For years golf and business have gone hand in hand. There’s something about two people getting to know one another on a golf course. After all, you’re only hitting the ball for small amount of time for the four hours you’re on a course. You might as well talk about shop.
The Home Furnishings Association took that notion a step further, inviting members and vendors for an afternoon of golf and networking at its Topgolf event at The Colony, Texas. The outing was part of the HFA’s Regional Networking Events held throughout the country for its members to grow, network and have a little fun away from their stores.
For four hours, retailers had the chance to greet, meet and eat with each other while sharing ideas and learning more about some of the vendors who can help grow their businesses.
HFA retailer and board member Stan Pickett of Quality Furniture and Appliance in Mesquite, Texas has run a successful business for years, but always learns something new when he has the opportunity to meet with other HFA members.
“It’s never about what’s going on or what the event is,” says Pickett. “It’s about continuing to build positive relationships. You can’t do that working in a store eight or 10 hours a day. I really enjoy getting out and meeting others and hearing what’s going on in their business.”
That’s the point to the HFA’s Regional Networking Events. Whether it’s a golf event in Texas or a baseball game in Colorado, the idea is for retailers to pull themselves away from their home furnishings stores.
Sharron Bradley, CEO of the Home Furnishings Association, says HFA members are some of the brightest in the retail industry. “I’m proud of the fact that they’re always willing to pass what they’ve learned along to others,” says Bradley. “That’s what makes our association so special.”
The next learning opportunity comes in April at the Retailer Resource Center at High Point Market followed by the HFA’s annual Networking Conference in June in San Antonio.
