RETAILOBSERVER.COM AUGUST 2020
50
T
here's no question that the nation's furniture and mattress
dealers have felt the effects of the health crisis more than
most independent merchants.
Between shuttered showrooms, a choked-off supply chain, and
the reluctance of some shoppers to purchase home furnishings
online, it's not surprising that this retail sector took it on the chin
last spring.
But according to a survey of BrandSource buying group
members conducted by parent organization AVB Inc. in May,
furniture dealers fought back with extended finance promotions,
same- or next-day home delivery, and for those with open
storefronts, hours by appointment only.
The challenge was nonetheless daunting. Nearly half of the
respondents (45%) said sales during the trailing two months were
down more than 20% compared to last year, while another 18%
reported a decrease of 20% or less.
Alan Wolf Furniture Trends
AVB SURVEY:
BRANDSOURCE FURNITURE
DEALERS COUNTER COVID
Furniture dealers fight back with home delivery, finance promotions
