Share this on

Reinvention must be never-ending

By Carole Sloan -- Furniture Today, February 3, 2002

A couple of interesting things came out of the National Retail Federation's annual conference last month in New York.

The first was the change in the makeup of the retail base that participated. Clearly, the most notable was the emergence of Crate & Barrel's Gordon Segal as chairman of the organization.

That a home furnishings maven, and a specialty one to boot, now heads this august retail body was certainly a recognition of the many changes taking place in retailing.

And as notable as Gordon's new position is, equally significant is the role that home furnishings executives are playing throughout the NRF organization, including the likes of Farooq Kathwari of Ethan Allen, Rawson Haverty of Havertys and Marvin Girouard of Pier 1 Imports, among others. Heavy hitters all.

What happens when these folks participate is that home furnishings specialty retailing gets the ears of the marketplace, from suppliers of product and services to Wall Street and the global community.

The other big change was the recognition and discussion by many retailers here of the need to constantly reinvent their businesses, whether it's furniture, pets, tweener's clothing or whatever.

It's abundantly clear that today's consumer absolutely will not stand for same old, same old, no matter what she or he is buying. And the ease of shopping is virtually as important as the merchandise being offered and the price, no matter how low.

That message came across loud and clear. It's one that more than the Ethan Allens, Havertys and Pier 1s of furnitureland should hear and act on. It builds sales and profits.

Share this on

Aaron's among home furnishings retailers cited for highest gross margins

May 28, 2010

Mair chairs new HFIA board of directors

Dec 2, 2011

Oklahoma retailer Verona Mair chairs new HFIA board

Oct 18, 2011

Withit Issues Wake-Up Call on Women's Growing Power

Sep 8, 2011

ADL honors Fazio, Ireland and Natuzzi

Jun 28, 2011

Also by this author

Also by Carole Sloan

Featured Company

FurnitureCore.com

FurnitureCore.com is a dynamic web application aimed at the furniture industry. Retailers and manufacturers alike will find our deep reserve of tools to be exactly what their furniture business needs.www.furniturecore.com... more

Most Recent Resources

Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market

Here is a selection of products shown at this month's International Gift & Home Furnishings Market here.

Networking at the 13th annual F/T Leadership Conference

NAPLES, Fla. — Industry executives and guests took the opportunity to network and play golf during down time at Furniture/Today's 13th annual Leadership Conference here this month.