Perspective:
Great Sales, But Why?
Generally speaking, it was the final two quarters that made the past year for those in the hearth industry. But when the market took off at the beginning of September, it roared.
March 2014
March 2014 Articles
Perspective:
Ideology First, Sales Second
By Bill Sendelback
Decades ago, John Bergstrom put roots and berries aside to create Energy Plus, a hearth shop based on praiseworthy principles.
Meet Loretta Dolan
By Richard Wright
HPBA’s new chairman is smart, opinionated and willing to fight for what she believes; she thinks retailers in the association have been underserved and wants to rectify that situation.
Fireside Chats
By Richard Wright
Manufacturers that we interviewed this year all posted strong growth numbers of 15 to 20 percent, and perhaps a bit beyond. They did that while key indicators such as new home starts and sales, remodeling activity and consumer confidence were still far from what they were back in 2008.
Sales Tax Fairness: Leveling the Playing Field
By Tom Lassiter
The days of the “no sales tax” advantage that online vendors enjoy over brick-and-mortar retailers are numbered.
The First Cookout
By Scientific American, September 2013;
Interview By Kate Wong
Nearly two million years ago our ancestors began to barbecue. And those hot meals, Richard Wrangham argues, are what made us human.
Late & Disappointing
By James E. Houck
The EPA releases its proposed new NSPS. 354 pages, roughly 95,000 words.
Focusing on Fabric
By Tom Lassiter
If fabrics aren’t front and center in your store, and on the lips of your salespeople, then you’re leaving money on the table.
Hearth Reps: A Report Card Part 2
By Richard Wright
Being a hearth products rep differs dramatically from selling either patio or barbecue products. The product itself is far more complex, and subject to local and national codes and regulations that change somewhat regularly.
Store Design: A Master Class
By Richard Wright
To find perfection in patio store design, head for Alabama in August, visit the Summer Classics store in Pelham, then return home and use what you’ve learned.
The Last Frontier?
By Tom Lassiter
It’s time for retailers to bring the digital world into their showroom.
Food for Thought
By Richard Wright
Hearth & Home talks with barbecue folks about the past year, the coming year and trends they have noticed.
2014 January Business Climate
In early February, Hearth & Home faxed a survey to 2,135 specialty retailers of hearth, barbecue and patio products, asking them to compare January 2014 sales to January 2013. The accompanying charts and selected comments are from the 203 useable returns.
Parting Shot: Universal Appeal
All we know about this image is that it’s of Chacma (Cape) baboons warming up around a fire, and was taken by a game warden in Africa.
eNews
Letter to All Our Readers from Richard Wright
Friday, September 4, 2020
After 40 years and 480 issues, Village West Publishing/Hearth & Home is no longer. The lights have...
Business Outlook Is More Pessimistic
Saturday, August 1, 2020
Every week since the end of April, the Census Bureau has been asking the nation's small businesses about...
