For most of the summer, President Biden and congressional leaders have been working on the two main components of the President’s legislative agenda – implementing the American Jobs and Families Plans. Early on, a bipartisan working group in the Senate carved out physical transportation/infrastructure assets to develop the Infrastructure Investment
Consistency in advocacy engagement has been the main pillar of HFA’s Government Relations Action Team (GRAT) throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. In October 2020, the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced a Section 301 investigation into alleged misconduct in Vietnam related to currency manipulation and illegal logging. The announcement jolted the furniture
We saw something that we haven’t seen in quite some time, a compromise on Capitol Hill. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, supported by the Biden Administration, was debated in the Senate, passed with a strong bipartisan vote, and sent to the House. For years, there’s been talk about the
August is not a typically busy month for federal policymakers. However, this August has laid the groundwork for potentially significant and generational legislative victories for President Biden and congressional Democrats. Just this week, the Senate passed a bipartisan $1.2 trillion infrastructure investment package in a strong vote of 69-30. Following
I’ve noticed an interesting shift in meetings we’ve had with key staff in Cabinet departments like Commerce and Transportation or with members of Congress. Before I get to that shift, you need to know that we have increased the frequency of the meetings with influencers intentionally. We have got to
Accomplishing the goal of adequate U.S. infrastructure funding has been a critical talking point in recent months on Capitol Hill. One of President Biden’s major legislative accomplishments was the American Rescue Plan. It was a $2.2 trillion bill that extended federal unemployment bonuses through early September, provided $300+ billion to
The Home Furnishings Association invited High Point Representatives Kathy Manning (D) and Ted Budd (R) to visit High Point Market. HFA CEO Mark Schumacher discussed with them the furniture industry and the issues that retailers face such as supply chain, tariffs, and more.
Throughout the supply chain crisis created by the COVID-19 pandemic, HFA’s Government Relations Action Team has been working diligently with our lobbyist in Washington to put forward all the concerns affecting every furniture retailer’s livelihood. The broken supply chain, with its systemic cost increases, is slowing the recovery of our
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) at the Department of Labor recently released its long-anticipated Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) on ‘Mitigating and Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 in the Workplace.’ Labor Secretary Marty Walsh led this effort while President Biden’s nominee for OSHA Administrator, Doug Parker, is still working
Crumbling infrastructure is a common problem across the United States, impacting our global competitiveness and directly impacting furniture retailers trying to receive, process, and deliver in-demand goods to consumers. For the last several years, the running joke in Washington, DC, has been the never-ending ‘Infrastructure Week.’ Previous administrations and congresses
In the fast-paced world of retail home furnishings, the spotlight often shines brightest on the sales force, and rightly so—they’re
How To Turn Your Quiet Quitters Into Actively Engaged Team Members If you are in the retail Furniture Industry, it’s
As business owners and managers, we understand the importance of consistently driving excellence within our organizations. After all, our success
Getting a sofa from the point of sale to a customer’s living room smoothly — and profitably — isn’t always
Companies of all sizes typically think of hiring and training as two separate things – but it’s especially common in
Drive Traffic with Data Insights There is untapped potential for driving traffic to your store by using the data you collect. Industry experts will share
Evaluating the Cost of Delivery Join leading industry experts who will share insights on key cost drivers, efficiency measures, technology usage, and outsourcing options for
