Spring Cleaning Tips and Advice

It's that time of year again! Time to break out the cleaning supplies and trash bags. That yearly spring ritual is upon us. You hate to think of the time it is going to take you. You wonder if wasting a whole Saturday or even the whole weekend is worth it. We want everything done instantly, that's the fast paced world we are living in today.

We've got some spring cleaning tips and advice from the pros that will help you get done in record time. Professional home cleaners come prepared and they're not going to waste any time. If you can afford it, hire them! If you can't hire the professionals here's how to get it done just like you did.

How To Do Spring Cleaning The Right Way

Motivation is key to getting things done and getting them done fast. Motivate yourself and the family with a special outing when the project is complete. The professionals don't take TV or email breaks and you shouldn't either. The ultimate goal for professionals is to get in and get out, for you it's get done and move on!

Listen to some music that really gets you moving. You could even load an audio book onto your iPod and listen to that while you clean. That's multitasking at its best!

Don't forget that dirt and dust follow the laws of gravity. It falls just like everything else. So, start at the top and work your way down.

Spring Cleaning Safety Tips

Make sure you dress for the job. You want to be comfortable but functional. The clothes you wear should be loose but not so loose as to catch on corners, doorknobs, or anything that could spill.

If you're going to be on your knees a lot, look at investing in some knee pads. The professionals use them, and for good reason. You'll loose steam and motivation quickly if you start feeling uncomfortable.

Don't forget the gloves! These can keep the germs and chemicals off your skin. The regular yellow cleaning gloves you see at any grocery store will work fine.

Have a Plan!

Probably the most important thing you're going to want to do, before you even break out the mop, is have a plan! This alone can cut a major amount of time off your spring cleaning project. Instead of guessing what to do next, you'll have your plan of action right in front of you.

Top of the list: pick up the clutter.

You don't want to slide your junk from side to side or just clean under and around it. Doing this first will make your whole job easier.

2006 High Point Furniture Show Scheduled Events

If you're not familiar with the High
Point International Home Furnishings Market, it's the largest trade
show in the US for furniture. The first furniture market was held in
1909 in High Point, North Carolina and was called the Southern
Furniture Market.

Today, the trade show is attended by people from all over the globe. It's held twice a year and you can learn about anything from home fashion and design to how to
effectively build your retail furniture business. You also get to see the new furniture trends and styles before they hit the market.

The dates for the upcoming Furniture Market will be April 27 to May 3. Here's a quick rundown of what you can expect at the approaching furniture show.

Day 1 – April 27:

• Learn what industry experts are
  doing to close their sales.
  
• 40% of your customers are checking
  out your website before and after a purchase. Are you sending the right message?
  
• How to tell fashion from fad.
  Invest in the right thing.
  
• Is your inventory lost? Learn
  some great tips on inventory management.
  

Day 2 – April 28:

• Don't miss Candice Olson, the host
  of the popular HGTV show “Divine Design with Candice Olson,”
  give some design solutions and tips.
  
• Find out how adjusting your store
  lighting can make a big difference in the presentation of your
  furniture.
  
• Do you advertise on TV or thinking
  about it? Find out how to do it right.
  

Day 3 – April 29:

• The Allure 2006 Fashion Show
  hosted by Nancy Glass
  
• Diversify yourself by retailing if
  you're a designer or designing if you're a retailer. The session
  shows you how to combine them both and help your bottom line.
  
• Drive your sales. Learn how to
  create that High Performance Sales Force.
  

Day 4 – April 30:

• Ever wonder how you can compete
  against the National Brands? This day has a session just for the
  Independent Furniture Retailer.
  
• Stay way ahead of the trends with
  the “8 Incoming Looks for 2007.”
  
• Find new ways to control your
  delivery expenses.
  
• How would you sell to your
  Grandmother? This session titled, “Selling to Your
  Grandmother” is about building trust and getting intimate with
  your customers.
  

May 1-3 is all about shopping and networking. Look for
Great Priced Furniture and meet the
team.

Show to Air May 7th

We've just received an update on the air time of the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition where our furniture will be displayed.

Sunday May 7th at 8:00PM is when it is supposed to air. Just to be sure it is recommended to check ABC.com. Obviously, we'll keep you up to speed as well!

He made it!

I know, I know... I said Monday and here it is Friday. It's been busy here at the GPF headquarters. But we have great news!

Team GPF member Ivan made the journey and successfully delivered the furniture to the site! Thank You Ivan!!

We will keep you posted on airing times and other cool info we come upon.