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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.

woman using laptop
(Photo: Unsplash user Christin Hume)

What 2018 Taught Us About Consumers and Amazon

For the last five years, marketing firm Walker Sands Communications has been tracking retail data and producing an annual Future of Retail report to understand how the retail landscape is changing.…

WithIt Announces 2019 WOW Award Recipients

WithIt, the women’s leadership development network for the home and furnishings industry, has named the recipients of the 2019 WOW Awards. The annual WOW Awards honor the achievements of home…

MicroD Launches New Corporate Website

Web technology leader MicroD today announced the launch of a new website for retailers and manufacturers who want to learn about the ways to leverage technology to grow their business. The new…
Hi-tech contemporary kitchen with smart refrigerator
Photo: Margaret Wright Photography

3 Takeaways from Houzz's 2019 U.S. Kitchen Trends Study

Next month, manufacturers, retailers and designers will head to the Las Vegas Convention Center for the 2019 edition of the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS). The event promises the latest…
Instagram iPhone laptop
(Photo: Unsplash user Le Buzz)

5 Tools to Help You Create Better Instagram Stories

According to Instagram, 60 percent of users learn about new products on the platform, and one-third of the most viewed Instagram stories come from businesses. While posting to your page regularly is…
Glossy gray outdoor sconce from Hinkley Lighting
From Hinkley, this outdoor wall sconce can have over 120 different looks. It all depends on what the consumer wants.

2 Approaches to Lighting Customization

In the furniture world, customization capabilities have helped retailers set themselves apart from online competition, and they've been a staple of the luxury market. While there are some fantastic…
An Orange Moon
An Orange Mood caters to the Mid-Century Modern-loving crowd, but customers don’t have to come into the store to see what’s available. The store’s website stays updated with what’s on the floor and what’s been sold.

Chicago Vintage Shop Helps Revitalize Business District

Rahm Emanuel may be mayor of Chicago for a few more months, but designer and shop owner Lynne McDaniel will always reign as a goddess. Her shop, An Orange Moon, specializes in vintage Mid-Century…

3 Trend Highlights from Lightovation

On the first day of market, few people have answers to questions like, "What finishes are doing well?" or "What styles are people drawn to?" Especially at 10 a.m. But even though it's the first day…

MicroD Announces Featured Online Catalog With Company C

Home furnishings web technology leader MicroD has partnered with home furnishings brand Company C to create a featured online product catalog and brand landing page for retailers on the MicroD…
Stone wall and iron bookshelf with backlighting
This elegant stone wall is dramatically illuminated, using a wall grazer which projects a light straight down the very narrow beam spread. Photo: Randall Whitehead

It’s a Wash: Techniques for Evenly Illuminating Vertical Surfaces

Washing walls with light has become a whole lot easier. Before LEDs came along, you were pretty much stuck with track lights, using flood bulbs or recessed fixtures with reflectors and spread lenses…
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