Daily News
From Home Furnishing Business
Home Furnishings Hall of Fame Launches COVID-19 Project, Seeks Pandemic Response Input from Industry
August 5,
2020 by Jane Chero in Business Strategy, Designer Weekly, Industry 
The American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame Foundation, the industry-wide organization founded to preserve its history, celebrate exceptional individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the industry, and to inspire a new class of innovation and leadership, is launching a COVID-19 initiative to collect and archive documentation of the response of the home furnishings industry to the pandemic.
“During World War II, many factories were converted to support the war effort but sadly, we have very spotty records – just references to it,” says Karen McNeill, Hall of Fame Foundation CEO. “The COVID-19 crisis represents a watershed moment in home furnishings history that has changed everything from how we do business to how we go about our daily lives and interact with family, friends and coworkers. We need to document and archive the COVID response for future generations.”
“Companies moved swiftly to protect employees and their families, and employees worked selflessly to answer the national need, some by shifting production to address critical shortages in PPE and other materials needed on the front lines by medical professionals and other essential workers. Other companies have set the standard for giving through donations of time, money and resources to charitable causes in their communities.”
The Hall of Fame is looking for the following types of materials, which can be sent to khughes@homefurnishingshalloffame.com or mailed to 202 Neal Place, Suite 101, High Point, NC 27262:
- Media, including press releases, company newsletters, and newspaper articles detailing the company and how it has responded to COVID-19. Examples may include shifting manufacturing to address pandemic-related shortages, employee safety programs, community or nationwide initiatives, charitable donations or other ventures.
- From manufacturers, examples of the company's production of PPE or other materials manufactured during the pandemic. Companies may send photographs or small items, such as a mask or fabric sample.
- Photographs or short video clips, along with brief descriptions, of the production of PPE or other materials, or of increased safety measures designed to protect employees, clients, buyers or others.
“In the future, when we look back on the response of our industry to the challenges of this unique moment, the Hall of Fame wants to ensure that we preserve a rich record,” McNeill says. “This industry has always been generous and now we need for you to tell us your story, not just to create an industry record, but for the public record, in order to preserve these very special and significant stories.”
For more information, contact Dr. Kyle Hughes, the Hall of Fame historian and curator at 336.882.5900 or by email, khughes@homefurnishingshalloffame.com