Retailer Stories

2013 ROY HW Home—The Experience Factor

Written by in Current News, Retailer Stories
April 2013 “Please no lines before 9 a.m.” So states HW Home’s Annual Warehouse Sale invite—as it should. Starting 12 years ago, the HW Home Annual Warehouse Sale is the must-attend sale for anyone in the Denver Metro area seeking high-end products at unbelievably great rates. “The line forms at nine and by 10 a.m., 300 to 400 people are waiting for the doors to open,” says co-owner Ron Werner.... Read More

2013 ROY Coconis Furniture—Loving Life in the Trenches

Written by in Current News, Retailer Stories
Randy Coconis, Coconis Furniture South Zanesville, OH
April 2013 Randy was abruptly put in the lead role of Coconis Furniture in 1981 when his dad became seriously ill. While succession wasn’t a new thing to the Coconis family, this sudden illness caught them off guard and threw Randy, then a salesperson, into a role he wasn’t prepared for. “I really didn’t know much about running a business,” he said. “I relied on my reps and other friends in the business... Read More

Fresh Perspectives: Customer Experience—Where do you fit in their story?

Written by in Customer Experience, Retailer Stories
mike-luna
April 2013 The idea of the customer experience is an ever-evolving creature. It flows in a direction that is constantly changing, and if we aren’t aware of where that is heading, we can rest assured we’ll be left behind. The Evolution In the not-so-distant past lies a time when retailers were the ones who held the control (for the most part) in the buying process. Retailers could regulate the content... Read More

Customer Horror Stories

Written by in Consumer Behavior, Customer Experience, Retailer Stories
April 2013 “Hey! There’s a Rat in my Mattress!” Customer: Hello, um, yes I have an issue with a mattress I purchased from your store about six months ago. Customer Service: I’m very sorry to hear that, ma’am. I’d be happy to help you. What exactly is the problem? Customer: Well, the mattress is squeaking and something has been poking me in the back while I sleep. It is very uncomfortable and... Read More

AHFA Presents Environmental Leadership Awards

Written by in Current News, Retailer Stories
  HIGH POINT, N.C. – The American Home Furnishings Alliance announces Paul Kaminski, corporate director of environment, health and safety for Ethan Allen Global Inc., has received the organization’s 2012 Environmental Leadership Award. In addition, Ethan Allen received AHFA’s corporate Environmental Excellence Award. Both awards were presented during AHFA’s annual Sustainability Summit in Charlotte,... Read More

Fresh Perspectives: Relationships—A Two Way Street

Written by in Retailer Stories
richard-tomkins
As a third generation family business, part of our longevity can be credited to strong relationships with our retail partners. Since our founding in 1947, we’ve forged great relationships with some of the best retailers in the industry. In our business, we make an upscale product line of solid wood bedrooms that retails from $2,499 to $3,999. This price range narrows the range of retailers that we... Read More

Fresh Perspectives: The Art of Brand Entanglement

Written by in Advertising & Marketing, Retailer Stories
seth-weisblatt
When we started advertising on Google in 2008, I was balancing an ad budget between cable, radio, newspaper, the Yellow Pages and tabloids. The famous quote about, “Half your advertising works, I just don’t know which half” couldn’t have been more true! The power of digital marketing became clear—instantly measurable results for each ad-dollar spent. As other contracts expired, more of our advertising... Read More

Meet Your New Fearless Leaders

Written by in Retailer Stories
Making-History
TODAY’S WORLD isn’t the same world we lived in five years ago, 10 years ago or 50 years ago. It is continually evolving, with new trends, technologies and businesses being introduced daily. The rise of women in the business world is one of these changing trends. Women-owned businesses represent one of the fastest-growing segments of the economy. According to the National Women’s Business Council,... Read More

Rocking for Charity

Written by in Retailer Stories
Four miles outside of Modesto, CA, surrounded by almond and walnut trees, sits an old schoolhouse, the home of Al’s Furniture. “When people call us and want to know what is across the street, we tell them ‘walnuts’. Then they ask, well what’s across the other street? ‘Almonds.’ There is nothing around us, so it is kind of unique. And when people drive out here, they are serious about buying furniture,”... Read More

Building a New Future: How Fraser Furniture Reinvented Their Brand

Written by in Retailer Stories
reinvention
Recognizing that the future depends on deepening ties with a new group of younger consumers, Fraser Furniture unveiled a major repositioning of its brand in 2011. To attract a younger, fashion-savvy clientele while remaining true to its current base of more traditionally oriented Baby Boomers, the 132-year-old Montreal retailer renovated its 80,000-square-foot showroom, revitalized its logo, broadened... Read More