pfp news


Saturday, June 30th, 2012

PFP Handles Successful Event at Drogen’s Home Furnishings

Author: Planned Furniture Promotions

From WKTV, Channel 2, Utica, NY

After more than 60 years, Drogen’s Home Furnishings in Oneonta closing

By Lexie O’Connor

Drogen's Closing after 60 Years

ONEONTA, N.Y. (WKTV) – Drogen’s Home Furnishings on Route 23 in Oneonta will close in July, after more than 60 years of furnishing homes across Central New York.

The close comes with the retirement of second generation owner Arnie Drogen, choosing to retire from the furniture business and focus his attention on the family electrical supply company.

“We saw a tremendous opportunity and very substantial growth in the electric supply industry and then the opportunity came and a local merchant said he was very interested, so we said this is a great opportunity,” said Drogen.

Drogen started working in what was then his parents store when he was just a young boy. Although the business has changed with competition from larger retail stores and online shopping, he feels there’s still a place for local retail.

“For me, it’s very clear there is definitely a place in this world for locally-owned, independent business who offer, service, competitive pricing and the personal touch,” says Drogen. “And what I have observed over the years, even though there’s been lots of competition to those kinds of sorts, I think the local businesses will endure a long time.”

Once closed, the property will remain a local furniture store, turning into Scholet Furniture.

Drogen anticipates the store to close sometime in July. He said it’s just a matter of when all the furniture is sold.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in General | Leave Comment

Saturday, November 19th, 2011

Former PFP clients… Rosa’s Bounce Back After Bankruptcy (excerpt from “The Buffalo News”)

Author: Planned Furniture Promotions

The three sons of the founder of the defunct Rosa’s Home Stores chain have opened stores selling furniture and bedding in two former Rosa’s locations in the Town of Tonawanda and Cheektowaga.
The sons, with the support of their father, opened Home Furniture Gallery outlets late last month on Sheridan Drive and this month on Union Road. The sons all held positions with Rosa’s Home Stores, which left more than 1,000 creditors when it filed for bankruptcy last December, but the Rosas say Home Furniture Gallery is an entirely separate enterprise. “It’s a brand-new business — it’s brand new,” said Paul F. Rosa, the founder of Rosa’s Home Stores who serves as chairman of Home Furniture Gallery.
The new stores promote a 30-day, money-back guarantee and offer customers the transparent choice of different levels of quality at a range of prices.
One main distinction between the old and new stores is Home Furniture Gallery isn’t selling electronics or appliances.
“There’s unprecedented pressure on profit margins for both appliances as well as consumer electronics,” said Burt P. Flickinger III, a Buffalo native and managing director of Strategic Resource Group, the retail consulting firm. Sons Paul M., David and Anthony Rosa say they are confident they can take on the local and national chains in what is a highly competitive furniture and bedding market.
They have opted not to use the Rosa’s name on the company, or in its advertising, but analysts believe their experience and reputation only can help them.
“They have a proven track record as a retailer,” said Michael C. Clark, CB Richard Ellis’ director of retail tenant services. The Home Furniture Gallery stores opened in former Rosa’s locations at 2880 Sheridan Drive, at Eggert Road, and at 3770 Union Road, near the Walden Galleria. David Rosa said the brothers oversaw modest renovations to the two stores, including knocking down some walls, putting on a fresh coat of paint and cleaning the carpets. The brothers all are vice presidents, with David serving as chief financial officer, Paul M. responsible for operations and Anthony overseeing sales.
Once they fill a few remaining open positions, the company will employ 50 workers, including a number who worked for Rosa’s Home Stores.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in General | Leave Comment

Thursday, May 20th, 2010

PFP in the News!

Author: Planned Furniture Promotions

PLANNED FURNITURE PROMOTIONS LAUNCHES NEW WEBSITE

Site Features Interactive Dealer Function

Planned Furniture Promotions, Inc., a high-impact event company, has launched a top to bottom redesigned business to business website that will be immensely useful and informative for furniture retailers.   The website, www.pfpromotions.com, is interactive, easy to navigate, provides tools to help retailers analyze their business, and answers almost every question that retailers might have about high impact sales.

One of the most useful tools on the site is the state of the art audio players.  A user can simply click on an icon to listen to recordings of former clients of Planned Furniture Promotions offering details about their experience during and after their high-impact event.   Roy Hester, Sr. VP for Planned Furniture Promotions said “We caught most of these folks completely off guard.  We called and asked them to tell their story, in their own words, unrehearsed and from the heart.”   There are currently 11 recordings, but Planned Furniture Promotions plans to add several more in the near future.

“A retailer can use the interactive Business Health Check to determine if they need Planned Furniture Promotions’ services” said Burt Homonoff, Sr. VP for the company.   “There are a series of simple questions with check box answers.  The questions allow a retailer to self diagnose his or her operation and it’s all anonymous” added Homonoff.

In addition to the above features, the company has also added scanned copies of the original letters of recommendation from prior clients.  “We have literally hundreds of letters and testimonials that we could have posted” said Tom Liddell, VP, Sales & Marketing.  “We chose a few that show a cross section of the many retailers that we’ve served” added Liddell.   Planned Furniture Promotions felt that it was important to offer examples from the large national and regional chains as well as the medium and smaller independents that it has conducted events for.

The site relays the story of how Gene Rosenberg and Paul Cohen partnered together and founded the company in 1962, both of whom are still active in Planned Furniture Promotions today.  Biographies of each of the event consultants are offered as well as a handy Question and Answer section.  The company will be adding a complete video section in the near future.

Planned Furniture Promotions is also developing a separate secure portal that will generate detailed information to its clients.  These live event tracking reports will be e-mailed or faxed to clients automatically to better allow them to monitor all aspects of the sale promotion events being conducted by Planned Furniture Promotions on their behalf.  There will be tools added for Planned Furniture Promotions’ managers and office staff as well to ensure and continue the superb service that the company provides its clients.  The site was developed by David Lively’s company, The Lively Merchant, a division of Imagine Retailer. To view the entire site, please visit www.pfpromotions.com . 

Tags: , , ,
Posted in | Leave Comment