The President’s Perspective: August 2024
The President’s Perspective: August 2024
Jeff Harper
Share
Listen to the audio article.
In the summer of 2015, I had a wild idea to move my family to a new state with mountains and get out of the hot humidity of southeast Texas. But a question quickly arose: How could I pay for it? After searching the internet, my wife found a fireplace store for sale in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. She didn’t really think I would be interested, but she sent me the link anyway. A week later, I had a phone interview with the then-owner, his representative, myself, and my wife. Everything sounded fun, so I planned a trip to check it out and see what it was all about. It seemed like a fun industry, and after some back-and-forth negotiations, we had a deal. My wife and I sold everything we had and gave away the rest (I really miss my boat), then loaded our two small kids in a U-haul and headed west to the mountains.
My first official day in the hearth industry was at Expo 2016 in New Orleans. I still remember the ribbon-cutting ceremony, the keynote address, and the people. I was immediately introduced to my first manufacturer rep, Justin Hogsett with ICC. With all of my senses overloaded, I promptly forgot his name. I had a tour guide that day, and he introduced me to everyone who needed to know me and I needed to know, and he gave me as much information as he could cram into me. I walked the floor alone the second day, trying to remember everyone’s name, see everything, and not look like a hearth rookie.
Since 2016, we have seen an increase in the electrification of many things, including fireplaces and grills. Despite our love affair with fossil and organic fuels to cook and heat with, electric options won’t be going away, and they’re only going to improve visually over time. Do you leave room in your showroom to display these items or not? I’m dedicating a section of my showroom to these electric options. We have seen almost double the amount of potential customers come in to look at electric options, along with insurance carriers refusing to insure multi-family properties that have outdoor grills and firepits with open flames. This has driven people into my showroom to ask questions about their electric options.
Despite our love affair with fossil and organic fuels to cook and heat with, electric options won’t be going away, and they’re only going to improve visually over time. Do you leave room in your showroom to display these items or not?
Certainly, electric fireplaces won’t replace fossil and organic options in the near future, and I’m not arguing for or against them. I am, however, grateful for the government affairs arm of the HPBA that’s keeping a close eye on the happenings within each state, and I will be supporting them however I can going forward. Eight years into my third career, I have found that supporting the organizations that represent us as small business owners plays a key role in our success. I think it’s our duty to support them, as they in turn support us. I can’t imagine not going to the Expo to see all that our industry has to offer each year, to meet new hearth store owners, and to trade ideas on how we do things. I wouldn’t miss the lights, the sounds, and the pageantry of our industry on display—and, of course, I’ve always got to say “hi” to Justin in the ICC booth.
Jeff Harper
Jeff Harper owns and runs Hot Stuff Hearth & Home with his wife, Jennifer, in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.
