As Baby Boomers continue to down-size into smaller homes, furniture companies need to focus on Millennials – the population born between 1980 and 2000. Millennials account for over 79 million people and pump over $170 billion into the economy every year. This group is now transitioning; they’re...

2019 was probably a pretty good year. 2020 started off great and then, POW… the pandemic. Even though businesses were forced to shut their doors and millions of people sheltered at home, commerce continued. Customers simply spent their money differently. Consumers who were unable to go to a brick...

My career in marketing started in the mid-80s at the in-house advertising department of Virginia’s largest furniture retailer. While working there, I was introduced to a couple of sayings that have stuck with me throughout my career – and quite frankly, I still shake my head in disbelief when I think...

The COVID-Effect. It’s an all-encompassing term I use for the problems and disruptions caused by the virus. One of those effects is the shift from working in an office to working at home. This is a trend that seems to have gained popularity amongst employees and employers. Here at SPI, our team has...

The term nesting has traditionally been associated with pregnancy. It’s when a woman has the energy and overwhelming desire to clean and organize the home in preparation for the arrival of a new baby. In recent history, the term nesting has evolved to include more than the anticipation of a newborn. The...

What’s the “e?” It’s e-commerce. Over the years, many of the furniture retailers I have worked with resisted the idea of selling home furnishings online. The list of excuses was varied and plentiful. Of the five major furniture retailers in my market, one offers a limited selection of furniture that...