Hi, I’m Mike Root, President of Furniture Sales of Mid-America, a furniture wholesale company in the Midwest and Rocky Mountain states that has been recognized by numerous national furniture factories for sales excellence including Salesman of the Year more than 10 times. Recently I was appointed to the Executive Committee of the International Home Furnishings Representative’s Association (IHFRA), and asked to write this blog. I see incredible opportunities for our industry to make a difference in people’s lives. It will be my intention to share with you whatever positive stories I hear from around the country as they relate to the home furnishings industry. True, this is a blog for furniture representatives. But the reality is that we are all representing the home furnishings industry. Therefore I will write to and for reps, but hopefully the message will resonate with all throughout the industry. My perspective is one of a third generation furniture guy. My father, Emmet Root, is still active as a rep after over 50 years. I myself have been a rep since 1994. Before that I was in furniture retail, wholesale and rental for over 10 years where I was recognized by the Small Business Administration as an Entrepreneur of the Year. I was also honored by the Omaha Chamber of Commerce for leading a company as one of the Top 25 Fastest Growing Enterprises three years in a row. I’ve seen just about all sides of the industry, and I love every bit of it. My background of sales and marketing has led the past several years to extended studies in direct response marketing to help my dealers sell more with less effort. Some cost effective promotional items for reps and retailers to help maximize your customer’s value can be found on my website at www.FurniturePromotions.com. I recently co-authored a book “Secrets of Peak Performers: Wealth Creating Strategies from the World’s Most Successful Entrepreneurs”. More information about me or my book can be found on my blog at www.MikeRoot.com. To contact me please email me at meroot@mikeroot.com.