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
As the battle between brick-and-mortar furniture retailers and online giants like Amazon wages on, retailers are now transitioning to zero inventory and putting excess inventory in an online shop. This strategy, often referred to as an “endless aisle,” is being used by big-box and specialty retailers alike. Stores can reach
How to handle sexual harassment claims can be overwhelming and terrifying for every business—from small furniture stores to major retail chains. But it shouldn’t be. Regrettably, at some point, some who run or manage retail stores become aware of sexual harassment. Here are a few tips that will help you
It’s time to take a second look at your store’s fixed costs Industry knowledge is what makes you good at what you do. It’s likely, if you’re reading this magazine, that you’ve learned from hard-won years of experience how to navigate the challenges and rewards of the home furnishings industry.
Being charitable and being profitable do not have to be mutually exclusive. That’s what home furnishings companies will find out by turning their excess inventory into donations that benefit charitable groups in their communities and beyond. For furniture retailers, finding the best way to move unprofitable stock remains a challenge.
Edward Bruski taught his son a lot about running a family business. Those lessons and Larry Bruski’s determination have made Rogers City Home Furnishings the success it is. Larry Bruski was 24 and in the furniture business barely two years, but he was already in trouble. It was 1976 and
Without one you’ll never know who your target customer is —or how to reach them. You’ve been running your furniture store for years now and you’re confident you know who your customer is and, just as important, how to reach them. At least you think you know. Ask yourself this
Getting Your Numbers Right Improvement in your furniture store starts with two things: Awareness and desire. The awareness of how you’re performing against standards allows you to understand your strengths and weaknesses. It’s through the measurement against these standards, or metrics, that you can find gaps. Knowing your gaps and
The RoomPlace Races Toward Victory Lane with a Hot New Design The turbulence left in the wake of a lead Indy car on a race track has a name and it’s not pretty: dirty air. Standing in the parking lot of a long-shuttered Levitz warehouse store in Indianapolis, I can
Brick-and-mortar stores aren’t going anywhere. At least, for now. Colleges and universities know this. That’s why they’re creating retail schools to train the next generation of merchants. Don’t have the time (or money) to go back to college? We’re bringing college to you! If you can still recall the days
Why Data-Driven Sourcing Is Becoming Non-Negotiable On April 2, 2025, President Trump announced sweeping new import tariffs that immediately reshaped
In furniture retail, most sales are lost to the power of uncertainty, and this uncertainty often centers around affordability and
When the Home Furnishings Association named Stacie Bedford, Chief Creative Officer of Evans’ Heritage Home, the recipient of the 2026
You already know this feeling: sales are strong, customers are walking in, and yet somehow your bank account tells a
Global trade policy continues to shift rapidly, and for home furnishings retailers, those changes can have immediate consequences for costs,
AI & Retail Transformation: Your Roadmap to Smart Adoption The technology landscape for home furnishings retailers is evolving fast. For furniture retailers, simply adopting
AI is no longer just powering search bars and chatbots. New agentic AI experiences are changing how shoppers discover, evaluate, and buy products online. For
MEMBER-ONLY DISCUSSION: eCommerce Connect with fellow HFA member retailers to exchange insights, challenges, and successes in navigating family business dynamics.
