Today’s hiring challenges What would you say is your biggest challenge in 2021? Up until recently, I think most of us would have said it was the broken supply chain. But for many of us, that has changed to the hiring challenges of finding and keeping quality employees. No, scratch
The furniture industry is no stranger to regulation – we have adapted to comply with hundreds of state and federal regulations. But despite political gridlock at the federal level often slowing down legislative and regulatory efforts, more chemical regulations for furniture manufacturing are on the way. Aggressive regulatory efforts have
The economy. If ever we needed someone with a crystal ball to tell us where this economy is going, now would be the time to find that person. We’ve been dealing with such confounding elements. Demand for home furnishings is still up even though supply is still down. While that
I have been to Washington, D.C. twice to discuss furniture industry issues on behalf of HFA and our members. It’s a trip HFA makes annually to meet face-to-face with our lawmakers and various government agencies to make sure our voices are heard as people who make a living in the
In the past few years, the terms Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma have been tossed around as companies look for proven methodologies in improving operations and reducing expense. Both approaches have been widely adopted in many industries with impressive results. There are two challenges for a small business owner: first,
As I write this, people throughout the country are dealing with crippling winter storms and need a helping hand. My area in Texas has been hit especially hard. In the six days my stores were closed, most of my employees were without power. City water facilities experienced power failures, generator
I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but it’s almost impossible to talk about any significant subject these days without the discussion ending up in a partisan conversation. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen it quite like this where there is such a high level of divisiveness that springs up
I am craving contact! I think in home furnishings, we all are craving contact right now. Our industry has many wonderful attributes, but the one thing that I fell in love with and that resonates with me is our business’ collegial nature. We are part of a customer-centric industry, and
I love great quotations. They can capsulize thoughts and feelings or inspire. The late English author Douglas Adams said, “I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be.” In light of last year, I could rephrase that
I’m David Gunn of Knight Furniture, your HFA president for 2021. I’ve never looked more forward to a new year than this one. Yet as painful as 2020 was on many levels, I did learn a few lessons. I was reminded never to take anything, or anyone, for granted. It
Why Generative AI Is Becoming a Must on the Sales Floor Retailers today are surrounded by data, but getting clear
Data was supposed to make decisions easier. So why do your dashboards seem to show you more ways to stay
At 8 a.m., Sarah opens Instagram, coffee in hand. Two hours later, she has ten screenshots saved and a plan
Furniture logistics don’t just require coordination; they demand precision. Timing, visibility, and cost control make all the difference, but even
In the dynamic world of home furnishings retail, effective leadership isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s critical to success. Whether running a
Smarter Media Strategies for Furniture Retailers In today’s crowded advertising landscape, every dollar counts—and standing out has never been harder. Are your media channels truly
Winning in the Age of AI for Retail SEO Retail SEO is evolving fast. With AI-driven search and Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) reshaping how consumers
In today’s crowded advertising landscape, every dollar counts—and standing out has never been harder. Are your media channels truly delivering
Retail SEO is evolving fast. With AI-driven search and Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) reshaping how consumers discover products, retailers must
