Recent developments regarding tariffs collected under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) have raised important questions for home furnishings retailers, particularly those who purchased goods from importers that passed the tariff costs along as invoice “tariff fees.” While the legal and administrative process is still evolving, there are several
Are you battling zoning restrictions in your local community? Do labor laws and sales tax compliance change regularly in your state? Are you aware of the federal and state data security and privacy regulations? Are you compliant with the newly enacted STURDY ACT affecting all home furnishings retailers? As a
The STURDY Act (Stop Tip-overs of Unstable, Risky Dressers on Youth) was passed by Congress and signed into law as ASTM F 20657-23, effective on September 2, 2023. The Home Furnishings Association supports furniture safety and the STURDY regulations. Unfortunately, consumers can still find non-compliant clothing storage units in secondary-market
Over the last 18 months, HFA has engaged with industry, congressional, consumer safety, parents, and regulatory stakeholders to advocate for a consensus-driven mandatory stability standard for clothing storage units (CSU). Clothing storage unit compliance efforts culminated in the passage of the STURDY Act (Stop Tip-overs of Unstable, Risky Dressers on
On the surface, HFA DC Fly-In, our in-person advocacy visit scheduled in late May, would be simply going through the motions. Our primary issue of the last year, the tip-over controversy, is over, except for compliance. Then we unknowingly timed our visit to coincide with the debt ceiling crisis, which
Finally, the CPSC has seen the pathway to stronger child safety standards supported by all stakeholders. Thanks to the combined efforts of manufacturers, through our colleagues at the American Home Furnishings Alliance, and retailers through HFA, the CPSC will finally focus on adhering to the STURDY Act (now law) and
Of all the advocacy discussions and debates we weighed in on in 2022 that impacted our industry, legislation surrounding furniture tip-over and clothing storage units for children topped the list. Our industry has consistently pushed for a mandatory standard for clothing storage units for over a decade, with child safety
It has been a tumultuous year for home furnishings retailers and their consumers as we have navigated various macroeconomic issues. We have seen inflation with rising energy costs, supply chain disruptions, lingering COVID-19 impacts, and regulatory and legislative efforts on clothing storage unit tip-overs. In May of 2022, the Home
After months of stalled negotiations, congressional Democrats were able to move broad climate, clean energy, and health care legislation in the first two weeks of August. This bill, called the Inflation Reduction Act and signed into law by President Biden, is smaller than the original ‘Build Back Better’ proposal but
Nothing drives congressional activity like a deadline – in this case, the August recess and November midterm elections have created a unique environment spurring action on priority issues for both parties. Democrats have controlled the White House, House, and Senate since January 2021 but cannot advance large parts of their
Most furniture retailers are sitting on a goldmine and don’t even realize it. If you have a list of customer
In furniture retail, most sales are lost to the power of uncertainty, and this uncertainty often centers around affordability and
The Home Furnishings Association invites the industry to join us at High Point Market for a special celebration honoring the
For business owners, change isn’t a seasonal disruption, it’s the daily reality. Customer traffic fluctuates, employee availability shifts, and unexpected
Many home furnishings retailers are closely watching the possibility of tariff refunds following recent court rulings on IEEPA tariffs. For
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
