by HIGH POINT –– The Independent Home Furnishings Representatives Association (IHFRA), which represents over 1,500 independent sales professionals across the U.S., has formally submitted a letter to President Donald J. Trump expressing concern over the adverse effects of recent and proposed tariffs on the home furnishings industry.
In the letter, IHFRA Executive Director Steve Allegrezza outlines the far-reaching consequences of tariffs on furniture and related imports, citing disruptions to supply chains, declining consumer demand and reduced earnings for the independent reps who serve as the critical link between manufacturers and retailers.
“While we support strong and fair-trade policies, the current tariff structure is creating instability in a sector that depends on long-term planning, consistent pricing, and global sourcing,” Allegrezza said. “Independent reps are entrepreneurs and small business owners whose livelihoods are directly impacted by shifts in trade policy.”
The letter urges the administration to adopt a more strategic, industry-informed approach that includes:
+ Targeted investment in domestic manufacturing and workforce development
+ Clearer policy direction to help stabilize pricing and inventory planning
+ Practical immigration reform to address labor shortages in U.S. factories
The home furnishings industry — a globally integrated ecosystem that touches nearly every community in America — is facing multiple headwinds, including inflation, high interest rates, and housing market slowdowns. Tariffs, IHFRA notes, are compounding these challenges by increasing costs and suppressing demand.
IHFRA’s action underscores the association’s ongoing commitment to advocating for its members and ensuring that the independent sales channel has a voice in national policy discussions.
Below is a copy of the full letter.
President Donald J. Trump
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear President Trump,
On behalf of the Independent Home Furnishings Representatives Association (IHFRA) and the more than 1,500 independent sales professionals we represent nationwide, I write to express both our strong support for fair, competitive trade policies and our deep concern about the unintended consequences that recent and proposed tariffs are having on our industry and its workforce.
We fully support your administration’s commitment to protecting American manufacturing and ensuring a level playing field in global trade. A strong, enforceable trade policy is critical to our long-term economic strength. However, we urge your administration to consider the unique structure and challenges of the home furnishings sector and the real-world consequences that abrupt tariff changes are creating across our industry.
Our industry is an interconnected ecosystem that reaches nearly every American community, from product design and manufacturing to logistics, retail, and sales. By necessity, it is also globally integrated. U.S. manufacturers and retailers have long relied on international supply chains to meet consumer expectations for price, quality, and variety. Reshoring is a worthy long-term goal, but it cannot be achieved overnight, especially in an environment already strained by labor shortages, rising costs, and policy uncertainty.
Tariffs have introduced new layers of volatility into an industry that depends on long planning cycles, stable pricing, and predictable policy. Retailers struggle to forecast costs. Suppliers face difficult sourcing decisions with limited clarity. Independent sales representatives, who operate as 1099 contractors and rely solely on commissions, are seeing their incomes decline as price-sensitive buyers pull back and orders drop.
Higher tariffs on furniture and related imports increase costs across the board. These costs are passed along the supply chain, ultimately reducing earnings for the independent professionals who serve as the vital connection between manufacturers and retailers. Sales cycles are disrupted, pricing becomes unpredictable, and consumer demand softens, all of which erode the financial stability of thousands of small business owners in our field.
Meanwhile, broader economic pressures are compounding the challenge. Inflation continues to squeeze household budgets. High interest rates have slowed housing turnover, a key driver of furniture demand. Without a holistic approach, tariffs risk becoming an additional headwind on an already fragile sector.
We respectfully urge your administration to take a strategic, industry-informed approach to trade policy, one that couples strong enforcement with practical support for domestic growth. This means combining tariffs with targeted investments in workforce development, domestic production incentives, and immigration policies that address labor shortages across manufacturing.
Independent sales representatives are not just intermediaries; they are entrepreneurs, job creators, and the local face of all the brands they represent. Their success is directly tied to the health of the home furnishings industry. As such, any trade policy that affects our sector must consider their livelihoods and the stability they bring to local economies across the country.
We stand ready to collaborate with your administration in pursuit of a stronger, more competitive American manufacturing base, one built on smart policy, stable markets, and sustained investment.
Thank you for your attention to this matter and for your continued service to our country.
Sincerely,
Steven L. Allegrezza
Executive Director
Independent Home Furnishings Representatives Association (IHFRA)
For more information, contact Steve Allegrezza at sallegrezza@ihfra.org.
