New WHFA Academy Launches High-Performance Education Series

Furniture World Magazine

The Western Home Furnishings Association, as part of the association’s 60th anniversary celebration has created the new WHFA Academy. The WHFA Academy is the umbrella structure for the developing educational arm of the association. The Academy will offer educational programs throughout the West, over and above the association’s Annual Management Conference, local “Solutions” Networking Meetings and semi-annual San Francisco Market Seminars. The initial offering of the WHFA Academy will be April 1, 2004, at the Four Points Sheraton LAX, Los Angeles, CA with two concurrent management workshops. Track 1 will be a Sales Management Workshop and track 2 will be an Operations Management Workshop. The one day Workshops will be specifically designed to build and sustain a high-performance sales team and to effectively manage back-end operations to maximize profits. Registration fees, if received by March 15, 2004, for this first workshop are $159 for the first registrant, $139 each additional. For the inaugural Academy educational program, the registration fees will be the same for both members and non-members. Discounted hotel rates have been negotiated with the Four Points Sheraton LAX for attendees needing overnight accommodations. Fees include a full day workshop, refreshment breaks, and a combined networking luncheon for all attendees. The WHFA Academy will be developing a series of workshops, seminars, on-line training programs focused on critical aspects of home furnishings retailing. The ultimate goal of the Academy programs is to “create extraordinary results” for the attendees. WHFA Executive Director Sharron Bradley explains, “WHFA is committed to providing retailers the best, most innovative educational programs available, and the WHFA Academy is our tool to do that.” To register for the workshops or for more information about the WHFA Academy, contact WHFA Event Planner, Cindi Williams at (800) 422-3778, (916) 784-7677, events@whfa.org or register online at www.WHFA.org. The Western Home Furnishings Association is 100% Member-owned and the largest affiliate of the National Home Furnishings Association. WHFA provides programs, services, and networking opportunities that improve business opportunities and management practices for Western home furnishings retailers.