NHFA Recognizes Retailers with Best Practices

Furniture World Magazine

"For home furnishings retailers looking for ways to improve their businesses," said NHFA, "the ‘Best Idea’ luncheon at the 2008 All-Industry convention at the Atlantis Paradise Island, Bahamas, was the place to be. From energy-efficient smart cars sporting retailer logos to employee incentive strategies, the good ideas were plentiful." Winners of this year’s “Best Idea” luncheon were David Harkness, Harkness Furniture, Tacoma, Wash., www.harknessfurniture.com, (1st place), Doug Wolf, Wolf Furniture Enterprises, Bellwood, Pa., www.wolffurniture.com, (2nd place), and Mike Spiller, Spiller Furniture, Tuscaloosa, Ala., www.spillerfurniture.com, (3rd place).ww.harknessfurniture.com, (1st place), Doug Wolf, Wolf Furniture Enterprises, Bellwood, Pa., www.wolffurniture.com, (2nd place), and Mike Spiller, Spiller Furniture, Tuscaloosa, Ala., www.spillerfurniture.com, (3rd place). “The Best Idea luncheon gives our members a chance to exchange proven ideas and strategies with their peers,” explains Doug Kays, NHFA president. “It’s a fun, roundtable format that generates great ideas and discussions. Over the years it has become one of the NHFA’s most popular events.” This year’s “Best Idea” luncheon was sponsored by American Express and moderated by Joe Milevsky of Kennesaw, Ga.-based JRM Sales & Management, Inc. Attendees exchanged their best ideas with their tablemates and selected the best idea at the table. Following the convention, JRM Sales & Management, Inc., prepared a detailed list of all best ideas presented at the luncheon, emailed these to attendees who then voted and chose the one “best idea” from the luncheon. JRM Sales awarded a $500 gift certificate to first-place winner David Harkness for his HSA health savings account insurance strategy. Second-place winner Doug Wolf received a $250 gift certificate for his initiative to reduce store hours during low traffic periods, as did Mike Spiller for his idea for creative employee contests. Other winning best ideas from other tables included: - Eliminating the costly practice of having two locations for customer pick-up, Joe Quintal, Rotman’s Furniture. P- artnering with manufacturers to create a national “Win a Room Full” web-based contest for consumers, Jerry Wingate, Micro D. - Putting a store logo on an eye-catching eco-friendly “smart car,” John Wells, Wells Home Furnishings. - Creating an incentive plan for warehouse employees and employees of its third-party delivery agent, Mike Horrobin, Tepperman’s. - Developing designer notebooks based on the main styles sold in the store, Leslie Carothers, The Kaleidoscope Partnership, - Designing unique ads that feature a “bobble-head” figure, Wil Schock, Schocks Furniture Crafters. - Targeting the bridal industry by sponsoring a bridal fair at the store, Bob Sherman, Serta Mattress Company. - Giving each piece of furniture sold a birth certificate, Phil Mandeville, American West/ZLN,. - Educating and encouraging store management about the power of leading with a positive attitude, George Kaftan, Carls Furniture. To view the “best ideas” in their entirety, go to www.jrmsales-mgmt.com/bestidea.htm. For complete information about NHFA and its member services, contact Jerry Alderman, senior director of membership and member services at (336) 801-6154. 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