Shop Talk

Salesperson helping a customer decide on what furniture to buy
Sherene Funk
A good in-store experience can kill your competition

Despite the growth of online sales, there’s still a great demand for traditional, brick-and-mortar stores. A Rutgers University study showed that competitive advantages such as easy return processes, a pleasant and engaging store environment, and amazing customer service combine to create in-store experiences that drive sales and increase repeat customers.

A family furniture business
Joe Panettieri
Your kids will never own your business

That’s because it won’t be yours anymore. Successfully transitioning your furniture store from one generation to the next requires a leader who’s willing to let go. Perhaps no other retail sector has as many family businesses running through it than the furniture business. Odds are good you’re probably running or

Man tipping his hat off
Wayne Rivers
Can being nice translate into success?

I’ve run into so many nice family business leaders in my line of work that it got me thinking about a chicken-or-egg question. Most family business leaders I know are some of the nicest people you could ever meet. Always engaging, always willing to help. That got me thinking: Are

Photo of Michael Parrish
Robert Bell
Man on the Move

Michael Parrish has five children to feed back home. That’s why he stays so busy at work. Michael Parrish has a theory about furniture retailers he wants to share, but first he has a story to tell. Once upon a time—April to be exact—Parrish was heading home from another High

Small man in a suit sitting on a clock
Wayne Rivers
Want to get more done in your family store? Do less.

It’s not about the hours you put in. Top performers accept fewer tasks and then obsess over getting them right. I remember my first job out of college working at a bank. I was processing loans along with two or three other people. Unlike those people, though, when five o’clock

It's a family affair
Ginny Gaylor
It’s a Family Affair

Tips for keeping your family business humming along for generations You’ve probably read the statistics: Barely three out of 10 family businesses survive to the second generation, according to Forbes. By the time third-generation family members show up for work that number is down to one. As bleak as that

Daw's Home Furnishings Family Photo
Robert Bell
“We like to keep things in the family”

At Daw’s Home Furnishings, the apples never fall far from the tree For the record, it was never a given any of Yazbik Daw’s eight children would end up selling furniture. There was no fatherly edict that they would follow in their dad’s footsteps at Daw’s Home Furnishings, the store

Are you keeping up?
David McMahon
Are You Keeping Up?

The biggest elements of retail success are inventory and selling. Traveling around the world consulting with retailers, I’ve seen my share of retail furniture operations in action. These operations come in all shapes and sizes, but there are typically three types of retailers. First, there are those who recognize and

Butterflies
Wayne Rivers
Life changes

…has your estate plan changed with it? We recently celebrated Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday. King’s name is synonymous with grace under pressure, a wish for a peaceful resolution of differences and strength of character. But two years ago, King’s birthday was marred by ugly headlines surrounding his family’s

Charles Danto (left), Ashley Danto Silverman and Irwin Danto of Danto Furniture.
Robert Bell
Eyes on the Prize

The way Irwin Danto sees things, in these fast-changing days of retail there are two ways to run a furniture store: Wring your hands and hope your ship comes in or dive head-first into uncharted waters, and pull your ship to shore. Danto Furniture, a neighborhood fixture in Southwest Detroit

You might also like

Business Plan Demand and Supply Marketing Concept
Demand Planning Trends for 2024

“We need robust demand planning” is a phrase I hear from almost every client. Demand planning accurately forecasts customer purchases,

See the latest

More From The HFA

Evaluating the Cost of Delivery - HFA Webinar

Evaluating the Cost of Delivery Join leading industry experts who will share insights on key cost drivers, efficiency measures, technology usage, and outsourcing options for

Register To Attend
Empower Your Delivery Team For Customer Excellence_HFA Webinar

Empower Your Delivery Team For Customer Excellence Learn to exceed customer expectations and safeguard your brand’s reputation by mastering the delivery process. Discover best practices

Register To Attend