NHFA Offers Free “Ask the Experts” One-on-One Meetings in High Point Market

Furniture World Magazine

Merchandising, operations, interior design, finance, human resources, and real estate—they’re top concerns for today’s furniture retailers and they’ll be the topic of conversation at NHFA’s “Ask the Experts” one-on-one meetings at the April High Point market. NHFA has brought together five veteran members of the furniture industry—all past or present NHFA board members—for special market appearances at its Retailer Resource Center (RRC) located on the 12th Floor, Main Wing, of the International Home Furnishings Center. Experts include Hershel Alpert, Howard Haimsohn, Doug Kays, Dennis Novosel, and Cherie Rose. Scheduled Monday through Wednesday of April market, these informal appearances will provide the opportunity for these retailers to share their best practices as well as field questions. Retailers looking to improve their furniture business can talk directly with experts and solicit their guidance and advice. Certified Interior Designer and NHFA Executive Board member Cherie Rose will offer her insights on retail store design and today’s design trends and will be available for consultation on Monday, April 7 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 8 kicks off with an appearance by Dennis Novosel, president of Stoney Creek Furniture in Ontario Canada. Novosel is a former NHFA president and current NHFA convention chairman. He will be available from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. to discuss his professional experience and his areas of expertise, which include business management, operations and importing. Also present on Tuesday, April 8 will be Hershel Alpert, former President/CEO of Alpert’s Furniture, a former NHFA president, and the recipient of NHFA’s 2005 “Retailer of the Year” award. Alpert will be at the RRC from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday and his areas of expertise include business management, finance, operations, and real estate. Wednesday, April 9 begins with Howard Haimsohn, president of Calif.-based Lawrance Furniture. Haimsohn will be available from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. to discuss everything from contemporary merchandising, inventory management, manufacturer relations, product performance analysis, and financial management, to cost controls for smaller businesses. Also available for consultation on Wednesday is Doug Kays, current president of NHFA. Kays is an attorney and real estate broker with over 34 years of experience in retail home furnishings. He will be available from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. to talk about operations, human resources, real estate and legal issues. These free “Ask the Experts” one-on-one meetings are just one of the many programs NHFA provides to help retailers achieve their goals. Retailers attending the upcoming April High Point Market can learn more about this and other programs at NHFA’s RRC located on the 12th Floor, Main Wing, of the International Home Furnishings Center. The RRC is open daily during market from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. National Home Furnishings Association (NHFA) is the nation’s largest organization devoted specifically to the needs and interests of home furnishings retailers. Headquartered in High Point, N.C., its membership includes more than 2,750 business organizations representing 10,000 stores with locations in all 50 states and across the world. NHFA is dedicated to helping home furnishings retailers operate highly profitable businesses while providing an exceptional level of service to consumers. For more information, please call 800/888-9590 or visit www.nhfa.org