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Doug Stephens can tell you all about the decline of brick-and-mortar retail. He can tell you all about the projected 8,642 retail stores—many of them furniture retail stores—that are expected to shutter this year. Or how 58 percent of all online product searches begin on (where else?) Amazon. In fact, Stephens, one of the world’s […]

Industry analyst Jerry Epperson predicted a favorable trade agreement between White House and Chinese leaders is in the works and will be announced before the Nov. 6 midterm elections. “(President Trump) is a smart businessman and I have to believe this is not going to happen,” said Epperson, of Mann, Armistead & Epperson, LTD. “Nobody […]

Training, talking and technology can help your bottom line Many furniture retailers—like the rest of the retail industry—are enjoying strong sales as we head into the last quarter of 2018. Retailers are benefiting from a continually improving employment picture, growing disposable consumer income and an easy credit environment. “The United States economy continues to power […]

…and boost sales The average family spends $125 per month—that’s $1,500 a year—on home furnishings. With that kind of dough going toward making their homes beautiful, you’d think consumers would rush to protect these purchases. But despite what seems to be an obvious need for protection, many customers still forego a warranty solution due to […]

The “Celebration of Life” for Bob Wo is sure to be a big event in Honolulu Sunday. In his 95 years, he accomplished much to celebrate. Robert Ching Wo died Sept. 13. He left a large family, a successful business and a long record of philanthropy. Among those lasting achievements, he and his brother, Jim, […]

HFA Trailblazer Award Winner: Karen Arakelian, White House Design At 17, Karen Arakelian had life all figured out. She was going to attend Rutgers University and pursue a biology degree before heading off to medical school. Life had other plans, of course. When it came time to leave, Arakelian just couldn’t leave her mother, who […]

For Rick and Pat Howard, life after retirement seems a lot like work. They wouldn’t have it any other way. Rick Howard enjoyed a rewarding career in the furniture manufacturing and packaging industries. Twenty-two years of deals and friendships, accomplishments and innovations. So when he sold his business and had a chance for he and […]

Joe Bright has been named president of HFA member Dunk and Bright Furniture, the fourth generation of Brights to run the Syracuse, N.Y., store. “It’s an incredible opportunity,” said Bright. “I’m thrilled to be working with my dad every day in this business.” Bright’s father, Jim, has been the sole owner of New York’s largest […]

The home furnishings industry is grieving over the loss of Furniture Wizard founder and president Martin Fischbein, who died last month following complications from surgery. He was 62. Fischbein was a fixture in the HFA’s Retailer Resource Center over the years and enjoyed talking about how he started his company. While selling furniture in San […]

Retailers use all sorts of designs to influence how shoppers behave Be honest: When did you last make a major floor move? And we don’t mean moving vignettes from over here to over there. Your sales floor is a living, breathing entity that needs to change—frequently—so your business can flourish and it’s your job to make that happen. […]