Furniture World Articles
All of the Furniture World Magazine Articles that have also been published
online can be found here. Select a year to begin browsing the articles.
Articles published in
2022
A Surprising Design Forecast from FS
- 12/30/2022
Stay tuned for changes in home furnishing design aesthetics, customer moods and purchasing preferences that will roll out in 2023-24.
Prepare to be Impressed
- 12/30/2022
The debut of the American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame Foundation’s new High Point building in April signals a new focus on how consumers, job seekers and those of us who sell home furnishings see our industry.
Retail Real Estate Options for 2023
- 12/30/2022
As the cost of buying, owning and operating stores increases in 2023 there are still opportunities for retailers to create wealth.
HFA Reports: Employee Engagement
- 12/30/2022
HFA members El Dorado Furniture and Badcock &more weigh in on strategies to keep top performers engaged and happy.
Retail Metrics: Cash Crunch 2023?
- 12/4/2022
David McMahon explains why, given current and expected business
conditions, nothing is more important for retailers than understanding, measuring and preserving cash.
Design & Designer: Future Designers Summit
- 12/4/2022
The Future Designers Summit, a program of High Point’s Bienenstock Furniture Library, brings together some of the best and brightest young minds for the future benefit of the home furnishings industry.
Recession Planning
- 10/2/2022
Eight important strategies for maximizing profits during downturns.
Traffic Stop Selling
- 9/30/2022
Shoppers may see red and blue flashing lights when approached by an RSA. Here are useful skills to help people relax into the furniture sales process.
In-Store Design Center Ideas- Part 2
- 9/29/2022
Now that you’ve decided where to position your design center and target it to meet the needs of specific customers types, it’s time to decide what to put in it.
Mattress Firm Helps Unjunk Sleep
- 7/13/2022
Mark Quinn explains why It’s so much more interesting and satisfying to be in the life improvement
business than just selling mattresses.
Best Bob's Ever
- 7/13/2022
Bob’s Discount Furniture’s CEO shares his thoughts about strategic planning, team building and plans for growing the
159 store chain “coast-to-coast and border-to-border.”
In-Store Design Center Trends
- 7/13/2022
How to make design centers a bigger part of any in-store shopping experience and further differentiate your retail operation.
Gamifying Design Choice
- 7/13/2022
The language of furniture styles has become nuanced and complicated. This presents a challenge for furniture retailers.
Multiple Choice Dairy Queen Dilemma
- 7/13/2022
Reducing product
selection to
chocolate,
vanilla and a
two-flavor twist will
combat customer
indecision when choosing furniture and mattresses.
HFA Reports
- 7/13/2022
Crafting the right benefits packages is good for business.
Retail Automation - Part 2
- 5/15/2022
Whatever your business model, automation is needed to accomplish more with less time and allow your precious human talent to focus on what they do best.
Advertising Balance
- 5/15/2022
Research shows that more diversification in media buys can be beneficial for many furniture retailers.
The Honey Don’t List
- 5/15/2022
There are many habits on and off the sales floor that can kill sales and reduce customer satisfaction.
Next Level Training: Heart of the Sale
- 5/15/2022
Making an engaging product demonstration that builds value, enlightens
customers, and convinces them through comparison, helps get the job done.
The Impact of Emotional Branding
- 5/14/2022
The most powerful way for any home furnishings company to define an
experience, says David Blair, is in emotional terms.
Re-Recruiting Works
- 5/14/2022
Consider the benefits of scheduling bite-sized meetings with employees. The value of these ‘stay’ or re-recruiting talks can be huge.
Why Furniture Recommerce?
- 5/14/2022
Furniture recommerce may be the next big thing for furniture retailers who want to tell sustainable stories, acquire new customers and add income from returned items.
Next Level Training: Closing Moxie!
- 3/21/2022
Sol was the best closer in a chain of 23 furniture stores. He passed along
the following three selling “moxies” that are still relevant to salespeople today.
Design For In-Store Customer Service
- 3/13/2022
Store planner Jennifer Magee looks at ways to re-imagine customer service areas to give shoppers the very best in-store experiences.
Design & Designer: Young Huh
- 3/13/2022
Interior designer Young Huh talks about current trends and how to engage with clients on an emotional level.
Retail Automation
- 3/13/2022
Whatever your business model, automation is needed to accomplish more with less time and allow your precious human talent to focus on what they do best.
Next Level Training: After Onboarding
- 1/10/2022
Sales training during onboarding often focuses on what’s important to stores. Ongoing training needs to refocus on what’s important to customers.
HFA Reports
- 1/10/2022
A review of national and local legislative and regulatory activity initiated on behalf of home furnishings retailers.
Editor’s Corner: The Happiest Man in the World
- 1/10/2022
In an environment where delivery disasters, supply snafus, warehouse worries, and cranky customers are the norm, it has to be tough for retail owners and managers to be happy.
Retail Funnel & Path Metrics
- 1/2/2022
Improve the effectiveness of systems and move customers from an initial inquiry to a repeat purchase.
Trust & Delivery Accountability
- 1/2/2022
Steps you can take to provide truthful delivery time estimates by keeping vendors accountable, plus keep sales and delivery personnel informed.
Design & Designer: Patti Carpenter
- 1/1/2022
Product developer and trend analyst Patti Carpenter provides insight into color, retail trends and ways to connect with the value systems of consumers.