegial nature. We are part of a customer-centric industry, and
Inventory management is the key to your cash flow and your store’s success. You spend more money on inventory than
Joining an established furniture retail sales team can feel daunting for a new associate. Walking into a showroom with seasoned
The trade and tariff landscape remains fluid, with several developments—and non-developments worth monitoring. While there haven’t been many substantial changes
Ever wonder why so many shoppers visit your website, browse sofas or mattresses, and then leave without making a purchase?
For business owners, change isn’t a seasonal disruption, it’s the daily reality. Customer traffic fluctuates, employee availability shifts, and unexpected
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.
