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
As furniture sales increase online, retailers are taking a second look at their delivery service Brian Grandolf (not his real name) frantically cleaned his new home office, making room for the desk he ordered online to arrive and complete the space. Having already started his new job, and currently working
International trade lawyer Rob Pisani (photo, above) offered predictable advice to importers looking for legal ways to avoid paying high tariffs: “Consult an international trade lawyer.” That’s not as self-serving as it sounds, Pisani told an audience at the American Home Furnishings Alliance Logistics Conference in Wilmington, N.C., June 18.
How AI is reshaping consumer behavior, redefining the modern retail journey The home goods shoppers no longer discover products the
In home furnishings, the customer experience doesn’t end at the point of sale; it often begins there. Delivery, communication, scheduling,
A recent court order could make it easier for importers to recover certain IEEPA tariff payments. On March 27, 2026,
If you thought of the title of this article as a question, your first answer might be “Products that sold
There is an important update for home furnishings retailers and other importers affected by IEEPA tariffs: the refund process is
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: Technology Connect with fellow HFA member retailers to exchange insights, challenges, and successes in using technology and AI
