On Thursday, October 24 ^th, nearly 30 HPBA members met with more than 60 congressional offices to promote changeout program legislation and biomass stove tax credit legislation.

For our HPBA members, this was their chance to talk with members of Congress and their staff about the issues impacting our industry and their local businesses. We built on existing connections on the Hill and forged new bonds with elected officials whom we hadn’t met with before. We used this opportunity to remind them that their legislative actions could have significant implications for our members – their constituents. It is crucial for our members to remain active on Capitol Hill to make sure our voices are heard and not left out of key policy discussions.

HPBA continues to work with members of Congress and HPBA members on building and strengthening these relationships. For pictures from the day, view HPBA’s Facebook post. A full-length blog post will soon be posted on HPBA’s website with a full report and key takeaways about why engaging with your elected officials is more important than ever.

Presentation is everything. The way a product is showcased, the salesroom layout, and the customer experience can all be deciding factors in closing a deal. In an effort to help retailers elevate their store’s presence and increase sales, the HPBExpo 2020 Keynote Address will be delivered by Wayne Visbeen, the pivotal architect and interior designer behind an iconic list of ground-breaking and effective retail environments.

As comfortable on a construction site as he is designing a store layout, Visbeen holds a deep understanding of custom residential design and the current trends shaping the indoor-outdoor living industry. Generously sponsored by Napoleon Products, the HPBExpo 2020 Keynote Presentation aims to provide unique retail insights and highlight the key concepts you will be able to use for better sales conversion and better brand experiences.  

National Fireplace Month

We continued to promote hearth products in October to celebrate National Fireplace Month. The overall theme of the month was Home is Where the Hearth Is and it encouraged consumers to consider hearth products in every room in their house. We focused on the ambiance and nostalgia of the fireplace and discussed the innovation and beauty that is available in the latest product lines. Throughout the month, we shared pictures of different types of hearth products and encouraged our followers to engage with us on social media. We’ll have a more complete wrap up next month, but you can read here for more about our messaging for National Fireplace Month.

HPBExpo 2020

Exhibition: March 12-14

Education: March 11-13

Ernest N. Morial Convention Center

Register now and join thousands of hearth, patio, and barbecue professionals and experience new products in the spotlight of the industry's premiere event. Hotel rooms are available at a discounted rate on a first-come, first-served basis, so book now to reserve one of your top choice hotels in New Orleans!  

is the official housing partner for HPBExpo. Please be aware that there have been cases in the past where exhibitors booked with a third-party company and their reservations were not valid upon arrival.

Still on the fence about whether to attend at next year’s HPBExpo? Hear from this year’s attendees on why you need to be there!

Nominations are now open for the Donna H. Myers Award, a BBQ industry recognition honoring the commitment and achievement of a highly accomplished industry peer. Jointly sponsored by HPBA and Casual Living Magazine , the award recognizes innovative leaders who have contributed to the growth of the industry. The award will be presented during HPBExpo 2020. Nominations are due by January 3, 2020. 

New this year , HPBExpo Exhibitors have an additional platform to boost their brand awareness and name recognition by advertising on the HPBExpo.com homepage. You’ll have the opportunity to make 50,000+ impressions beginning in September when Registration opens, through March. For additional exposure, all banners will link to the Exhibitor Profile you’ve created on our site. Advertisers will be provided with impression counts and click-through counts monthly to confirm that your message is being received loud and clear. Hurry — only three ad placements per unit/per month are available! Click below for more details.

The HPBExpo Education Program will equip you with the knowledge (and the continuing education credits) you need to stay ahead of your competition. Be sure to check out the full program schedule .

This year there are four exclusive education sessions only available at EXPO. They are : Showroom Design ; Win More with a Marketing Strategy; Sales Leadership; and the HPBA Hearth & BBQ Consumer Research Survey Results . Each of these sessions will equip you with tips, skills, and knowledge that will put you ahead of your competitors. These four sessions will not appear on the website after Expo is over, so make your plans to attend these one-time only classes in March.

New in 2020, online exams will be available onsite. Attendees can conveniently take exams throughout the duration of HPBExpo 2020 by registering for an allotted time of their choosing. With ten computers available, space will be limited so registering early will be critical in getting the date and time that works best for you. The exams will be graded upon submission, providing almost instantaneous results. For complete details, contact the NFI Office at 703-524-8030. 

As reported in previous editions, legislation was introduced in the U.S. Senate that would establish a national changeout program fund, empowering states, tribes, air districts, and other local/regional jurisdictions to design and implement programs to replace older, non-certified wood heaters with new EPA-certified models. Retailers who participate in changeout programs see increases in sales as consumers are provided generous rebates to fund much of the cost to purchase and install a new wood heater. After HPBA’s Hill Day, over 75 HPBA members sent emails to nearly 200 Senators urging them to cosponsor the Wood Heaters Emissions Reduction Act (WHERA). Join these members in amplifying the voices of HPBA’s Board of Directors and these members now to send an email to your Senators using HPBA’s mobile-friendly advocacy page. It only takes a moment!

Each month, we will highlight one of our education sessions scheduled for HPBExpo 2020 to give you a taste of what you can learn if you attend.

More Profit, Less Hassle – Why you need to add Electric Fireplaces to your mix

Jeanne Grier

Electric fireplaces outsell gas by a ratio of 3 to 1. Are you getting your share of the sales? Electric fireplaces aren’t just for box stores and online retailers. This is your opportunity to learn from a retailer who specializes in electric fireplaces. She’ll share her secrets on how to successfully sell electric fireplaces – from displays to marketing to sales. This session will cover the Why and the How of selling electric fireplaces profitably.

 

About Jeanne Grier:

Jeanne is President of Stylish Fireplaces & Interiors, in Concord, Ontario. She and her husband, Colin, chose to go all-electric from the day they started their hearth business in 2003. Jeanne is an NFI Certified Hearth Design Specialist, with over 20 years’ experience as an interior decorator. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree and is passionate about running a profitable business. 

 

To attend Jeanne's class on Friday March 13th in New Orleans, be sure to get your Education Passport.

Reminder!

HPBA has a new banking relationship with Bank of America, and our SunTrust accounts are now closed. For wiring information, please contact Robert Washington .

NEW PAYMENT ADDRESS:

Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association

P.O. Box 412397

Boston, MA 02241-2397

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