Two families, longâ?"time friends with some fifty years of management experience in the furniture and service industries, got together in 2010 to discuss the current state of the home furnishings retail world. We saw fewer independent local retailers and more large national and regional corporations. We also saw a small number of internet retailers controlling a large share the online home furnishing market. Fewer vendors, less product chosen for local market preferences, and very little help from informed sales people. We realized the individual needs of the folks shopping for furniture and accessories were not being met at a high level. We also saw limited attention being paid to the changing lives and lifestyles of the Americanâ?Ts families who live in homes and apartments. More about this in a minute.