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 not much, but furniture retailers can find a sliver of solace knowing they are not alone in the disruption of their supply chains. Main Street mom-and-pop stores to some of the largest global manufacturers have had their worlds upended by the pandemic. The impact of that disruption can be measured in a new study
In last week’s HFA Live webinar, furniture retailers heard a sobering report about the industry’s new (read: sluggish) supply chain. A pair of supply and logistics experts told viewers the current delays won’t improve for another seven to eight months. But in the same breath, Riaz Husein and Garrett Bowman offered strategies retailers can enact
The pandemic has flattened many retailers, but not furniture retailers. Like many furniture retailers across the country, Home Furnishings Association member Howard Gerchikov of European Furniture Imports in Tampa is doing a booming business these days. Like many furniture retailers, he could be doing even better if he had product
Furniture retailers are enjoying a spike in sales since they reopened stores last summer. But there’s a price for that success: Those record sales are exposing weaknesses on many businesses’ supply chain and logistics operations. Specifically, retailers are seeing room for improvement with their inventory management, distribution and warehousing, and
A shortage of truck drivers is one of the long-term supply-chain problems impacting the furniture industry. And it’s why the Home Furnishings Association supports a proposed pilot program aimed at bringing younger drivers into the profession. The Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration recently announced plans to study the feasibility of
Walk into most bars and restaurants and the maskless patrons and workers make it appear our pandemic worries are over. Three furniture retailer delivery experts advised an HFA live Covid-19 Webinar audience last week not to believe that. Carl Nyberg, COO of Home Furnishings Association member HOM Furniture in Minnesota,
New rules published this month will help truck drivers use their work hours productively. In turn, that can make the transport of furniture and other goods more efficient. The changes to Hours of Service regulations approved by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration were sought by the Home Furnishings Association.
President Donald Trump’s executive order April 19 to allow deferred payment of some import duties for 90 days doesn’t apply to furniture shipped from China. Americans for Free Trade, a large business coalition including the Home Furnishings Association, has called for broader relief. “The administration’s announcement to defer the collection
Home appliance retailers are essential businesses in Massachusetts. A strong argument advanced by Simon’s Furniture, Mattresses & Appliances in Franklin, Mass., may have helped make sure of that. Today, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker ordered non-essential businesses to close at noon Tuesday. Simon’s didn’t wait for the order. To help slow
Inventory management plays a big role in customer satisfaction. Inventory management should be designed to monitor product availability, but thanks
How Furniture Retailers Win Online in 2026 Walk into any furniture store today, and you can sense how dramatically the
The retail landscape is more competitive and dynamic than ever, especially in the furniture space. Retailers invest significant resources to
In Shakespeare’s King Lear, an aging king divides his kingdom among his daughters based on flattery. The daughter who speaks
As eCommerce grows, online merchandising has become a key element in driving both customer engagement and sales. Far more than
Shaping the Customer Experience with Consumer Study Data Step into the shoes of today’s furniture shopper and discover what truly shapes their in-store experience.
Immersive Retail: Inspiring Customers with 3D, AR & VR Today’s most successful furniture retailers aren’t replacing personal service with technology, they’re using it to
