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
Some furniture imports from China have been excluded from tariffs, the Trump administration announced Feb. 5. The action is retroactive to September 2018 and continues until Aug. 7, 2020. Importers are entitled to apply for refunds of tariffs paid – originally 10 percent and then 25 percent since May 10,
A sale isn’t final, and it doesn’t satisfy the customer, until it’s delivered into her home, Patrick Cory said in a Home Furnishings Association seminar at High Point Market Oct. 21. Cory was co-owner of Cory 1st Choice Home Delivery until its acquisition by J.B. Hunt Transport Services earlier this
Shaving cost per asset while maximizing revenue is a top priority for home furnishings retailers today. To help achieve this,
As the political and economic landscape shifts in 2025, the newly enacted One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) draws close
Simple, powerful leadership principles that drive performance and engagement on the sales floor and beyond. Whether you’re managing a large
At 8 a.m., Sarah opens Instagram, coffee in hand. Two hours later, she has ten screenshots saved and a plan
What if you’re sitting on one of your store’s most valuable marketing assets—and not using it? If you’re like most
Smarter Media Strategies for Furniture Retailers In today’s crowded advertising landscape, every dollar counts—and standing out has never been harder. Are your media channels truly
Winning in the Age of AI for Retail SEO Retail SEO is evolving fast. With AI-driven search and Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) reshaping how consumers
In today’s crowded advertising landscape, every dollar counts—and standing out has never been harder. Are your media channels truly delivering
Retail SEO is evolving fast. With AI-driven search and Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) reshaping how consumers discover products, retailers must
