Western Home Furnishings Association with the partnership of former members of the Next Generation group, announce that they have come together to create Next Generation-NOW, a group focusing on the professional development of up-and-coming home furnishings industry leaders.
To kick-off this new group, Next Generation-NOW will be hosting a reception during the upcoming Las Vegas Market on Tuesday, August 3. Past members of the original Next Generation group and future industry leaders are encouraged to attend this kick-off event which will include stories from the past, networking, food and drinks from 5:00–6:00 p.m. in the One Six Club on the 16th floor of Building B.
Twenty five years ago, the Next Generation group was formed after an Olympia, Wash. furniture dealer began having concerns of transitioning his five children into the family furniture business. He was concerned that the furniture industry was losing the next generation of retailers to “sexier” industries such as computer technologies and financial brokerages.
In 1985, Next Generation was born. The group held annual conferences to assist the sons, daughters and key-managers in becoming the future leaders of their family’s furniture business. The conferences focused on developing skills through peer-to-peer networking, management training, tax/succession strategies and inter-personal relationships.
Whether part of a natural “business cycle” or the strong real estate market of the past decade, the Next Generation conferences of 25 years ago faded into some very fond memories, but the friendships and business relationships and education are as strong as ever among the participants.
As times have once again changed, and many new up-and-coming professionals are entering the home furnishings business, WHFA and many members from the original Next Generation have created a new group called Next Generation—Now.
Next Generation-Now has recently received a major sponsorship from FurnitureDealer.net. Other Next Generation-Now sponsors include: Aspenhome, Associated Volume Buyers, Emerald Home Furnishings, Lane Home Furnishings, Pacific Furniture Dealers and Western Home Furnishings Association.
About the WHFA: The Western Home Furnishings Association (WHFA) is the largest affiliate of the NHFA, representing more than 1,000 independent home furnishings retailers in more than 2,400 stores in 12 western states.