Great sales begin with proper leadership, and one of the best ways to outperform the competition is with the right sales leadership approach. Recently, HFA’s CEO Mark Schumacher spoke with retail sales management expert Karen Barry from The Friedman Group about how building better sales habits can create a repeatable
Home furnishings products are one of the largest imports to the US. It is no surprise that when the United States imposed tariffs on exports from China, manufacturers got creative on ways to keep prices low for their customers. Many manufacturers responded by relocating their operations from China to Vietnam
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
Over the past few years, the emergence of the digital economy had already begun to change consumers’ expectations and buying habits. The COVID-19 pandemic has only accelerated the pace of change – placing more power and choice in consumers’ hands. Consumers are demanding – and smart retailers are providing –
Making a typical final mile home delivery in the COVID-19 era has changed for the foreseeable future. Many retailers have risen to the challenge and innovated quickly to provide options – driven by consumer preferences. Prior to the pandemic, the majority of deliveries made by full-line furniture retailers were a
Before we list the five important reasons why you should use a freight broker, let’s define what they do. A freight broker arranges freight shipping between a carrier and a shipper. In exchange, the broker receives a small commission for facilitating the transaction. Freight brokers add value and flexibility to your
More Sales = More Returns As retailers gear up for peak holiday season sales, it is important not to lose sight of what happens next. Unfortunately, some of the merchandise you sell is going to come back! And increased sales mean increased returns. With more online shopping, the rate of
It’s no secret that people love to text. In fact, according to a Gallup poll, 68 percent of Americans under 30 prefer texting over any other method of communication. But consumers don’t just want to text with their friends and family. Recent research has found that 90 percent of consumers
HFA member Matter Brothers Furniture always had a plan to venture into e-commerce, but there always seemed to be bigger projects – a new POS system, reorganizing the warehouse and showroom floors – to tackle in the company’s five-year plan. “There was always something that seemed more important,” said Kim Dominguez,
Okinus helps retailers close the sale and earn repeat customers In tough economic times, building and maintaining a solid credit
Over the past few years, the emergence of the digital economy had already begun to change consumers’ expectations and buying
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has forced High Point Market Authority to cancel the spring furniture market that was tentatively scheduled
COVID-19 restrictions and necessary safety protocols have led the Home Furnishings Association to decide not to open its Resource Center
HFA member Tony Vera closed his doors last week, let go of all his employees but family and is relying
Congress and the Trump administration are preparing another Covid-19 relief package. The Home Furnishings Association’s Washington representative, Chris Andresen, and government relations liaison Doug Clark
Everyone is trying to figure out what the “new normal” will look like when your stores reopen. What will recovery look like to you and
