Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find home furniture wholesalers to stock merchandise that appeals to both loyal and new customers

Stock the most attractive, marketable furniture for your shop by working with wholesalers that cater to your specialty and demographic. When you work with a company that specializes in a single style of home furniture like antiques or kids' furniture, they'll be more knowledgeable about the merchandise and can assist you with strategies to sell it.

I recommend: Home furniture supplier Steve Silver Company is a wholesaler of dining sets and occasional furniture. Complete the form to request a catalog and pricing information. Sunrise Wholesale Merchandise provides a selection of bedroom, kids and living room furniture with an antique and shabby chic flair.

Get details on best sellers, marketing and upcoming home furniture releases through industry groups

Discover ways to make the most of your inventory, displays and retail floor space through retailers, home furniture manufacturers and suppliers of home furniture that you meet through industry associations. Consider adopting their discount home furniture marketing ideas, sales tactics and purchasing strategies to boost your business.

I recommend: Discuss sales, marketing and advertising with other retailers through the educational conferences and meetings of the Casual Furniture Retailers group. Join the Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturer’s Association and use the group’s resources, as well as interaction with other members, to receive education and related services to make your business a success.

Sell more by creating imaginative home furniture displays with the help of an interior designer

If you have appealing home furniture for sale, but your sales are below expectations, consider hiring an interior designer to help you create showrooms or photo shoots to grab your customers' attention. Study portfolios to find a designer with a style to suit your merchandise and clientele and let them help you make the most of your home furniture displays to potentially increase profits.

I recommend: Contact the International Interior Design Association to view resumes or contact qualified designers near you. The group also has sections for students and educators you can hire for small projects for your home furniture stores. Visit an industry trade show like the Home Decor & Fine Furnishings Show, managed by Jenks Productions. Meet designers hoping to make industry contacts or even ask exhibitors with eye-catching displays if their designer is available for retail work.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you're unsure of a new furniture display, flyer or merchandising idea, turn to the discussion groups of industry associations or website message boards of online home furniture stores for opinions. This way, you can receive free feedback from customers and other retailers before putting your plan into action.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find home furniture that meets your style and budget

Use online resources to begin your furniture shopping.

I recommend: Highpointfurniture.com lists details and discounts from dozens of furniture outlets in North Carolina, the furniture capital of the world. The American Home Furnishings Alliance features an online database of furniture manufacturers. You can search by room, style and price.

Check out items from furniture manufacturers

Most large manufacturers create a wide variety of styles, from classic to country to contemporary, so it's easy to find what you need.

I recommend: For exotic finishes and European style, look in high-end furniture stores for items made by Century Furniture LLC. More affordable traditional styles are available at local furniture stores from companies like Broyhill Furniture or from Ethan Allen Global Inc. stores. IKEA, a Swedish manufacturer known for modern, inexpensive furniture has a limited number of stores in the United States. Ashley Furniture Industries Inc. is a popular manufacturer that offers affordable, traditional furniture.

Find home furniture for sale at outlets and discount stores

If you crave fine furniture but your budget is limited, consider buying discount home furniture from an outlet.

I recommend: The Dump offers overstocks, models, sell outs and prototypes at deeply discounted prices. One Way Furniture Inc., an online store, allows you to buy directly from the manufacturer.

Shop from online home furniture stores

Buying online from reputable websites makes furniture shopping easy when you don't have a lot of time to shop. Stick with manufacturers and brands you are familiar with, and make sure there's a good return policy in case you don't like the item after you receive it.

I recommend: Pottery Barn, a division of Williams-Sonoma, features a large online selection. For high-end, modern furniture, check out The Conran Shop. Inexpensive furniture can be purchased online from the Home Decorators Collection.

Explore handcrafted furniture for the home

Handcrafted or custom furniture is a great investment that adds a distinctive style to your home.

I recommend: The Farmers Inn offers wood furniture pieces that are handcrafted by Amish artisans. For more contemporary styles, browse Wood Artists Gallery, or consider metal furniture that is beautiful and functional, like the designs from artist Frank Seckler at Zog Design.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Before you go shopping for home furniture, measure your rooms and draw out the layout on a piece of paper. Bring along a tape measure to measure the pieces or write down the dimensions if you're shopping online. Draw the items into your layout and try to picture what they will look like in your rooms before purchasing.

Action Steps
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Keep up with home furniture industry news through magazines, websites and blogs

Studying a variety of sources for industry and company news will help you make informed decisions when it comes to choosing reputable dealers and manufacturers. You'll also be able to track trends in furniture for the home-such as living room furniture colors and styles-to keep your inventory appealing to your customer base.

I recommend: Home Furnishings Monitor features articles on current and future home furniture material, color, style and pricing trends. Get frequently updated news online through Furniture Today. This website discusses topics like home furniture suppliers, business and community news, retail ideas, global sourcing and research and analysis.

See new trends for home furniture stores first-hand at industry trade shows and conventions

In addition to getting sample room ideas from the exhibits along the show floor, you'll also be able to see seasonal product releases and find new sources of wholesale home furniture at industry trade shows. Take the opportunity to swap customer comments, company rumors and more with other retailers, designers and buyers of furniture for the home.

I recommend: The International Casual Furniture and Accessories Market produced by Merchandise Mart Properties allows you to discover trends in product design, discuss industry news with other retail store owners and executives. You can also see home furniture for sale in displays that will inspire your own merchandising efforts. Karel Exposition Management organizes the Furniture & Accessory Market where you can meet manufacturers and distributors for of home furniture, bedding and accessories.

Join a group with other home furniture providers and retailers to learn more about the industry

Take advantage of the educational opportunities and newsletters offered by furniture industry organizations. Participate in local events and online forums to meet home furniture supplier representatives and even uncover new sources of discount home furniture from other members.

I recommend: Dedicated to the interests of home furniture retailers, the National Home Furnishings Association allows you to network with home furniture providers and retailers representing more than 10,000 stores. Keep up with industry developments by attending events and online discussions with the members of the International Furnishings and Design Association (IFDA). Based in Pennsylvania, this group strives to enhance the overall furnishings industry worldwide.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Sign up for workshops, keynote addresses and manufacturer classes when attending industry trade shows. Not only will you benefit from the educational opportunities, but you'll also be able to discuss industry trends and rumors with other retailers and suppliers of home furniture that you meet during the events.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Pennsylvania Dutch

Pennsylvania Dutch is a style of furniture that is purely American in origin. It is characterized by simple, practical designs and straight lines. This unique country style of furniture often bears a colorful floral motif.

I recommend: Visit the Connected Lines website to learn more about Pennsylvania Dutch furniture.

Case goods

Many people are not familiar with the term 'case goods.' Case good are defined as any furniture product that is made of wood and not upholstered. The term refers to manufacturers' typical shipping container for large items, known as a case crate.

I recommend: Retailers can purchase several beautiful lines of case goods directly from Heckman. To learn more about shopping wisely for case goods, visit the Bernhardt Furniture Company website.

Ebony

Ebony is a rare hardwood often used to make inlays in formal pieces of furniture. It is a strong, very dark brown wood with a distinct grain pattern. It is often stained black to make the grain stand out.

I recommend: To see a close-up photograph of a table with an ebony inlay, go to the Guild of Vermont Furniture Makers website.

Jointery

One way to help determine furniture quality is to look closely at its jointery--sides should be joined with either dovetail or mortise and tenon construction. In a dovetail, pieces fit together like meshing gears. In mortise and tendon, one piece fits into a pocket on the other piece.

I recommend: Visit the J. Alexander website for information about mortise and tenon joints. To learn about dovetail joints, visit Hooker Furniture.

Upholstery

It is easy to be nearly overwhelmed by the myriad varieties of upholstery fabrics. You can make the right upholstery choice by considering two things: how heavily the furniture will be used, and whether the color and texture of the fabric are appropriate for the piece. For example, furniture that will be heavily used calls for durable, stain-resistant upholstery in a color that won't easily show dirt.

I recommend: Learn about both natural and synthetic upholstery fabrics at the Caroline Center Upholstery website.

Furniture hardware

Furniture hardware options can make a positive contribution to the style of a piece. Think about the drawer pulls, cabinet knobs, backplates and key pulls that adorn furniture. Make selections with the 'big picture' in mind--the hardware and upholstery of your other room furnishings and the overall decor of the room.

I recommend: Most manufacturers offer customers a selection of hardware. You and your customers can browse furniture hardware at CoolKnobsandPulls.com and the Mobel website.