3 furnishing groups vote to merge
Members of 3 furnishing associations last week voted to approve a merger.
The new group, North American Home Furnishings Association, will be formed from the National Home Furnishings Association, Western Home Furnishings Association, and Home Furnishings Independents Association NAHFA will serve more than 2,000 corporate entities representing more than 10,000 stores.
WHFA executive director Sharron Bradley will head the new organization. NAHFA will maintain three offices in the East, West and Central U.S.
The effective merger date for NAHFA will be May 1. The new organization will launch at the Home Furnishings Industry Conference, June 2–4 in New Orleans. There will be special education and networking functions on the merger, including a town hall session featuring members of the new board.
According to www.AssociationExecs.com, a sister service of Association TRENDS, NHFA has 2,800 member companies, a staff of eight and is headed by EVP Steve DeHaan. HFIA has 1,200 member companies and individuals, and a staff of five, headed by president Mary Frye. WHFA had 2,400 member stores, and 1,000 home furnishing retailers and a staff of 10. Details: www.whfa.org.
In other merger news, American Recovery Association, Irving, Texas, and National Finance Adjusters, Baltimore, announced they will merge. The new trade association will be named the American Recovery Association. NFA, the association, had 210 members and a staff of two. The former ARA had 275 members and a staff of three.
As part of the agreement, American Recovery Management Solutions joined with Relliance to form a facilitation cooperative named National Finance Adjusters. This new co-op headquarters will be in Scottsdale, Ariz. Details: www.repo.org.
