WISC, WI -Gorman and Mila Hayes lost their home, their clothes and furniture and their dog in the fire. "We lost everything. We didn’t have renter’s insurance. …::

Why some stores are doing just fine
On the plane ride back from Vegas, I found it sobering that, in the wake of a brisk market filled with new furniture, a major topic of conversation was the ongoing sluggishness at retail.While we’ve seen way too much of the soft underbelly of retail in general, some merchants are having a good year and enjoying respectable sales. In every case, those stores have taken steps to reinvent themselves, enhance customer experiences and connect with new customers.

FBI s Holliman has solid plan
From the moment he opened his remarks at Furniture Brands International’s Analyst and Investor Conference in New York, it was crystal clear that Chairman and CEO Mickey Holliman was in charge.He promised the room-ful of analysts, investors, retailers and press that he would be blunt. And blunt he was. Holliman outlined the challenges FBI faces, such as the significant growth in promotionally priced goods sold by companies like Rooms To Go and Ashley, and low-margin competito… (more)

Wal-Mart: A big lesson in listening
At our recent Leadership Conference, a panel examined the media messages our industry sends to consumers. Two marketing mavens, Fred Yaffe and Lance Hanish, each gave the 240-plus attendees advice on how they can put their best foot forward when reaching out to the consumer.On the way back from our conference, I found myself wondering if our industry devotes the same energy to internal communications. My guess is that it doesn’t.And if I’m right, that’s a p… (more)

Quality and service you can bank on
Ray Davis, president and CEO of Umpqua Holdings, is my hero. Earlier this year, I read an article about him and his Umpqua Bank in Fast Company, and I knew we had to invite him to speak at our annual Leadership Conference.If you were there, you know our theme this year was Thriving in the New World Order — Where the Only Conventional Wisdom is Unconventional. Ray is one guy who is indeed thriving, largely be… (more)

Market needs frank cost talk
The High Point Market Authority’s creation of a Hotel Task Force (see recent story) to help improve housing during market is another step in the right direction. But if the task force is going to be of any real help here, there needs to be a frank discussion about “reasonable” market rates, since many attendees long have complained ab… (more)

If perception is reality, beware
I’ve been told that people use the Internet not to buy furniture but to gather information. After doing a bit of Web surfing, I think I know why: Some of the information is pretty scary. For example, The Dollar Stretcher…Living Better For Less (www.stretcher.com) has posts from shoppers giving advice on how to find and buy good, inexpensive furniture. In his posting, Dale R. lets our industry’s big secret out of the bag: &#… (more)

Classic Plexiglas Films DVD: 1940s Plexi Glass Propaganda History Films With Footage of Plexiglas Magazines, Windows, Furniture, Jewelry & The Making And Manufacturing Of Plexiglas. This compilation explores peacetime uses of Plexiglas, which became largely popular in airplane manufacturing during WWII. Plexiglas is touted as having a variety of uses around the home, from making magazines pages more brilliant to making kitchen appliances more durable and charming. Table Of Contents: (1) Looking Ahead Through Plexiglas (1940s) - Wonderful propaganda price about how Plexiglas “brings new beauty, comfort, and charm to your peace-time living.” Explores all the no military uses of Plexiglas as the industry tries to find a new marketplace in the post WWII era. Also includes footage of the manufacturing of Plexiglas 19 Minutes (2) Looking Ahead Through Rohm & Haas Plexiglas (Note: Incomplete Film) (1947) - This is the second half only of a great color film about some alternative uses for Plexiglas around the house and specially in the bathroom - 4 Minutes

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