HFA retailers share their stories and concerns with legislators. One of the benefits of being a member of the Home Furnishings Association is the advocacy done on behalf of furniture retailers. HFA members are proactive and part of the conversations that influence the legislators and regulators who write the bills
Sometimes you have to say “no” for the customer to say “yes.” There’s an existing paradigm that salespeople are pushy and high pressure. Of course, some are so it’s important to create a paradigm shift as early in the selling process as you can. You must demonstrate to the customer
Jill Konrath’s thoughts on selling can seem puzzling until you stop to make sense of them Editor’s note: This is the last of a three-part series on improving sales. This month we look at how paradoxical principles can help you sell more. Sometime back, I ran across an article titled The
Operating a decades-old home furnishings business is similar to having seniority on an association staff. There’s little satisfaction in bragging rights when your years on the job sound as much like a liability as they do an asset. When the Home Furnishings Association was formed from the merger of three
Your customers won’t try something new? How do you know? As I write this column it’s a Thursday, so I’m participating in #tbt (Throwback Thursday) and flashing back to 2010 when I was at my first market as a rep. It was winter in Las Vegas and the wind was
In our agrarian past, every farmer wanted 10 sons because all that free labor meant he could have a much bigger farm. The patriarch not only controlled the family business, he also generally controlled the career choices his children were allowed to make. That trend has persisted in modern family
New address—same appeal After 91 years in the same location, Boone’s Furniture & Gifts finally moved in 2006. Looking back, Joel and Julie Isley wonder what took them so long. Out-of-towners passing through Gibsonville, N.C. (pop. 6,921) see a downtown packed with enough quaint shops and tree-lined streets to fill
Knowing when to grow is a tough call. HFA members offer tips to help make the decision. Opening a furniture store can be a difficult decision. Opening a second, third, or fourth can be just as difficult. If you’ve been thinking about adding a new location, there are a lot
The NPD Group (a leading consumer market research company) recently released a list of 10 ways to win consumers hearts this year, based on their examination of retail sales data and industry trends and looking ahead to where retail is headed. Here’s 6 of the tips that apply to the furniture
AHFA’s Furniture Foundation has awarded its 2017 grants totaling nearly $75,000. These grants will benefit education programs targeting rising furniture designers, factory workers and front-line manufacturing management personnel. The Foundation was established in 1948 to support research and educational initiatives aimed at improving management, manufacturing and marketing within the home
Effective employee management is essential for any business, as managing employees effectively can lead to better productivity, higher job satisfaction,
When I think of Facebook, there is one thing that comes to mind: the song “Changes” by David Bowie because
Home furnishings retailers must create strategies for driving traffic to their physical stores as a critical component of their overall
The American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame Foundation, Inc., has announced the prestigious 2024 Paul Broyhill Future Leaders Award recipients.
Companies of all sizes typically think of hiring and training as two separate things – but it’s especially common in
Traffic Mastery: Organic & Paid Advertising Join our panel of experts as we dive into the key strategies for maximizing your online presence. Learn how
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
