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Retail Education

Home furnishings and lighting retailers face many challenges in this ever-changing economy. From new consumer expectations to online competition, today's retailers work hard to ensure their customers have access to on-trend products and great customer service. In this section, you'll find all things retailing — news, features, analysis and tools — needed to make your retail business a success.

Meet the Lifestyle and Lighting Retailers from our Raleigh, NC, Retail Road Trip

Raleigh, the capitol of North Carolina, is a creative hotbed of design, home furnishings and lifestyle retailers. From what shop owners told me, I didn’t even scratch the surface. We visited Lavish,…
Modernique
(Photo: Frank Simon)

Julia Buckingham's Color Explosion

About seven years ago, while preparing to give a keynote speech at High Point Market, interior designer Julia Buckingham had a bit of an ah-ha moment. While trying to put a succinct name to her…
Pexels online shopping
(Photo: Pexels user Negative Space)

E-commerce Lessons Learned

Adding e-commerce to a website can be a daunting task. We spoke to two retailers in the infancy of their e-commerce experience to see what lessons they’ve learned since starting up.  Filament Home…
Garden City Furniture rebranding
Garden City Furniture's new truck skins reflect the retailer's rebranding efforts.

Garden City Furniture Rolls Out New Logo Design

As part of a multi-year refresh and renovation, retail strategist Connie Post has created a new logo package for Garden City Furniture that is rolling out across the marketplace thanks to eye-…
fun at work
7 tips for fun at work

7 Tips for Making Your Business More Fun

Are you having fun in your business? When you enjoy something, you are happier (and that makes the people around you happier as well). On the other hand, if you find a task painful, you generally…
Shaw Hospitality
Shaw Hospitality's Community Broadloom rug collection was on display among other new products at the HD Expo hospitality show.

Do You Know What's Next for Home Design Trends?

Market season is upon us, and we know what that means. It’s time to ask the all-important question as we visit showrooms: “What’s new?” We know we can count on seeing it: new vendors, new styles and…
Adobestock ecommerce contact
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Return to Sender: How Retailers Can Minimize Returns

Customer convenience is one major perk of e-commerce. With a few clicks and some payment information, consumers can get almost anything delivered straight to their door in a matter of days. And they…
ICFA retailer education
Left to right: Gary Drummond, Dan Polanski, Heather Woods

ICFA Revamps Pre-Casual Market Retailer Education Program

How can brick-and-mortar stores compete with the massive selection and ordering ease of online stores? The marketing experts at ACE Hardware say, throw a party. ACE is a 95-year-old hardware…

Connie Post Designs RP Outlet

Retail strategist Connie Post has designed a new format for The RoomPlace aimed at broadening the merchant’s appeal with a new shopping experience focusing on value-priced product. Branded RP Outlet…
Small Space Living
Millennials, Baby Boomers Driving Small Space Living Trends

Home Furnishings Manufacturers Embrace Small Space Living Trends

Small space living may not be all tiny homes, but make no mistake, consumers are gravitating toward smaller living spaces, and home furnishings companies are acutely aware of the trend, bringing…
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