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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.

Elizabeth McGann
The Lewis Design Group for Holiday House Hamptons, photo: JJ Jetel. “Showhouses value designers with an active following on Instagram and count on that to help promote the showhouse,” says Elizabeth McGann. Instagram: @thelewisdesigngroup

3 Retailers Share Social Media Success Stories

At the time of this writing, the doors of Nell Hill’s in Kansas City, MO, are temporarily closed to customers, but owner Katie Laughridge has a message for habitués of the beloved home furnishings…

Panel to Showcase the Benefits of Retailers Giving Back to Their Communities

Retailers are an integral part of their communities. Here two longstanding retailers in their towns share the community-focused events and charitable endeavors that connect them to their hometowns,…
Lisa McDennon
Lisa McDennon

Lisa McDennon Brings a Touch of Nuance to Laguna Beach

California-based designer Lisa McDennon has hit the design industry trifecta, as her resume boasts a 20-year interior design career, a boutique retail space and a collection with a major lighting…
lighting retailer social media
Urupong - stock.adobe.com

5 Social Media Tips from a Lighting Retailer

As a multiple-times winner of the Showroom of the Year Awards’ Social Media Star, the team at Montreal Lighting and Hardware knows all about maintaining a successful social media presence. With more…
Morris Furniture
Morris Furniture strives to replicate in-store signage and promotions on its website, right down to the price tags.

Balancing Bricks and Clicks in Home Furnishings Retail

There was a time when a shadow called e-commerce loomed large over brick-and-mortar home furnishings retailers. As it grew in size and power, launching a website that would capture and engage…
Home Design Business Think Tank Nancy Ganzekaufer Melissa Galt
The Home Design Business Think Tank for May is all about brand messaging.

May Think Tank Series Focuses on Brand Messaging, Communication

Whether just starting out or a veteran in your design or home furnishings business, the brand message you convey to your customers/clients changes often. Take the time we’re living through now. Are…

Universal Furniture Virtual Market Recordings Available

In light of the postponement of High Point Market, Universal Furniture hosted a Virtual Market for its retail and design customers, April 22-27. As part of the Virtual Market, on April 24, Universal…

How Small Businesses Can Protect Customer Data

For a business of any size, customer data is an especially critical asset, offering insights into consumer preferences that can guide business owners on everything from their marketing messaging to…
HOM Gabberts
The grand entrance to Gabberts in HOM’s Little Canada, MN store complex was designed by Connie Post, with an 18-foot faux fireplace flanked by see-through window grids for a striking and very upscale, glamorous look.

High-End Home Furnishings Inventory Leads to Big Profits

Despite the near weekly headlines about store closings across the country, Andy Bernstein, Founder of FurnitureDealer.net, is convinced that “we’ve passed the mid-point of the so-called retail…
Shops at 1700
Carole Marcotte has layered in old and new, adding local vendors in The Shops at 1700

Adding Layers: How Carole Marcotte Mixes the Old and New at The Shops at 1700

In the heart of Raleigh, NC, there’s an iconic Mid-Century building that was once a drive-through cleaners. That was transformed into a home furnishings and gift retailer several years ago after Form…
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