The Casegood Gal

High Point Market is right

around the corner!

January 26th-30th, 2017

We are now making

appointments! Please contact

Karen in my office to schedule

your time to visit our showroom! Black Friday Report

For some, Black Friday led to new sales

records, as retailers reported solid sales gains through the

holiday weekend, with strength across

categories. Special financing offers helped in some cases as did a booming business in bedding door busters

and non-furniture items, included

televisions. How was your Black Friday! We would love to hear!

Please note: The New Price lists take effect on January 1st

, 2018. If you

have not received notification please contact us immediately. Thank you!

Did you know that Lacey Johnson is your Customer Service Representative at the

factory? For faster service, please email her at Ljohnson@ashleyfurniture.com. The

customer service phone number for your records is 800-477-2222.

Is the furniture industry ready for take-off in 2018? Furniture Today, Bill McLoughlin

There are factors that could positively impact sales activity, mostly

in sections of the country impacted by various natural disasters,

which are serving to bring consumers back into the market.

However, for the remainder of the country, questions still remain

about what it will take to get consumers to part with their

discretionary dollars.

And the answer for 2018 is likely to be essentially the same as in

2017 — hard work, an ever-increasing share of voice and a

relentless commitment to delivering functionally and aesthetically

unique product. Couple this with an in-store experience worthy of

turning off the computer, getting in the car and driving to the store,

and you’re starting to understand all that goes in to being successful

in today’s more competitive retail environment.

There is no question that 2018 has all the elements to be a great

year for the furniture industry. And it will be, for those who make it.

Have you been hearing the buzz about the Millennials?

A 2015 Furniture Today survey shows that 6 out of 10 Millennials plan to move within 3 years, compared with about 4 out of 10 Generation X

members and baby boomers.

Millennials desire a bigger

home!! Don’t settle for selling

them one room, move on to

another!

“Millennials were 31% of the home buyers in 2014, which is great for furniture. In 2015 the top 3 categories they purchased were master bedroom, formal dining room, and youth bedroom furniture.”

The Millennials assume technology. They shop online, they do research before coming

to your store. What's your website like? Do you have active skus? Do you showcase every category? We cannot stress enough how important of the web. If you need assistance with building a website, we can point you in the right direction.

If you’re not active online, you’re offline.

MAIN TOPIC

We have been mentioning the importance of advertising on Facebook in our last several newsletters. Have you set up your store page yet? If not, Please make it a New Year Resolution to do so! Take a look at these statistics about Facebook Advertising!

There are over

4 Million

active Facebook

Advertisers

75% of brands promote their

Facebook

posts!

80% of US social network users prefer to CONNECT to brands through Facebook! Join the Revolution!

More Great Facebook ad

ideas!

Rest your head in total comfort on the Sierra Sleep memory foam pillow! It features a Bamboo-infused cover which reduces potential allergens! Great Price, Great Comfort! Order yours TODAY!

https://www.facebook.com/SierraSleepMattresses/

Visit the Sierra Sleep Facebook Page!

Here are few examples of successful ads you could boost on your FACEBOOK page! Ashley has tons of advertising ideas! Please call us for details!

Ashley’s Angels HOW IT ALL BEGAN

Ashley’s Angels began in 1997

when truck driver Larry Ferguson

heard of a mother and a child living

in a car with no hopes for

Christmas. A few drivers joined

together to provide Christmas for

“Ashley” and her mother. A great

impact was made on these drivers

and they continued helping other

families during Christmas time.

The organization has generated

over 2 MILLION in donations and

has benefited over 15,000 children

in Mississippi, Wisconsin, and

Pennsylvania.

The community of Ashley is an

all volunteer non- profit organization

that provides, food, clothing,

blankets and fills special gift

requests for children in need.

This years Ashley’s Angels will help

855 children and 302 families in 3

states. Total funds railsed this year

across the country are $222,169

Ashley's foundation and employee

contributions account for $159,400

of this total. Please copy and paste

this link into your browser for this

years story!

http://www.wfmz.com/news/berks/a

shleys-angels-making-christmas-

miracles-in-berks-

county/673767705 To donate or volunteer visit: http://www.ashleyangels.org/donate-volunteer.html

Ashley Furniture hosted a free public ceremony with Wreaths Across America on December 16th to honor veterans for their service to our country this holiday season. The event occurred at Soldiers Walk in Arcadia’s Memorial Park, one of the premier war memorials in the USA outside of Washington, D.C .

Do you merchandise your stores so customers will shop? You can have the best product on the planet, but if your merchandising strategy isn’t

optimized to bring value to your customer, you are missing the opportunity to drive sales!

Here are some tips to good merchandising!

Understand What Your Customer Wants.

Your retail space is your most effective salesperson and both your space and your employees need to understand and connect to your target customer. Put your customer at the center of each decision you make, keeping in mind who your target customer is.

The “Take Me Home” Strategy Profitable retailers understand they need to provide more than just a good selection of furniture at a good price. You can do this by adding value to your customers purchases. Bundle things together, price your bedrooms with the Top of Bed and lamps. Your customer may be shopping just for a bed, but if they see that bed dressed with the perfect bed linens, and the perfect throw, they will want it all. Teach your sales team to lead your customers to and through a sale!

The First Impression Take a look at your front vignette in your store. You never get a second chance to make a first impression. Place the most important pieces of your display at eye level, use creative lighting to create depth, texture and mood. Make sure the price tags are clean and visible. If your customers are walking in your store, and never making it really INSIDE, you may have the wrong group at your front door. Show a value. Be conscious of what your customers are seeing when they first enter your store!

Are you Carrying what your Customers Want? According to Retail Touch Points report, retailers have increased revenue by more than 10% by pleasing their customers on the individual level and delivery what their customers want. To do this you must act on customer feedback, respond to changing marketing conditions, and be aware of what the customers are asking for, and you don’t display! Be aware of your best sellers, be aware of the items on your floor that are NOT selling. Replace them with PROVEN WINNERS. Ask Gay for a list of bestselling Ashley items!

If you are need of anything, please feel free to contact us!

WE are a TEAM!

Your Ashley Casegoods Team!

Gay Hynds 1-512-422-7083

Ghynds@sales.ashleyfurniture.com

Administrative Assistant Karen Prendergast

CentralTXCG@ashleyfurniture.com

Office 321-752-6941 Toll Free: 800-429-9464

Fax: 321-989-0333

http://casegoodsgal.com