Strategy For The Furniture Retailer
Talking Points
By Powell Slaughter
About Powell
Powell Slaughter has been covering the furniture industry for 15 years. While his longtime emphasis had been case goods product coverage, he also spent a fair amount of time examining retail technology and operations, which inspired him to come to work with Home Furnishings Business magazine.The Z Files
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Dinner Conversation Far from Home
I'm not dumb enough to claim that a table full of my countrymen/women won't hold a huge range of opinions and beliefs, but no matter our differences, most of us Americans (and those in other countries), tend to view life and the world through a shared filter. That's okay, but I find it fascinating to take a look through someone else's lens.
My last night at the Cebu X show, where earlier in the day I'd given a presentation on the state of the U.S. furniture sector at retail (unfortunately not a happy tale for my listeners), Paul and Janice Minor of Janice Minor Export Inc. invited foreign journalists, a delegation of German buyers, and several friends from the Cebu manufacturing community to their beautiful home overlooking the city for an evening of great food and lively discussion of topics ranging from furniture to Harley-Davidsons to the state of the world--somehow all that and more seemed to flow together.
Anyway, it's just a lot of fun to sit at a table with people from five countries and start working on saving the furniture industry or saving the world. Not that we got anything solved last night, but in the long run doesn't it do us all some good to have our assumptions challenged, and challenge those of others, in a spirit of comraderie and goodwill?
Sure works for me, and what a great way to wind up my stay here.
Can't believe I put a typo in my notice of correction, Graham!
Hi Myles,
It was such a lovely evening. Indeed no matter our differences in race, culture and even background, all we have to have is a unifying factor (in this case furniture) and it seems that we are all part of one great plan.
It was a pleasure having you visit with us in our little island in Cebu and visit the Cebu Intl Furniture and Furnishing Exhibition.
We look forward to having you again with us in the coming years - to wine and dine under the stars and to talk shop.
Hope the jetlag is better.
All the best to you.
Ruby
Powell, fun post and nice photo. fyi it is Paul Minor and not Pete.
Next stop: Argentina! I'll buy dinner.
Powell
I'm sure you had a great time and were a good representative for your magazine. I hope you can get past the jetlag soon.
....Karl in High Point