Southern Home Furnishings Association (SHFA) announced that it will meet June 13-15 at the Renaissance Charleston Hotel Historic District in Charleston, S.C. for its “Old World Traditions, New World Challenges” 2010 Conference.
“Conference is an excellent opportunity for retailers to come together and share stories and best ideas while networking with industry peers,” says SHFA President Cackie Jones of Wayside Furniture, Spring Lake, N.C.
This year’s conference opens with a “Retail Business Remodel” Workshop led by Jeff Hiller, president of PROaction Marketing Group. This interactive half-day program focuses on managing independent retail in the current environment and preparing for tomorrow’s challenges. Some of the questions that will be answered during this session are: what are the most common mistakes in closing sales; how can sales staff become entrepreneurs to drive their own pre-qualified traffic during slow times; what are the most efficient and impactful ways to reach shoppers; and how can managers increase accountability while maintaining morale. To get the most out of the workshop, participants are asked to come prepared with sales trends, traffic counts, close rates, average sale and marketing plans as available.
The conference will also feature a “Making the Most of Your Marketing” panel discussion. Jeff Child, president of R.C. Willey, Salt Lake City, Utah; Bob Sherman, president of Serta International, Hoffman Estates, Ill.; and Sarah Cooney, communications director of Circle Furniture, Acton, Mass., will serve as panelists and Brent Shealy, SHFA chairman, Economy Furniture, Leesville, S.C., will serve as moderator.
Other conference highlights include retailer-to-retailer round table discussions and dinner at Charleston’s top-rated High Cotton Maverick Bar and Grill, which was most recently featured in Southern Living and USA Today.
The conference registration fee is waived for all furniture retailers (members and non-members) and is $199 for non-retailers. Retail companies who have never attended conference before can receive one free night’s stay at the host hotel. Call (800) 888-9590 or email nfilippo@nhfa.org for details.
Southern Home Furnishings Association (SHFA) is a regional affiliate of the National Home Furnishings Association. SHFA serves furniture retailers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.
National Home Furnishings Association (NHFA) is the nation’s largest organization devoted specifically to the needs and interests of home furnishings retailers.