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
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
Often when we talk about our government relations action team (GRAT) and our advocacy efforts, it is always about works in progress. We focus on those issues that are at hand, and that need a resolution of some sort. Finally, we have the chance to discuss something we worked on
For the first time since 2019, many of our HFA members came together in Washington for what we affectionately refer to as our DC Fly-In. Each attendee is a member of our Government Relations Action Team (GRAT). This has always been an annual chance to get in front of key
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
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 has asked the U.S. Department of Justice to set guidelines for commercial website compliance under the Americans with Disabilities Act. In a letter to Eric S. Dreiband, the assistant attorney general who heads the Civil Rights Division, HFA CEO Sharron L. Bradley noted that businesses are
When I think of Facebook, there is one thing that comes to mind: the song “Changes” by David Bowie because
In today’s retail landscape, where demands are constantly increasing and productivity is key, the role of a manager has become
On March 19th, the Home Furnishings Association (HFA) hosted a thrilling regional meetup at Madison Square Garden in the heart
Is your company struggling to attract and retain top talent? You’re not alone. The job market has undergone significant changes
“We need robust demand planning” is a phrase I hear from almost every client. Demand planning accurately forecasts customer purchases,
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