As a young business leader, investing in your development is essential. Leadership development involves more than just acquiring new skills; it also requires a commitment to continuous learning. One way to develop the skills needed to be an effective leader is by finding a mentor who can provide guidance and
Embrace your authenticity and do what you do best. On a recent trip to California, I had the opportunity to make a few store visits. While both are top 100 retailers, I learned some clear lessons that adapt to retailers of any size. Let me start by telling you what
Most organizations have a clearly defined set of Core Values, a Mission Statement, and a Vision. Your company culture is determined by how well your daily actions match those ideas. Here are the “three Cs of Culture” and executable ideas to improve your company culture today. Whether your organization could
An engaged leader facilitates, strengthens, connects, and inspires employees to increase their work engagement. Having engaged employees means they are happy and productive employees, and today’s leaders need to have the skills to foster engagement. HFA spoke with Lorri Kelley, owner of Lorri Kelley Advisors and a home furnishing industry
When drafting any marketing strategy, defining a target audience, determining the appropriate messaging, and identifying the right communication channels. There is no longer one channel that reaches everyone, and you can no longer rely on only one message to be shared with all audiences. Deploying a successful social media strategy
It feels so good to be back on the road again! Zoom calls are great, and they fill a purpose; however, there is no better way to get to know our members than to visit their stores. Honoring our HFA retailers of the year winners, meeting their teams, and seeing
Recently, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) denied an industry request, co-signed by HFA, to extend the comment period for their clothing storage unit tip-over safety standard. Public comments are due to the CPSC by April 19, 2022. It is critical that the furniture retail voice is represented as they
My wife doesn’t know this, but one day (when the kids are older), I think I’ll be back in the retail game. Being in so many stores, I get a chance to critique a lot of things from visual, salesmanship, leadership, and merchandise style and value. I’ve often found myself
I am not big on gold watches or plaques. While they are historical ways to thank people for their dedication and service, I find that too often, a watch ends up in a drawer and forgotten, and the plaque languishes dustily on a shelf. To me, there is power in
On January 19th, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) voted unanimously, 4-0, to advance its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPR) on a mandatory safety standard for Clothing Storage Unit tip-overs. The text in the CPSC proposal was initially published in July 2021, but the Commission did not receive a staff
For the first time since 2019, many of our HFA members came together in Washington for what we affectionately refer
Geo-fencing and Geo-framing are both forms of digital advertising targeting customers based on their locations. Although both have similar names,
Brent Speer, Director of Customer Service with Service Technologies, Inc. understands how reverse logistics can cost you not only money
Business decisions must be based on data to win in retail. Your business data can make you a better leader,
Laura Khoury, CEO of Shoptelligence, explores 3 tips to improve the customer experience by training your sales associates to use
Congress and the Trump administration are preparing another Covid-19 relief package. The Home Furnishings Association’s Washington representative, Chris Andresen, and government relations liaison Doug Clark
Everyone is trying to figure out what the “new normal” will look like when your stores reopen. What will recovery look like to you and
