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NAHFA Sets 1st Board Meeting
April 18,
2013 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Special Events on April 19, 2013
The North American Home Furnishings Association will hold its first official board meeting and schedule events at the June 1-4 Home Furnishings Industry Conference.
In addition to the board meeting, NAHFA has scheduled events and celebrations each day of the New Orleans industry gathering to share the journey that led to the merger and to discuss and unveil the purpose and future direction of the organization.
Preceding the conference on June 1, NAHFA will hold its first board meeting where directors and members will work together to build on a foundation that creates a member-centric future.
We have developed collaborative teams, with the direct input of our retailers, to focus on the core needs our members say are critical to their business and success, said Sharron Bradley, executive director. These teams will ensure that our direction remains relevant and impactful to those we serve.
The collaborative teams and their responsibilities include:
¢ Regional strategy: The creation of opportunities to gather and meet in a variety of ways on a local basis.
¢ Member relations: Mentoring, customized materials and resources specific to member needs.
¢ Technology: Information and resources on all things digital, new data collection, education to help members adopt today's technology and information on what's next.
¢ Consumer relations: Voluntary code of ethics, national branding, creating the ideal customer experience in stores for today and the future.
¢ Next Generation Now: Building our industry's future by engaging our youth in the home furnishings industry and attracting more young people to join. Prove to young people that our industry is cool, exciting and fun.
¢ Advocacy: Provide a single industry voice across the nation and in each state on industry issues and work in coalitions to impact the policies that affect each and every business. Making advocacy interesting.
¢ Industry relations: Working more collaboratively with vendors and other industry groups to reduce fragmentation.
After the board meeting concludes, the HFIC gets underway with more information and celebrations for the attendees. A town hall with key members of the board will provide the opportunity to discuss the industry as a whole and how at every level, improvements can be achieved. A new video featuring members and leaders will be unveiled and the final night Masquerade Ball will feature several suspenseful surprises.
We are very excited about the new business model the NAHFA is developing, said Howard Haimsohn, president of Lawrance Contemporary Furniture, San Diego, and NAHFA executive chairman. "I cant imagine not being invested in something that will have such an impact on the future of the industry. I encourage all retailers to become involved and join us in this process and at the HFIC."