Webinars

The supply chain disruption has hit our industry hard. 2021 has been a challenging year for retail businesses looking to grow or even stay afloat in some cases. That’s why the Home Furnishings Association continually represents you in Washington, lending a voice to current issues as the infrastructure investment plan, the Biden Administration’s spending plan, COVID-19 vaccination requirements, and more.

HFA’s lobbyist and fellow HFA Government Relations Action Team (GRAT) members join HFA CEO Mark Schumacher to discuss the work they have been doing this year on behalf of furniture retailers and our industry.

Stay up to date on how HFA’s efforts are working for you, and find out what more needs to be done to help protect your business.

OUR PANEL

Chris Andresen – Vice President, Dutko Grayling & HFA Lobbyist

Chris works extensively with clients to identify policy opportunities and threats to create detailed legislative and executive strategies. His broad experience includes working with companies, universities, non-profits, and trade associations in the following sectors: workforce development, consumer products, manufacturing, retail, biotechnology, renewable energy, criminal justice, mental health, technology, and higher education. Chris frequently presents to corporate Boards of Directors on the overall state of Congress and the Administration, focusing on how their actions impact business activities and decisions.

Matt Schultz – CEO of Levin Furniture & Mattress, John V Schultz Furniture, and Ashley Homestores

Matt is a third-generation home furnishings retailer operating 18 furniture stores and 9 mattress stores in central and western Pennsylvania and northeastern Ohio. He serves as a member of the Home Furnishings Association’s Government Relations Action Team.

Shannon Collins – Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer, WS Badcock Corporation

Shannon brings with her 13 years of experience as an attorney and in-house counsel with broad-based knowledge and proficiency in all legal matters relating to the operations of a retail business. She serves as a member of the Home Furnishings Association’s Government Relations Action Team.

Takeaways from this webinar are:

• HFA has become the known source for our opinion on a specific issue. That is how we have made an impact this year.
• Politicians did not understand early on what was happening with the supply chain and HFA was able to educate and help them with new legislation.
• Furniture retail businesses qualified as essential businesses in 2020 and now in 2021 legislators are listening to us as an industry.
• Through COVID, decisions were being made at local and state levels and the HFA GRAT had some influence on these levels as well.
• As a country we need to find a way to get more people into the work force. Retailers need to talk about what is the opportunity for our industry. Officials need to hear it.
• Congress and admin officials now looking at how to increase and incentivize truck the driver workforce.
• HFA’s advocacy efforts in 2021 have helped the industry growing and is now seeing results and getting positive feedback from federal officials.
• Smaller retailers have an even closer relationship with their local government.
• You have the power to invite key influencers into your business and educate them on our businesses and our industry. No matter your store size, you can have an impact.