Being a Star

Becky Boswell Smith -- Home Accents Today, 5/1/2005

When Retail Editor Lisa Casinger, our research department and I started noodling the idea of Home Accents Stars, it seemed like a pretty good idea.

Now, that we have done it, it seems like an excellent idea. And, I suspect, next year's list will be even longer and stronger.

The idea is that we are creating a list of notable specialty retailers, not the big boxes, which certainly have made a difference in how home accents are sold, and not the Top 100 furniture stores, which also are a strong channel. We didn't look at chains and we didn't look at retailers who don't have a bricks and mortar outlet.

In short, the list is composed of independent specialty retailers who are creative in their merchandising and marketing, who are making a good living for themselves, who are participating in their communities and, most important, who are distinguishing themselves from the competition.

I hope you'll like the list and use some of the stores as a resource. If you don't want to do that directly, ask Lisa and she'll help you.

But, how about your own store? Aren't you working on making it a Star? Tell us about it — Lisa's already building a list of potential Stars for 2006. Don't be left out.

Hey, do me a favor. How often do you hear that phrase? I'm collecting comments from everyone in the industry who will take time to answer a big question: What are the challenges we face as an industry in the next few years?

Please send me your thoughts: retailer, manufacturer, sales rep, designer, everybody. It's for our special anniversary issue later this year.