Welcome to Retail Planning Guide 2002
Editor in Chief Ray Allegrezza -- Furniture Today, December 30, 2001
In keeping with tradition, the objective of this year's guide is to bring retailers the depth and breadth of information to help them develop successful strategic plans for the upcoming year.
Considering the roller-coaster ride that played out in 2001, retailers perhaps now more than ever, can benefit from the market intelligence contained in this guide.
This was a year that started not with a bang but with a whimper as Ward's, then the 18th largest domestic retailer, opted to file Chapter 11. Sadly, other directional retailers followed suit.
Offshore, imports, especially from Asia, continued to become more important, both to domestic retailers and domestic manufacturers.
Meanwhile, U.S. manufacturers and retailers also began evaluating the pros and cons of a proposed new furniture show slated to be held in Las Vegas.
Assessing these major shifts would have been challenging enough in a robust economy. The fact that for much of the year the economy seemed stuck in the mud, sans tow truck, made life even more challenging.
However, in retrospect, those days were a cakewalk, especially in light of Sept. 11.
Thankfully, we are once again about the business of getting back to business. Our hope is that you will use this year's Retail Planning Guide to help you identify the growth opportunities that can be the lifeblood of your business.
The guide begins with a comprehensive economic outlook, including furniture sales by market and hot spots for furniture and bedding sales.
The Industry Outlook section features analysis of key product categories from the editors who cover those beats each week.
If you are after consumer buying patterns, the Consumer Chase section takes a close look at consumers by age groups — a review of the types of furniture they bought last year should provide a good map of where they are headed as they shop your stores.
Finally, the Resources and Rankings sections provide references for seeing the industry's big picture and sources for providing support as you guide your company through the year ahead.
Our hope is that you use this planning guide as a tool to help you build your business.
Furniture/Today wishes each of you a healthy, safe and prosperous year.
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A starting point for building growth
Dec 29, 2002 -
A blueprint for success
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Singapore furniture show expecting increased turnout
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