Robert p. gruenberg
Robert P. "Bob" Gruenberg (b. 1918 d. 1990) organized the first all-industry Home Furnishings Conference, held in San Francisco in 1967. The conference marked and was based on the first home furnishings Industry market research -- the Stanford University Study. Gruenberg, then executive vice president of the National Home Furnishings Association (NHFA) put together a coalition of industry executives and associations including: the National Association of Furniture Manufacturers, the Southern Furniture Manufacturers Association, the National Home Furnishings Association, the National Association of Bedding Manufacturers, and the Carpet and Rug Institute. This group became the Home Furnishings Council and organized the first attempt at marketing home furnishings nationwide with "Debut 71" and "Debut 73." While he served as general manager of the Southern Furniture Market Center from 1972-1986, Gruenberg was instrumental in guiding the High Point market through economic downturns and challenges until it fulfilled his vision -- to make it the pre-eminent furniture market in the world.