OFMA becomes Canadian Home Furnishings Alliance
Trade group widens membership, readies new programs, services
Michael J. Knell -- Furniture Today, November 1, 2007
MISSISSAUGA, Ontario — The Canadian Home Furnishings Alliance is promising to provide added-value services to manufacturers and importers while continuing to sponsor programs and events widely followed in this country’s furniture industry.
The CHFA has evolved from the Ontario Furniture Manufacturers Assn., founded 117 years ago and one of Canada’s oldest trade groups. The transformation was driven by a number of factors, mainly the changing nature of the industry itself
“The line between manufacturers and importers has become blurred in recent years,” said Laine Reynolds, who was re-elected chairman of the association’s board of directors. The real challenge facing the industry is getting consumers to buy more furniture more often, he said.
“Manufacturers and importers have more common ground than not,” said Reynolds, who also is vice president of sales for Superstyle Furniture. “We need to help the retailer sell more furniture to the consumer.”
OFMA membership has been sagging in recent years, driven mostly by a shrinking number of manufacturers. Under the new mandate, approved at the OFMA’s annual meeting late last month, both manufacturers and importers will have full voting memberships in the CHFA.
Other membership categories will be offered to suppliers and other stakeholders. While there currently are no importer members, CHFA President Murray Vaughan said a number have expressed interest in joining.
Reynolds said the association is financially secure but needs to grow to remain relevant.
“It is our objective to ensure the association remains meaningful to its members and, therefore, over the next few months we will be focusing on member services,” he said. “We plan to re-invigorate and re-energize our association by implementing more programs and activities that enhance membership value.”
Vaughan said, “We need to strike a balance between holding events and delivering services.” Two of the association’s most successful programs, the health and safety group and the credit group, need new blood if they are to thrive, he said.
In addition to a membership drive, Vaughan said a number of initiatives will be launched over the coming months. That includes creation of a new human resources group that would meet regularly to exchange information and discuss HR issues. Other initiatives include group benefits, fuel card, shipping, travel and other programs.
“We will be careful to ensure that our programs are a better deal than what industry members are already receiving,” Vaughan said, adding programs will not be revenue generators for the association but rather services for members.
The CHFA also plans to develop new training and professional programs, new industry data and research resources, media campaigns promoting the industry, and more effective government lobbying efforts.
The group will continue to host the popular all-industry golf tournament each August and the awards gala during the Canadian Home Furnishings Market each January. While there won’t be a Canadian Home Furnishings Awards program this year, the association hopes to bring it back in 2009. No decision has been made on whether to hold a Toronto Summer Furniture Market next August.
Vaughan said the association’s Web site, which is being redesigned, is now www.chfaweb.ca. His e-mail address is murray@chfaweb.ca.
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OFMA moves to include importers, change name
Oct 14, 2007
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