The Writer’s Bureau
My name is Heath E. Combs and I am a staff writer for Furniture/Today. I cover casual dining, occasional and green product categories here and often write about regulatory issues affecting our industry. In my blog “The Writer’s Bureau” I’ll discuss the general business climate may be, any interesting trends I find that could carry over into our industry and what I’m hearing from you in our conversations or in my travels. I’m interested in hearing from you here and feel free to contact me directly at heath.combs@reedbusiness.com.
A secondary furniture market?
A common comment you might hear in this industry is: Where is the secondary market for furnishings? When furniture is no longer needed in your home, where should it go? This is probably no secret, but aside from the hand-me-down route and Goodwill shops, you might try Craigslist. I recently sold the bulk of my furniture on Craigslist. I probably made about $200 cash in less than a week, selling a ...... Read More
Comments (0)Questions Remain On CIT Future
The latest news on CIT Group is that the company will submit two plans to the Federal Reserve in the next few weeks detailing its plans for survival. Today’s Wall Street Journal article seems to say the Fed isn’t a believer yet. (Subscription Required) I’ve spent a lot of time recently writing about CIT Group and its troubles. The more I write about it the more questions I hav ...... Read More
Comments (0)ARC loans could buy retailers time
Has anyone applied - or know any furniture retailers who have applied - for up to $35,000 available through the U.S. Small Business Administration’s ARC program? ARC stands for America’s Recovery Capital Loan Program. The program formally launched this month. The SBA has about $730 million in funds to distribute through the massive economic stimulus program signed into law in Februa ...... Read More
Comments (2)Protectionism rising?
Protectionist sentiment appears to be rising. From the standpoint of protecting your nation’s economic turf, protectionism might feel good. But a global trade war could stem from rising protectionism. We have organizations in place to monitor trade agreements and resolve disputes like the World Trade Organization. But nations can invoke protectionist measures without violating free trade ag ...... Read More
Comments (2)Want Not - Waste It
Talk about the furniture industry doing things the old fashioned way! When it comes to drawing down our inventories, we should have taken a note from some of our friends in the housing industry and made a big bonfire and burned it all. A bonfire would be similar in spirit to what the good folks over at the Guaranty Bank of Austin, Texas have done with a 16-unit housing development they took over l ...... Read More
Comments (1)First/Second Impressions
People are more upbeat this market than they were in October. I think that’s a given. I’ve been telling folks that I’ve not been to a market where more companies are on their A game than they’ve been this market. And you have to be. Everyone has a story to tell this time or something great to offer and the product assortment is the best I’ve seen it. Whatever ima ...... Read More
Comments (1)HIGH POINT MARKET: Weather Forecast
The High Point Market’s weather forecast is looking pretty good so far. Spring is just about as beautiful as you’ll see it down here in the North Carolina Piedmont - or at least it was on Friday and Saturday. Looks like the sun is fighting to peek back through today. The Spring High Point Market starts this Saturday. It’s about two weeks later than where we were last yea ...... Read More
Comments (0)Furniture Scene: Paula Deen
I was recently having a conversation with Tom Russell, our associate editor, about Universal’s Furniture’s new licensed collection with Savannah, Ga.-based Southern cuisine specialist Paula Deen. The furniture collection debuts in April. Tom didn’t know too much about Paula and asked about her appeal to consumers. Paula’s life story is well publicized, from her troubled ...... Read More
Comments (10)Catfight
I wrote an editorial soon after starting here at Furniture/Today denigrating our industry’s use of the “she” term. I just didn’t understand why we always had to say we were catering to “her” needs.Seemed a little sexist. I said it was pretentious for furniture companies to throw around how it was working hard for “her” and “her” ...... Read More
Comments (1)Hug the Customer
I had an interesting discussion with a retailer several weeks ago about how the recession is changing business. She said that when times were flush, a sales person was more apt to get a sale from a customer who came in, found what they wanted - and boom - purchased it. Sales required less finessing of dollars out of pockets. Now, she explained, sales people are having to work harder with customers ...... Read More
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