AFMA annual meeting set Nov. 13–16
By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, November 3, 2003
High Point — Changing consumer behavior and emerging channels of distribution will be the hot topics at the American Furniture Manufacturers Assn. annual meeting Nov. 13–16 at the Ritz-Carlton in Sarasota, Fla.
Michael Cohen, a developmental psychologist and clinician, will be the keynote speaker. He does studies in such business areas as corporate image, product positioning, media development and public policy, and has worked for AFMA, conducting in-home interviews with consumers in Atlanta and Chicago, as well as two focus group discussions in Chicago.
"You are not in a commodity business," Cohen said at a June AFMA marketing meeting. "You are in a business that has enormous psychological impact on consumers."
David Arnold, vice president and publisher of House Beautiful, will present new consumer research. His company surveyed nearly 3 million affluent, educated, professional consumers who are readers of the magazine.
Farooq Kathwari, chairman of AFMA's board and chief executive officer of Ethan Allen, will update AFMA members on a proposed consumer advertising campaign.
Also on tap is a panel of successful retailers discussing changing patterns in home furnishings distribution. Industry analyst Jerry Epperson, managing director of Mann, Armistead and Epperson, Richmond, Va., will moderate. Panel participants will include:
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Jim Copitski, whose Seattle-area Bassett Furniture Direct stores have made him the company's top licensee in sales and operations.
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Mike Nicotera, vice president and division merchandise manager, and Gary Huber, vice president, of Columbus, Ohio-based Big Lots, whose nearly 1,400 stores include more than 45 freestanding Big Lots Furniture stores.
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Jim Zarchin, executive vice president of Shop At Home, a nationally televised home shopping service based in Nashville, Tenn.
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Bill Tidmore and Robert Henry, partners in the Sarasota, Fla.-based interior design firm Tidmore-Henry & Associates.
Clive Lubner and Fred Berk will close the meeting by discussing their successes at upscale Florida retailer Robb & Stucky.
Other activities will include a golf tournament and the annual AFMA awards banquet, where the 2003 AFMA Distinguished Service Award will be presented.
For more information or to register for the meeting, call (336) 884-5000 ext. 116 or go online at www.afma4u.org.
