Liquidation specialists vote to form association
By Clint Engel -- Furniture Today, August 22, 2005
Las Vegas — A group of sales and liquidation specialists have taken a first step toward formally organizing, voting to form a trade association.
Six sales companies meeting during the Las Vegas furniture market named Joe McCurry, business development manager for The High Point Group, to head an exploratory committee to solidify a plan and determine the scope of the association.
The committee will meet during next week's Tupelo market, then report to the larger group in High Point in October.
Firms meeting in Las Vegas included The High Point Group, Planned Furniture Promotions, Hoyt Highfill & Associates, Daniel Lynch Sales, Wahlquist Management and SPCI. Highfill said he also was confident of support from Great American Group and two other firms that had planned to attend the meetnig but were called away.
Representatives at the meeting said they look to an association as a way to share common concerns and best practices. They also hope to promote the industry as necessary, although some said it is often referred to negatively despite its focus on raising cash for retailers and suppliers.
The group also will look into becoming an affiliate of an existing industry association, such as the National Home Furnishings Assn.
Those at the Las Vegas meeting also unanimously voted to establish a scholarship fund in the memory of Bud Highfill, Hoyt's son and former president of the Highfill company, who launched the organizing effort before his unexpected death in May. All six companies represented, as well as Kurt and Sally Earlywine, made initial pledges totaling $17,500 to the Bud Highfill Scholarship Foundation.
The funds are expected to be used to help cover college tuition for family members of anyone affiliated with the sales companies.
"I didn't expect this and I can tell you my family and Bud's family appreciate what you're doing," Hoyt Highfill told the group.
