WHFA Partners in Next Generation-NOW Launch

July 20, 2010  by in UnCategorized   

By Home Furnishings Business in Business Strategy on July 21, 2010

The Western Home Furnishings Association and former members of Next Generation have teamed to resurrect the group with Next Generation-NOW.

Next Generation-Now focuses on the professional development of up-and-coming home furnishings industry leaders.

Next Generation-NOW will host a kick-off reception at the upcoming Las Vegas Market on Tuesday, August 3, 5-6 p.m., in the One Six Club on the 16th floor of Building B. Past members of the original Next Generation group and future industry leaders are encouraged to attend.

Twenty five years ago, the Next Generation group was formed after an Olympia, Wash., furniture dealer became concerned about transitioning his five children into the family furniture business. He worried hat the furniture industry was losing the next generation of retailers to "sexier" industries such as computer technologies and financial brokerages.

The group held annual conferences to assist the sons, daughters and key-managers in becoming the future leaders of their family's furniture business. The conferences focused on developing skills through peer-to-peer networking, management training, tax/succession strategies and inter-personal relationships.

The revived group will again focus on up-and-coming professionals entering the home furnishings sector.

Next Generation-Now has received a major sponsorship from FurnitureDealer.net. Other Next Generation-Now sponsors include: Aspenhome, Associated Volume Buyers, Emerald Home Furnishings, Lane Home Furnishings, Pacific Furniture Dealers and Western Home Furnishings Association.