Dovetail Alliance announced the formation of a newly formed consortium of industry consultants and service providers, specializing in the home furnishings industry. Dovetail’s member companies have joined forces to address the unique needs of home furnishings retailers, manufacturers and importers, resulting from the recent downturn. Dovetail Alliance and its member companies will be represented during this week’s High Point Market in the NHFA’s Retailer Resource Center, Spaces 7-9 and 19, first floor, Plaza Suites.
Dovetail Alliance says it offers the best available consulting services from non-competing specialists in sales, finance and operations. The alliance is set up to foster a network between providers in order to holistically address any client needs. In addition, products designed for improving operations by Dovetail’s member companies are available through the organization.
Dovetail Alliance is the brainchild of industry veteran Ed Borowsky who serves as CEO.
“Many in the home furnishings industry today are experiencing a paralyzing effect due to the lingering economic downturn, rapidly changing technologies and new consumer buying habits,” said Borowsky. “Most companies aren’t staying ahead of the curve and don’t know what to do next. How do you reach the consumer? How do you operate profitability? How do you know what to focus on first?”
“What if there was one qualified resource to help the industry answer those questions? The Dovetail Alliance will harness the combined strengths of its member companies to help our clients take action. The real power comes from the collaborative process we can offer,” he added.
Martin Roberts, principal and founding partner of award-winning design firm GRID2, has been named president of Dovetail Alliance, a strategic advisory role. Both officers will maintain positions in their respective businesses.
“Our tagline, ‘Solutions for the Home Furnishings Industry,’ conveys the comprehensive approach Dovetail Alliance takes to ensure success for furniture businesses in need of help,” said Roberts. “There is no other collective out there like it. And like the woodworker’s dovetail, it conveys attention to detail, interconnectedness and enduring strength.”
“Dovetail Alliance brings together some of the brightest stars on the leading edge of the service and consulting areas,” Roberts added. “These like-minded member companies have been handpicked to drive real-world results and profitability for our industry clients.”
The problem-solution equation may be best illustrated by one of Dovetail’s own network providers. Bidcow.com, launched earlier this year, solves overstocks dilemmas by connecting buyers and sellers in an online format. It’s a win-win for both sellers, who need to liquidate inventories, and for buyers scouting reduced price products.
Dovetail’s first networking summit for member companies was held last month at the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass. Over twenty leading service providers to the home furnishings industry presented content from their areas of expertise to the group. The Dovetail intra-member referral system, designed to ensure successful collaboration, is dependent upon on shared information and the collective’s combined strengths. Future annual meetings are planned for members.
The following companies have retained membership in Dovetail Alliance and several additional companies are expected to join before the end of October.
Triad Turnaround Group is the only turnaround management consultancy that specializes in the Home Furnishings Industry. Triad's Associates are industry veterans who assist business with their sales and operations. 888-884-5244 • www.triadturnaround.com
SPCI is a management consulting and marketing firm providing viable alternatives to the standard business plan. For over 30 years, SPCI has managed thousands of successful retail sales promotions throughout the US and Canada. 800.275.0848 • www.spci-co.com
Julius M. Feinblum Real Estate operates as the only full service real estate company specializing exclusively in the Home Furnishings Industry, including appraisals, site selections and acquisitions, as well as lease mitigation and disposition services. 800-791-8936 • www.furniturerealestate.com
Monarch Advertising, an Emmy-Award full service agency with furniture experience offers effective advertising plans, branding, media placement and creative campaigns to drive business in a changing media environment. 978-758-5890 • www.monarchadvertising.net
Michigan Retailers Association, through the Retailers Processing Network, offers accurate, affordable credit card processing services and provides all of its retail clients with the infrastructure, equipment and exceptional support services to facilitate flawless, timely transactions. 866-791-6099 • www.retailersprocessingnetwork.com
Bidcow.com is the preeminent online auction for retailers and manufacturers to both sell and purchase first brand closeout inventories and wholesale lots. Opportunistic lots are posted on www.bidcow.com and go to the highest bidder at prices significantly below market. 630-219-3793 • www.bidcow.com
Dovetail Training Company offers video teleconferencing and face-to-face trainer interaction with management, office personnel, customer service specialists and sales staff. 585-729-3317
Dowd North America Insurance provides home furnishings businesses with a full portfolio of A-rated insurance solutions and employee benefits packages at low rates since 1898. 800-542-0131 • www.dowd.com
Furniture Transport Group supplies an all-in-one solution for logistics, transportation and distribution, delivering 25,000 pieces of furniture daily. 800-438-8244 • www.furnituretransportgroup.com
Strategic Decisions performs and uses consumer and B2B research to help leading furniture vendors and retailers create and implement effective business and marketing strategies. 229-226-9548 • sdiresearch.com
Grid2 is an award-winning team of retail consultants, architects, interior designers, and graphic designers whose unique expertise in both the science and the art of retailing has placed them at the forefront of the retail design industry. 212-432-4809 • www.grid2.com
Right Tune Only offers off the shelf and custom audio logos to enhance company’s branding. RTO’s musical commercials enhance promotions - from TV, radio, websites, on-hold phone and in-store radio, to ring tones, door tones and E mail promotions. 413-754-4334 • www.righttuneonly.com
Media Power is a national media buying service which includes planning, budgeting, and extensive research applied to secure the best media pricing and placement available in North America. Computer auditing of flight schedules assures station accountability. 704-567-1000 • www.mediapoweradvertising.com
American Sales Industries is the premiere supplier of sales incentives and premiums, including shopping, vacation and redemption certificates. 561-844-4767 • www.asiincentives.com
13th Floor Graphics offers turnkey printing services for the furniture industry including drop tags, overlay tags, signage and more, using easy- to-access online customizable templates. Specializing in the Home Furnishings Industry, products can be produced quickly and affordably. 972.446.5936 • www.thirteenthfloorstudio.com
Dovetail Alliance members benefit from shared advertising expenses and exposure in leading furniture trade publications, co-branding through the Dovetail alliance website, tradeshow exposure, and other public relations and cross-marketing vehicles, along with a variety of shared member discounts. To learn more, visit www.dovetailalliance.com