Consumers won't see real face of our industry
Ray Allegrezza, Editor in chief -- Furniture Today, July 19, 2004
With the dumping issue and its coverage in the national consumer press, we have been painted as a bunch of litigious, argumentative, dollar-driven villains. And by "we," I mean suppliers, manufacturers and retailers, on both sides of the fence.
Although the dust from the initial duties is still settling, people on both sides already are claiming victory. Others are calling the initial decision a draw. I disagree with all of those views. With the exception of the lawyers, I think we all may have lost. With the litigation, people who previously worked pretty well together drew lines in the sand. Partners became petitioners, suppliers became suspects.
One unanswered questions is how this will affect consumers. I wonder if the consumer, who likely already suspected she wasn't getting the best possible deal, now feels even more up in the air about buying furniture. I hope not, because they'll probably postpone purchasing. And that, my friends, is the last thing we need right now.
But here's the real crime. As "outsiders," consumers probably will never get to see the furniture industry's real face. If you're wondering what that face looks like, you needed to be at the recent City of Hope golf outing, which included a live auction. Attending the event was Lacey Conlin, a beautiful young girl who, thanks to treatment at the City of Hope, has a better than 80% chance of survival.
Lacey was invited on stage by Don Palmer of Palmer Transport to help him auction items that included a week at a Maui condo donated by Rick Powell, and a sapphire and diamond ring and necklace donated by a friend of AICO's Michael Amini.
Don opened the bidding for the week in Maui at $1,000, a real bargain. Michael Amini's brother in law shyly stood up and bid $10,000. Then, while you still could have heard a pin drop, he said he was donating the week to Lacey and her family.
Rick Powell offered the condo for a second week, and another generous soul immediately bid $10,000. Touched by that gesture, Rick offered to pick up the airfare for Lacey and her parents.
Don said Lacey had mentioned to him that she needed a bed. It seemed like every mattress supplier whose name starts with an "S" offered to fill that need. Then a couple that owns Al's Discount Furniture and Mattress Center told Don they would supply any other furniture Lacey's family might need.
Michael Amini, who earlier had received the City of Hope's Lifetime Achievement Award, was asked to make a few remarks. Looking at Lacey, he said, "I wanted to give you a bed, but somebody already did that. I wanted to give your family some furniture, but somebody did that too. But what I can do is this: AICO wants to give you a check for $10,000 to go toward your education."
And so, my friends, we are about far more than petitions and lawyers and litigation. We are an industry of generous people who truly care about each other.
