US Re-opening: Find out what your state is doing
Dozens of states have announced plans to relax social distancing restrictions aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus – but few have yet to enact major changes.
Georgia has become a high-profile outlier after it set in motion aggressive plans to ease stay-at-home restrictions over the objection of some local officials and even President Donald Trump. Gov. Brian Kemp announced that gyms, tattoo parlors, hair and nail salons, massage therapists were among the businesses could reopen Friday. Restrictions on in-person religious services, restaurants and theaters were all also being relaxed.
But most states have favored a slower, more gradual approach. Many announced in recent days a framework for reopening, often with tentative dates or benchmarks where restrictions may be relaxed.
At the same time, a number of states are also making small moves to roll back the most severe restrictions. More states are again allowing elective surgeries. Some construction projects will resume. And plans to reopen parks and beaches are becoming more common.
Headline: Advisor HR Secures PPP benefits for its IHFRA Partners
Advisor HR Secures PPP benefits for its IHFRA Partners using the Advisorirep.com Business Services
(IHFRA members who use the Advisor IREP program for business services including payroll, HR, compliance, health benefits, retirement planning, and business insurances received the PPP.)
While we all know times are incredibly tough, there is light at the end of the tunnel and no, it is not a train!
We recently received an update from Matt Monroe, VP Business Development at Advisor HR. As you know, applying for the PPP program has been an uphill battle for many small businesses and independent contractors.
However, Advisor HR went the extra mile to make sure that all of the IHFRA members using their AdvisorIREP.com services are now set to partake of the Paycheck Protection Program.
What follows are the key points of Matt’s letter to us:
I wanted to update you on some current events that Advisor HR has accomplished for IHFRA members with the IHFRA www.advisorirep.com business service programs.
Advisor HR has worked for weeks to help clients keep employees paid. This is also true with all the IHFRA members using our AdvisorIREP.com services.
Hours of work and the dedication of the Advisor HR team have given us the ability to establish the Paycheck Protection Program for ALL IHFRA Members who are using Advisor IREP business services. This is a great win. Our team sent emails and phoned every IHFRA member with the news yesterday and on April 24, 2020 about how it will work. All members participating with AdvisoiREP.com were paid on April 24 and will be paid in May 2020 the PPP.
It was my pleasure to call several of those members. I can tell you that every one of them was very happy that we had accomplished this for them. They were all very thankful that all their benefits and payroll was being covered by the plan (up to the maximums allowed) for two months.
Matt went on to point out that this unique program can only get even stronger as more IHFRA members participate in the Advisor IREP program. Even if you want to keep your current health insurance, Advisor HR can add you to the program and help you with payroll, HR, compliance, administration of all employee areas and more.
If you currently are not enrolled in the Advisor HR IREP program and would like more information, contact Matt Monroe at
Matt Monroe
Vice President of Business Development
8712 Lindholm Drive Suite 210
Huntersville, NC 28078
www.advisorirep.com – email us from the contact page.
Note: All PPP funding has been complete for IHFRA members who are using Advisorirep.com
Thanks and remember that together, we will move forward!
Ray Allegrezza
Unemployment Available for Self-employed and Contracted Employees
NC Department of Employment Security (DES) has announced that as of April 24th 2020, unemployment benefits are now available for self-employed and contracted employees. The program is called Pandemic unemployment Assistance. You may be eligible to collect unemployment for lost wages, check your local DES to see if these benefits are available in your state.
CLICK HERE FOR NC DES
CLICK HERE TO FIND UNEMPLOYMENT IN YOUR STATE
Independant Contractors Guide to CARES Act Relief
If you are an independent contractor or self-employed, you may be eligible for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans/grants, SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL), and/or Unemployment Compensation for losses of income related to the coronavirus pandemic
READ MORE
IHFRA Asks Government For Shot at PPP funds
April 22, 2020
The Honorable Mike Pence The White House
Office of the Vice President Washington, DC 20500
RE: PPP Availability to small businesses Dear Mr. Vice President:
On behalf of the 1,500 members who are the backbone of IHFRA (Independent Home Furnishings Representatives Association), I want to begin by wishing you and your family continued good health and to thank you for your efforts to quell Covid-19.
This pandemic, which has turned the global economy upside down, has also brought the home furnishings sector, a $114 billion-dollar segment, to a screeching halt.
Our members, who truly embody the best characteristics of “small business” have been devastated.
CLICK HERE TO READ FULL LETTER TO VP PENCE
Breaking News...some states allow furniture stores to re-open!!!
South Carolina to Reopen Some Businesses Immediately, Georgia Plans the Same for Later in the Week
Two southern states are beginning the process of reopening their economy as soon as today, while the country continues to battle the coronavirus.
In South Carolina, Gov. Henry McMaster announced at a Monday press conference that certain businesses in the state would be allowed to reopen, cancelling the restrictions he made two weeks ago in an attempt to fight the spread of the coronavirus. He said beaches may open, depending on guidance from local jurisdictions.
Clothing stores, furniture stores, clothing good stores and florist shops are among the places that the governor said would allowed to be open as of 5:00 p.m. today. He tasked those businesses with maintaining social distancing measures within the stores.
READ MORE
Quicken Loans Offers Webinars
Did you know we have a benefit program with Quicken Loans? We are a part of their Mortgage Insiders Program, available to IHFRA members every day.
They are offering 2 complimentary webinars:
- Credit Managed. Mortgage Approved. Wednesday, April 22, 2020 2:00-3:00 PM EST
- Mortgage 101 Friday, May 22, 2020 3:00-4:00 PM EST
If you'd like more information about the Quicken Loans Program, call (800) 983-8522 or visit VIP.QuickenLoans.com/IHFRA.
High Point Market Authority Cancels Postponed Market
High Point Market Authority Cancels Postponed Spring Market
HIGH POINT, N.C., April 16, 2020 — Due to ongoing impacts, government restrictions, and economic difficulties stemming from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the High Point Market Authority announces the cancelation of the Spring 2020 High Point Market. The next High Point Market is scheduled for October 17 – 21, 2020.
Originally scheduled for April, the Market Authority previously announced market’s postponement until June, allowing for the possibility that conditions would improve in time for the show to occur.
“While our hope was that restrictions enacted in March would improve the situation enough to allow for a June show, it is clear now that recovery will take longer than originally projected,” commented Dudley Moore, Jr., chairman of the High Point Market Authority’s board of directors and president of Otto & Moore.
“It was an incredibly difficult decision, but cancelation is the most prudent course of action given the current circumstances and was unanimously approved by our executive committee,” commented Tom Conley, president and CEO of the High Point Market Authority. “We now set our sights towards Fall Market with excitement and anticipation to fully welcome the industry back to High Point.”
Market Authority officials will continue with their plans to promote spring product introductions through a variety of digital channels, including a special website section, articles, e-newsletters, social media posts, and webinars. They are additionally working with industry partners to develop creative programs and resources to assist in ongoing information sharing.
Major buildings and individual showrooms who are positioned to welcome buyers during non-Market times will likely open for appointments at some point over the summer, once government regulations ease to allow the buildings to reopen.
Registration for Fall Market will open in mid-July at www.highpointmarket.org.
About the High Point Market Authority
The High Point Market Authority, www.highpointmarket.org, is the official sponsor and organizer of the High Point Market in High Point, N.C. Featuring an extensive selection of exhibitors spanning every category, style, and price point, and attracting tens of thousands of visitors from more than 100 countries twice each year, the High Point Market is the driving force of the home furnishings industry. Find the High Point Market anywhere online, and follow on social media using the hashtag #hpmkt.
No Touch Selling Webinar - recorded link and notes
Thank you to everyone that showed interest in or attended the Webinar last Thursday with Victor Antonio from Sales Velocity Academy. The response was incredible and I received so many positive responses and requests for notes and the recorded link. As promised here is the link and the PDF. Per Victors request please direct anyone to the website for viewing this training.
OPEN THE PDF
Victor has 49 courses available and over 500 videos from foundational to Mastery level.
Our desire is to see all of our Sales and Marketing Professionals use this time to invest in themselves, to grow in wisdom and knowledge and to be inspired to excel at a whole new level. We believe in you and all that you do in this industry and we know if you prepare yourselves, we will all come out stronger than ever before.
If you are an IHFRA member be sure to log in to our website click benefits and then education, you will find a link there to sign up for Sales Velocity Academy at the reduced rate of $9.99/month or $99/year
If you are not an IHFRA member you can sign up for Victors courses at the regular rate of $29.99/month or $299/year by clicking the link below
SALES VELOCITY ACADEMY (NON-MEMBER)
If you are not a member and would like more information about how IHFRA can benefit you please contact any of the following IHFRA staff.
Brandi Baker at 336-285-0194 or bbaker@ihfra-cloud.flywheelstaging.com
Bonnie Wallace at 336-285-0193 or bwallace@ihfra-cloud.flywheelstaging.com
Ray Allegrezza at 336-823-3065 or rallegrezza@ihfra-cloud.flywheelstaging.com
HFA Webinar: Readying for Recovery with Jerry Epperson
Thursday April 16th at 1:00 pm PDT/4:00 pm EDT.
Join us and bring your questions along.
REGISTER HERE
I hope you are doing as well as can be expected and seeing some light at the end of the tunnel. Like everyone else I am sure you are trying to figure out what the “new normal” will look like when your stores start to reopen. We’ve been talking about the health and safety protocols you will need and yet that is not the only challenge. With the disruptions in manufacturing and the supply chain which product categories will be available when you reopen? What will be most in demand?
To help you prepare we will be talking to one of the brightest minds in our industry and a premier analyst, Jerry Epperson during this week’s HFA Webinar “Readying for the Recovery” this Thursday at 4 pm EDT (1 pm PDT). Epperson will talk about when he thinks stores will ramp up again, what he predicts the industry’s Asian and domestic supply chains will look like and how that will impact your showroom. You will want his insights as you make plans to move forward. As always we will take your questions
REGISTER HERE