In a price-driven retail environment, it’s easy to assume customers won’t spend beyond the lowest advertised price. In furniture retail, that assumption is often the greatest barrier to sales success. The difference between transactional and consultative selling determines whether a retailer competes on margin or competes on value. Two stories
The G.R.O.W. Sales Coaching Model Part 1 In speaking with hundreds of furniture retailers over the last two years, I have heard that everyone is experiencing economic challenges and feeling the same pain at different levels and in different parts of the business. Challenging times increase the need to look
Winning the hearts and loyalty of customers takes more than just offering attractive products or competitive pricing. It demands a nuanced understanding of your customer: how they think, feel, act, and what truly drives their decisions along the shopping journey. Pete Theron, HFA CEO, led a candid and data-driven discussion
Retail furniture buying in the United States is undergoing seismic shifts, marked by new technologies, evolving consumer expectations, and changes accelerated by recent global events. The ” What Shoppers Want: U.S. Insights on Furniture & the Future of Retail” presentation in the HFA Retailer Resource Center at the High Point
Inventory management plays a big role in customer satisfaction. Inventory management should be designed to monitor product availability, but thanks to advanced technology, it can do so much more than that. Inventory management can tell you when to reorder products, help fulfill orders faster, identify what’s selling fast, and so
Nearly 40% of U.S. consumers are non-prime, and their needs shape how they research and shop with furniture merchants.1 New findings from Koalafi’s State of the Lease-to-Own Consumer Report show that when lease-to-own financing is available, visible, straightforward, and easy to understand, shoppers feel more confident in continuing their journey
How Furniture Retailers Win Online in 2026 Walk into any furniture store today, and you can sense how dramatically the buyer journey has changed. Customers no longer arrive to browse. They arrive informed. They have compared brands, saved inspiration boards, tested products in AR, read reviews, and asked AI for
Visual merchandising has evolved significantly from traditional window displays and static store layouts. What used to rely solely on creativity and aesthetics has now evolved into a seamless blend of art, science, and technology. In today’s retail landscape, technology doesn’t just support visual merchandising — it defines it. From immersive
Personalization has moved from a nice addition to a core expectation in modern retail. Customers want brands to understand their preferences, respect their time, and offer experiences that feel relevant and helpful. At the same time, shoppers are more protective of their privacy than ever. They are quick to sense
Furniture is deeply personal. Every day, we meet customers who are excited about finding the right piece, yet also understandably nervous. A shopper discovers a sectional they love, tests the comfort, scrolls through images online, and then pauses with the same questions we hear again and again: Will this really
The G.R.O.W. Sales Coaching Model Part 2 There is nothing more valuable to ANY business than its people. And yet,
For business owners, change isn’t a seasonal disruption, it’s the daily reality. Customer traffic fluctuates, employee availability shifts, and unexpected
The Customer Journey is No Longer Linear Picture this scenario: A customer sees your sectional sofa on Instagram. She clicks
Recent developments regarding tariffs collected under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) have raised important questions for home furnishings
Access to credit plays a crucial role in the home furnishings retail industry, empowering millions of American families to make
Coaching That Closes: How to Develop High-Performing Sales Associates Great sales teams aren’t built by chance, they’re coached with intention. In today’s furniture retail
Selling Like a “Million-Dollar Writer” What separates a good sales associate from a true million-dollar writer? It’s not luck, and it’s not just traffic.
MEMBER-ONLY DISCUSSION: Sales Management Connect with fellow HFA member retailers to exchange insights, challenges, and successes in navigating family business
Great sales teams aren’t built by chance, they’re coached with intention. In today’s furniture retail environment, sales leaders must strike
