Nominations Now Open for HFA Retailer of The Year Awards

Furniture World News Desk on 9/27/2022

The Home Furnishings Association is now accepting nominations for its 2023 Retailer of the Year, Trailblazer, Emerging Star, Partner of the Year, and a new category Manufacturer of the Year awards.

The annual recognitions honor the best and brightest furniture retailers in the industry and are a much-anticipated highlight for all HFA members.

"These are pure honors,” says HFA CEO Mark Schumacher. "What I mean by that is nominations come from peers, then nominees have to show how they have set high standards in customer experience, mentoring, sustainability, technology, philanthropy, and store culture. A panel of industry leaders judges all. Clearly, HFA Retailer of the Year awards are earned!”

Two HFA member retailers – large and small – will be recognized as Retailer of the Year. The large retailer category applies to businesses with 50 or more employees. The small retailer award covers businesses with fewer than 50 employees.The Emerging Star award recognizes exemplary HFA members, 40 or younger (born on or after January 1, 1983). The Trailblazer award honors an HFA member who's been in the industry for at least 20 years. The Partner of the Year recognizes the HFA Solution Partner contributing to our members' success as a partner of HFA.

"2022 has been another challenging year," Schumacher said. "We will celebrate those companies and individuals who have weathered the ups and downs and maintained a standard of excellence."

CITY Furniture, based in Tamarac, Florida, won last year's large Retailer of the Year. CEO Andrew Koenig said, "We are so appreciative and excited to hear our CITY team won this prestigious award. I'm beyond proud of them, and it's really nice to see them get this amazing recognition they deserve!"

Room to Room was awarded HFA's Small Retailer of the Year. Irv Bumkin, Chairman of Nebraska Furniture Mart (NFM), garnered the Trailblazer Award, while Eric Beiter, General Manager at Beiter's Furniture Mattress Appliance in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, received the Emerging Star recognition. Partner of the Year went to Podium.

This year, HFA introduces a new award category, HFA Manufacturer of the Year. This award acknowledges and honors an HFA Manufacturer that best supports HFA members through exceptional products that impact our members' business and consistently supports the home furnishings trade organization, HFA.

Nominations are open through October 31, 2022. Visit myhfa.org/roty to nominate a deserving retail business, professional, or your favorite partner and manufacturer. Nominees will be notified and asked to complete an application in November 2022. A panel of judges composed of retail industry leaders, HFA partners, and past honorees will select the winners.

Then the fun begins. IN FEBRUARY, the HFA will announce the Retailers, Trailblazer, Emerging Star, Partner, and Manufacturer of the Year at the Annual HFA Member Meeting and then in-store celebrations with recognition throughout 2023.

Visit www.myhfa.org/roty.

About the Home Furnishings Association:

The Home Furnishings Association (HFA), with roots dating back to 1920, is North America's largest non-profit, trade organization devoted specifically to the needs and interests of home furnishings retailers, with more than 1,500 members representing more than 10,000 storefronts across all 50 states and several countries. HFA provides members with programs, resources, services, and a unified voice in government relations by collaborating with home furnishings industry suppliers, vendors, affiliates, and other organizations. For more information, visit www.myhfa.org.