Log In   |  Register Free Newsletter Subscription
Skip navigation
Zibb
Subscribe to Furniture Today
Resource Center graphic
RSS
Reprints/License
Print
Email

It's a good time to be different

Editor in Chief, Ray Allegrezza -- Furniture Today, March 2, 2008

Centuries ago, underscoring our nation's escalating hunger for independence, Thomas Paine wrote, "These are the times that try men's souls."

Today, those words aptly describe the frustration we feel with the current retail environment. It's no cakewalk out there. But then again, if it was, anybody could excel. In times such as these, maybe what we really need to do is try something different.

Sure, I know the home furnishings industry is paying the price of being too closely linked to the stumbling housing market. But I think we're also paying a price for being bland and predictable.

We take wonderfully made furniture and line it up like lifeless wooden soldiers, then wonder why those hard-to-please shoppers aren't beating down our doors. Or we think that in order to engage the shopper we have to keep slashing prices.

Remember Seth Godin's best seller "Purple Cow?" The concept was that a fresh new idea (aka a purple cow) would be immediately recognized, especially if it was smack in the middle of a herd of brown cows.

The makers of 7-Up took this concept to heart years ago, referring to their soda as the "Un-Cola." In a word, the company immediately told you what that beverage was by telling you what it wasn't.

How about in our backyard? Does anybody get it?

Recently, the online newspaper The Onion, in a spoof, profiled a fictional firm called Northside Mattress Warehouse and its Non-Blowout Sale.

The made-up story quoted the store owner as saying, "It's not like these are once-in-a-lifetime prices. You'll get a pretty good deal on a brand-name mattress. Yes, we've slashed prices, just not to the bone. If you can find the same mattress at a lower, publicly advertised price, then God bless."

Granted, while the Onion's story was pure fiction, the fact of the matter is that if we fail to see the need to try something new, the joke is on us.

RSS
Reprints/License
Print
Email
Talkback
Related Content
Also by Ray Allegrezza

Reed Business Information Resource Center

Featured Company


Related Resources

Advertisement

Related Microsite Content

Related Links

  • No Related Content Available

More Content
  • Blogs
  • Photos

Sorry, no blogs are active for this topic.

VIEW ALL BLOGS RSS
GuildMaster chest

Best of Market: More market highlights

Here is a sampling of some of the stylish new products catching dealers' eyes at the October High Point Market. For more coverage, see Furniture/Today's Nov. 2 print issue. When you're done viewing the photos in this Slideshow, more images of hot introductions also are available on the Furniture/Today Web site by clicking here.

 

 

High Point Market scene, 1955

Scenes from the High Point Market's past 100 years

The High Point Market is marking its 100th anniversary this April. To help celebrate this milestone, Furniture/Today presents some pictorial highlights of the past 100 years.

WMC-Videos_160x160
Advertisement
2010-beddingconf-160x160
eNewsletters
Furniture Today eDaily
Furniture Today eClassifieds
Bedding Today
Furniture Today Green
Casual Living eWeekly
Home Accents Today eWeekly
Home Accents Today Product Line
Home Textiles Today Extra
Gifts & Dec Direct
Gifts & Dec Product Wire
Kids Today eWeekly
Playthings Extra



Please read our Privacy Policy

About Us   |   Advertise   |   Site Map   |   Contact Us   |   Subscription   |   Affiliate Links   |   RSS
© 2010 Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Use of this Web site is subject to its Terms of Use | Privacy Policy