NHFA Develops DVDs To Train Back-End Retail Personnel

Furniture World Magazine

National Home Furnishings Association has completed production of visual tools to train retail home furnishings store warehouse workers and delivery crews. Two new DVDs are the first in a planned series of Visual Business Solutions to provide needed training to personnel right in the retail store. The first being introduced at the High Point Market, March 26-April 1 are: “Delivery: The Ultimate Impression” which is devoted to teaching truck drivers and helpers to achieve a flawless delivery to the customer, and “Warehouse Procedures: Bottom Line Performance” that focuses on efficient and safe procedures for warehouse employees. Steve DeHaan, NHFA executive vice president, said the DVDs have been crafted with precise visuals and verbal explanations that clearly define the right way of carrying out tasks in back-end operations. DeHaan said, “High turnover among warehouse and delivery personnel is an on-going issue that requires home furnishings retailers to conduct frequent training sessions in these areas.” He explained further, “Recognizing that this problem is an acute, on-going one that directly impacts profitability of our members, NHFA staff and volunteer leadership made these training tools a top priority for 2007.” DeHaan explained that industry warehousing and delivery experts and NHFA member retailers were involved in the project. Providing script guidance and equipment and facilities for the production were: Mike Caldiero and Edward Massoud, MGM Transport Corp.; Patrick Cory, Cory Home Delivery; John McCloskey, Profitability Consulting Group; and Colfax Furniture. Retailers participating were: NHFA president Wogan Badcock III and David Gonyea, W.S. Badcock Corp.; Lee Goodman, Jeromes; Dianne Ray, Garden City Furniture; Larry Kurpiewski, Commercial Home Furnishings; Rick Howard, Sklar Furniture; John Wells, Wells Home Furnishings; David Masin, Masins; Mark Dufresne, Dufresne Furniture and Appliance; and Doug Wolf, Wolf Furniture. The DVDs will be shown in NHFA Retailer Resource Center, 12th floor, Main Building, International Home Furnishings Center, throughout the High Point Market and will be available for purchase there. They also can be ordered directly from NHFA at (800) 888-9590 ext. 6171. Price is $29.95 each to NHFA members and $79.95 each to non-members. The visuals are available in VHS format upon request.