Will shoppers venture out once all the snow melts?
Jerry Epperson -- Furniture Today, March 15, 2010
What a bunch of gumballs! Reading all the financial press about the bad retail, housing, employment and other economic numbers for January is an absolute joke-fest. Were these people — on Mars? At one point we had more than 40 states with snow, reaching blizzard conditions in much of the Northeast.
While the winter isn't over yet, the snowfall totals have been impressive or depressing, however you wish to view them. Washington D.C., where some agree that 535-plus individuals shouldn't go to their offices anyway, has gotten more than 75 inches of snow when less than 10 inches is the norm. Philadelphia, Boston, New York and other population centers have had days — especially weekends — where it was nearly impossible to get to stores, any stores. Thank you, Al, for global warming.
I just read where one brain trust said that the January numbers might indicate the economy is reversing course and headed back down. Yes, our economy has lots of problems today, but judging it when more than a third of our nation cannot get out of their homes is silly.
That said, wouldn't it be nice if Americans couldn't leave their homes and would spend their money where they spend their time?
If you are reading this (thank you), you obviously have an interest in home furnishings, and probably furniture, mattresses and decorative accessories have a higher level of your consciousness than some other things.
Now, when you have some time, walk around your home and ask yourself how long you have owned every piece of home furnishings there. Excluding gifts and inherited treasures, I bet you will be surprised at how long you have owned some of these items.
In other industries, they change the packaging or add new features to encourage a more rapid replacement cycle. What can we do? Maybe putting an obvious date of purchase in an inconspicuous spot would help consumers realize how dated their furniture is.
I am sorry to say it but I have a 2009 mattress sitting on a 2005 bed that happens to match our 1988 bedroom set. Our formal dining furniture is lovely but from a company that failed in the late 1980s.
My family room is 2005 leather facing a 2008 entertainment center. My formal living room looks like new because no one is allowed in the room. The sofa in there was extremely fashionable when we bought the home and first decorated in 1985, and it sits on a 1991 oriental rug.
I bet you the average American does not realize how old and outdated their furniture is.
What an opportunity we have — when the weather improves.
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