Terri’s Named As Founding Retailer of Help 1 Up Program

Furniture World Magazine

Terri's Consign & Design Furnishings has been named as the southwest regional Founding Retailer for the “Help 1 Up” program, the industry’s unified charitable effort to support furniture banks. The Help 1 Up program encourages consumers to shop at participating retailers and add 1% to their next furniture purchase. Proceeds from Help 1 Up will directly benefit furniture banks all across the country, increase private monetary and in-kind donations to local furniture banks, and seed new furniture banks in underserved areas. The Help 1 Up program is administered by the National Furniture Bank Association (NFBA). A “furniture bank” is a non-profit organization which collects unwanted basic home furnishing necessities and provides them to people in need. Typical clients of furniture banks are women and children escaping domestic violence, families below the poverty line, victims of natural disasters, and others requiring emergency assistance. Terri Bowersock, founder and owner of Terri's Consign & Design Furnishings, said it was an easy decision to participate in the Help 1 Up program. “All of us at Terri’s Consign & Design think this is a great way to make a positive difference in our community,” said Bowersock. “Our customers are part of our extended family, and we know they’ll be glad we’re a part of the Help 1 Up program.” The NFBA plans a broadcast and print media consumer awareness campaign for production by the end of 2004. Each year tens of thousands of people receive donated beds, kitchen tables, dressers, dishes, and utensils from furniture banks. According to a July 2004 survey of furniture bank operators, children represent the largest percentage of their service base. The tagline for Help 1 Up is “No child in America should have to sleep on the floor.” Tom Polk, chairman of the NFBA, said socially conscious retailers like Terri’s are part of the rapidly growing trend in the furniture industry. “A leading magazine recently ran an editorial about how consumers view retailers as focused only on making money,” said Polk. “The editor wrote about the generosity of many retailers, but that consumers never see that side of them. The Help 1 Up program provides retailers a very public opportunity to dispel that misconception. Not to mention help thousands of kids at the same time.”    About Terri's Consign & Design Furnishings Terri's Consign & Design Furnishings has five stores in the Phoenix metropolitan area and a multi-location network of consignment superstores across the country. Terri's provides the highest consigned and new furnishings to today's value conscious consumer. The Terri's Consign & Design Furnishings team is committed to maintaining an exciting retail and consignment experience that results in the Terri's advantage: Consistently unique pieces discovered in a dynamic treasure hunting environment. Terri's strives to ensure excellent customer service, enhancing our reputation of trust and professionalism in the marketplace. About the National Furniture Bank Association (NFBA) The NFBA is the non-profit affiliation of furniture banks. The organization’s mission is to create comfortable home environments by providing furnishings to those in need. Contact the NFBA to learn more about the Help 1 Up program or to find out how retailers can participate. Contact Information National Furniture Bank Association Don Lawrence Vice President, Communications (800) 576-0774 dlawrence@Help1Up.org http://www.Help1Up.org Terri's Consign & Design Furnishings Melanie Moffett Vice President Sales & Marketing (480) 969-1121 x 1904 mmoffett@eterris.com http://www.eterris.com