Are independent, family-owned furniture stores struggling right now to stay competitive?
Absolutely. These are horrible times for a lot of them, particularly those who specialize in high-ticket, luxury product lines. Over the past decade, 70% of the U.S. furniture manufacturers closed down, so product is increasingly coming from the global market, whether that be in Canada, China, or Vietnam. A dining room set that used to sell for $12,000 now goes for $7,000 or $8,000. Even the small stores have to compete worldwide (BusinessWeek, 6/27/07) at a time when the footprints in their stores have decreased. We do things like share shipping containers and introduce our members to global business practices so they can survive, manage the changes and prosper. How would a small furniture retailer find a purchasing co-op to join? Go to your trade association and ask them for a list of them. There are four or five just in our industry alone, so there are many opportunities for putting together a winning relationship. The main thing to remember is that if you want to join a co-op you w
