KANSAS CITY – An expert panel during the WithIt Leadership Conference this week in Kansas City, Mo., offered advice on how to survive and thrive during the many challenges of the current year.
Panelists included Amy Finley from Finton Design, Becky Greene from Furnitureland South, Caroline Hipple from HB2 Resources and Suzie Roberts from Glen Raven/Sunbrella.
The panelists, with a combined 136 years of experience in the industry, offered insights into creative problem solving, the power of relationships and resilience in the face of stress.
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Hipple, who herself has been in the industry for 48 years, said the important things are to show up, listen, learn and laugh through the many ups and downs.
“My mentor taught us that when there’s an impasse between two ideas and neither one is right, what is the third right answer?” Hipple said. “For example, when you are discussing what to do with tariffs, I suggest that you throw some wild idea into the mix that can break open the impasse, and this is the third right answer. It allows your team to find the most innovative course. “
Greene, from Furnitureland South, said she used to send emails all the time but realized that calling people is much more efficient.
“I would ask what they needed to happen and tell them what I needed to happen and that we would get through this together,” Greene said. “I learned not to panic but to call people that we have relationships with and figure it out. In some cases, we did have to negotiate, but we always worked it out. Relationships are how you navigate problems.”
The idea is to think ahead and control what you can control, according to Roberts from Glen Raven/Sunbrella. She recommends planning in advance and, when making a decision, thinking if the market will bear it or will the market not bear it.
“When we started throwing out percentages, we realized that math is scary,” Roberts said. “We had to figure out what made people make the decisions they make. We stopped thinking about it as dogmatic. For example, some weeks we buy avocados for more and some weeks we buy them for less, and the same can apply to our industry.”
Hipple suggested building what she called a ‘hut of certainty’ within all the realms of uncertainty. During the pandemic, when she worked with Norwalk, for example, Hipple said she learned that China was shutting down in January 2020, so she bought eight months’ worth of fabric, and that made a huge difference in knowing they had enough fabric for several months at least.
For her part, Roberts said she has learned to be nimble and create three emergency strategies for each situation. “That way, when something happens, you can be comfortable and brave and say that, although you are pivoting, you know it will be OK.”
When it comes to networking, Hipple suggested serving others and volunteering to be on boards and committees to learn about different aspects of the industry.
“I try to get out of my own thoughts and think about what other people need,” she said.
Greene suggested setting aside 20 minutes a week to have coffee with someone since the meeting might prove to be helpful for both of you down the road.
When it comes to managing stress, Robert suggested making time for yourself daily. “If your battery is not charged, then you are not contributing. I advise scheduling time to think and strategize.”
Hipple focuses on the Japanese theory of Ikigai, which is translated as “a reason for being” or “a reason to live,” which refers to a sense of purpose or passion that makes life meaningful and enjoyable.
“Your journey is to discover why you are here,” she said. “There is a circle of understanding including who you are and what you are here to do. This helps you to gain strength through tough times. Remember that women over the generations have faced big things. Many times, when things don’t work out, I think that the best is yet to come, and I just have to show up and let it work.”
Finley, from Finton Design, suggested that people always plan to do the next right thing and to keep up to date on current events and industry happenings.
“I read the Morning Brew every morning. It takes two minutes to read, and then I feel ready to meet the day,” she said.
