Few leaders are as pivotal or outspoken in a transformative era for home furnishings as Todd Wanek, President and CEO of Ashley Furniture Industries. As the 2025 Trailblazer Award recipient from the Home Furnishings Association (HFA), Wanek recently joined HFA to share his perspective on the furniture industry’s current state
This tax season, lawmakers and economic leaders are reminding the American public that tariffs are taxes. From constitutional concerns about executive overreach to warnings about rising consumer prices, an increasing number of Republican lawmakers worry that tariffs will weigh American families down with burdensome costs despite the recent 90-day pause
The Ever-Changing Landscape of Furniture Importing Home furniture businesses involved in container imports and related activities are complex and dynamic. Disruptions can significantly impede the flow of containerized goods arriving in the US, throwing your meticulously crafted plans into disarray. Adding to the complexity, the Ocean Shipping Reform Act (OSRA)
The home furnishings industry is known for its diverse product range, intricate supply chains, and fluctuating consumer demands. Due to these unique challenges, Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) and Software as a Service (SaaS) solutions have emerged as useful technological tools and strategic enablers that can optimize the flow of goods,
In the competitive landscape of home furnishings retail, every advantage counts. From staying on top of trends to managing inventory effectively, retailers constantly seek ways to optimize their operations and boost profitability. One often-overlooked but highly effective strategy is joining a buying group, also known as a group purchasing organization
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
In a speech many years ago, Robert Kennedy proclaimed, “There is a Chinese curse which says, ‘May he live in interesting times.’ ” As current events continue to unfold, it seems we are living in increasingly interesting times. Recent announcements by many auto manufacturers that production lines have been halted
Build Back Better Congressional Democrats and the White House spent the last several months of 2021 working to enact President Biden’s signature legislative priority, the Build Back Better Act. This proposed legislative piece is key to advancing the Administration’s economic recovery agenda. The House passed its version before Thanksgiving in
When I look at 2021 through the lens of advocacy, I must tell you that it was a game-changer for our industry and the home furnishings association. That’s something I say on many different levels. First, the sheer volume of issues we weighed in on, the positions we presented, and
The supply chain crisis is nothing new for furniture retailers – it’s been an unfortunate reality for our industry over the last several years, with many inefficiencies exacerbated by the effects of COVID-19. In several instances this year, President Biden has focused on the supply chain, either by Executive Order
In today’s digital marketplace, furniture retailers face a critical decision: modernize their online presence or risk falling behind. As consumers
Trade policy again took center stage this week as the Trump Administration announced a dramatic shift in its approach to
Human Resources is ever-evolving. It’s our job to keep up with and stay ahead of the emerging human resource trends
The furniture retail industry is evolving rapidly, driven by changing consumer preferences, digital transformation, and global economic factors. While large
Staying Informed and Getting Involved: What Home Furnishings Retailers Need to Know Today, home furnishings retailers face growing challenges from
Building High-Performing Sales Teams Behind every great home furnishings store is a powerhouse sales team—and behind every great sales team is a smart, strategic manager.
The Future of Home Furnishings Retail with Todd Wanek Join Todd Wanek, President and CEO of Ashley Furniture Industries, LLC, for a webinar on the
