The Last Word – Episode 18: Mary Domito
Ray Allegrezza sits down with Mary Domito, President and CEO of Taos Lifestyle, to discuss her journey from sales in the Bay Area to leading a thriving home furnishings business in New Mexico. She shares how she built a unique retail experience, combining a sleep shop, furniture store, gift boutique, and live music venue while staying deeply connected to her community. Mary and Ray dive into the success of her billboard campaign, the value of strong supplier relationships, and her unfiltered take on the furnishings and mattress industries, critiquing declining product quality, misleading marketing tactics, and the need for better after-sale service. She also emphasizes the importance of personal branding, trade shows, and long-term growth while believing that customer satisfaction and self-care naturally lead to financial success. Tune in for an insightful conversation on entrepreneurship, industry trends, and what it takes to stand out in today’s competitive market.
The Last Word – Episode 6: Lance Hannish
Welcome to a riveting episode of “The Last Word”! Join your host, Ray Allegrezza, as he engages in a captivating conversation with the brilliant mind behind the crystal ball of advertising, Lance Hannish. Hannish, the Co-Founding Partner at CNA | Sophis Integrated Marketing Innovations, takes us on a journey back to decades ago when he…
The Last Word – Episode 5: Lael Thompson
In this captivating episode of “The Last Word” podcast, we dive deep into the dynamic world of the furniture industry with our special guest, Lael Thompson. Join us as we explore the remarkable journey of this young retail prodigy who is reshaping the industry landscape with his innovative strategies and fresh perspective. What to Expect:…
The Last Word – Episode 4: Lori Friedlander
In this exclusive interview, we had the honor of sitting down with the accomplished industry expert, Lori Friedlander, who has an impressive track record with renowned brands like Ethan Allen, Bassett, La-Z-boy, and more. Lori shares her invaluable insights and strategies on how to thrive and succeed even in a slow economy, advise for smaller…
The Last Word – Episode 3: Heidi Jewell
As part of Ray Allegrezza’s The Last Word series, this week he brings you a video interview with industry veteran Heidi Haleh Jewell. Jewell, who joined the industry a number of years ago, spent the majority of her career in retail where she managed as well as had buying responsibilities for a number of leading…
The Last Word – Episode 2: Charlie Malouf
Episode 2. Ray interviews Charlie Malouf, CEO of Broad River Retail, a Top 100 furniture retailer. Listen in to find out how Broad River grew its business during the toughest months of the pandemic, why Charlie calls his team ‘memory-makers,’ and why he has found success by making Broad River a purpose-driven company. Back to…
The Last Word – Episode 1: Tom Erdman
For our first episode, moderator Ray Allegrezza chats with Handy Living’s Tom Erdman about where the industry is headed in a post-pandemic universe. Tom brings years of experience, both with brick and click to the table. Back to Blog More Episodes of The Last Word Podcast