by TAMARAC, FL–(January 11, 2022) – City Furniture (“CITY” or “the Company”), a family-owned American furniture and mattress retailer, fine upholstery manufacturer, and one of America’s Top 100 furniture retailers, published its 2021 Corporate Social Responsibility Report (CSR) and 2022 Goals. The Company’s vision is to make the world a better place, and they do this year-round, company-wide, as documented by their innovative and comprehensive CSR Report, placing a strong focus on safety and their people, their commitment to their 5% Giving Pledge, and their 2040 Green Promise
“CITY’s corporate social responsibility strategy has always focused its energy and resources on where we can make the greatest impact on people, communities and the planet,” stated Andrew Koenig, CITY’s CEO. “During 2021, CITY continued to hone its commitment to improving the way we interact with the world in which we live. I am incredibly proud of the entire organization for demonstrating how our business can truly be a force for good.”
CITY’s 2021 CSR Report builds upon its desire to live CITY’s purpose – “To enrich people’s lives and make the world a better place.” The Company’s CSR strategy is a roadmap for how CITY can best leverage its strengths and competitive advantages to provide value in three areas:
- PEOPLE— We believe we have a responsibility to those who work with us. Our company strives to create inclusive workplaces where all our associates are empowered and respected. We are committed to creating meaningful opportunities for our diverse CITY community to grow.
- COMMUNITY — Giving back is embedded in CITY’S culture. We remain steadfast in our commitment of support and driving positive change in the communities where we live and work.
- PLANET — We know that the success of our company is directly linked to the sustainability of the world around us. Our brands strive to create the highest quality products with longevity and sustainability in mind. Operating responsibly helps us to lower our impact on the planet and to promote industry-wide environmental change.
As part of the Company’s 2021 CSR strategy, CITY committed to ambitious, measurable goals with respect to COVID-19, the Company’s Security & Risk protocols to improve Cyber Security, racial equality and economic opportunity for all associates, enhanced philanthropic giving and raising standards for a carbon neutral future. The 2021 CSR Report covers the company’s activities to drive meaningful progress toward those goals, along with major CSR-related activities planned for 2022.
“Being responsible corporate citizens drives our success at every level and is a commitment central to every decision we make today,” adds Mr. Koenig. “People want to do business with and work for companies that share their values and drive positive change. Being accountable and transparent, inside and outside of the company, is critical to our future success.”
Highlights from the 2021 Report include:
Commitment to Safety
CITY’s top priority is always the safety of Company’s associates and customers.
- COVID 19: As a result of COVID-19, the Company increased safety measures and made operational changes to enhance standards. All surfaces in their showrooms are electrostatically sprayed to kill viruses and bacteria. Additionally, having increased the amount of outside air circulating within their facilities has reduced the amount of time viruses and bacteria can be present – removing risk of infection for both associates and customer.
- WORKPLACE SAFETY & TRAINING: CITY delivered more than 1,000 hours of safety training to associates, resulting in the lowest workers compensation incident frequency rate in six years, declining three points from 2020.
- PRODUCT SAFETY & STABILITY: CITY met emission standards for formaldehyde in all composite wood products sold. This compliance helps to keep customers safe by ensuring formaldehyde exposure is as limited as possible in homes. Additionally, CITY partnered with Underwriter’s Laboratory (UL) on the Company’s Product Stability Verified program. UL’s Product Stability Verified Mark, endorsed by the American Home Furnishing Alliance, helps consumers identify products that meet the industry’s stability requirements.
Growing Diverse Talent, Advancing Careers
Innovative people approaches are strengthening CITY’s culture with a focus on internal mobility and career growth, diversity, equity and inclusion, veteran recruitment and the overall health and wellness of Company associates.
- PROMOTING FROM WITHIN: In 2021, CITY filled over 2,500 positions, 162 of which were fulfilled by current associates seeking new opportunities. The Company’s Internal Mobility Program also led to 95% of new leaders to be promoted-from-within.
- DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION (DE&I): CITY continued to highlight and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace by adding a DE&I budget, developing key DE&I metrics to measure improvement in relation to goals, maintaining DE&I resource centers and important messaging within CITY’s internal communications platforms, establishing partnerships with DE&I related companies and organizations, and developing a sourcing strategy for minority suppliers.
- VETERAN RECRUITMENT: CITY sustained its Veteran recruitment and retention initiatives, which strives to achieve a goal of 5% of their workforce be comprised of Veterans by 2025. CITY worked with several community partners and Veteran organizations such as CareerSource Broward, Urban League of Broward County, Broward UP Program, Junior Achievement, and the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance to expand and achieve a high-level of diversity in talent recruitment.
- HEALTH AND WELLNESS: CITY implemented an array of health and wellness benefits to support the overall well-being of associates, from financial security to their physical health and support for families, including an onsite Health & Wellness Center (located at the Company’s Tamarac headquarters), a free Virtual ER with 24/7 access to medical providers, a mindfulness app, a wellness portal, weight management initiatives, fitness and wellness discounts (such as gym memberships) and a tobacco-cessation program.
Improving Communities, Giving Back
CITY boosted the Company’s long-standing commitment to community with a 5% Giving Pledge, dedicatinga minimum five percent of net profits annually to build stronger communities. Throughout 2021, CITY integrated its community initiatives into multiple facets of the Company’s business strategy, from showroom exhibits to community involvement and crisis response.
- TEST REST: Throughout 2021, CITY continued to invite Customers to “Test Rest” a mattress in the Company’s mattress galleries, however, this year these efforts contributed to improving their local community. Starting in 2021, whenever Customers “Test Rest” a mattress, CITY donated $25 to a charitable beneficiary, in addition to providing the Customer with a $25 gift card. Through Test Rest and the support of Customers and Associates, CITY exceeded the Company’s goal of giving back 5% of annual profits through CITY’s 5% Giving Pledge in 2021.
- GIVING BACK: CITY’s Annual Kevin Koenig Memorial Covenant House Golf & Fishing Cup celebrated the 25th Anniversary of CITY’s Covenant House support and honored CITY’s founder, Mr. Kevin Koenig. In this milestone year, CITY’s dedicated vendors, suppliers, and friends helped raise a record-breaking total exceeding $220,000 to support Covenant House’s mission to provide safety and hope.
- RAISING AWARENESS: In 2021, CITY enhanced the Company’s partnership with The American Heart Association (AHA) by supporting all the organization’s core campaigns, increasing nutrition security in the local community, and participating in the Broward Heart Walk in memory of CITY’s founder, Mr. Kevin Koenig. Over 450 CITY associates registered to walk virtually this year. The Broward Heart Walk raised a record-breaking $1,500,000 via local company sponsorships, community fundraising, and corporate teams.
- TURN THE CITY PINK: CITY has long supported the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer campaign in honor of their CITY Mom, Mrs. Doreen Koenig. Collectively in 2021, CITY and over 70 of the Company’s partners, banded together to light their buildings pink, wear pink, and spread awareness. Associates, customers, friends, and other local businesses collectively helped raise over $500,000 for the cause.
- LOVE WINS: CITY continued to expand its relationship with OnePULSE to help support the construction of the National Pulse Memorial, through the Out Love Hate campaign, and to fund community education programs and scholarships. In 2021, the Company donated $75,000 to OnePULSE.
- DELIVERING HOPE WHEN TRAGEDY STRIKES: Following the collapse of the Champlain Towers in Surfside, Florida, CITY helped furnish the homes of 15 families impacted by the collapse. Additionally, CITY donated 2,500 sectional cubes to the QTI Cesumas Foundation and 128 TempurSealy twin mattresses to Food for the Poor to help families in Southern Haiti following a tragic earthquake.
Leading “Green” Change
A large part of CITY’s annual Corporate Responsibility Report is dedicated to the Company’s eco-friendly business practices, most notably the 2040 Green Promise, which is a commitment to achieving carbon neutrality through green practices in CITY showrooms, warehouses, offices, delivery fleet, and large-scale recycling initiatives by the 2040.
- GREEN FLEET: 100% Clean Driving – All CITY delivery and semi-trucks run on natural gas, and the Company is in the process of transitioning to renewable natural gas. This will help redirect methane emissions away from the environment, and repurpose it into clean, green energy. CITY’s fleet is ranked #1 in the industry by the NAFA® Fleet Management Association[FS2] and the Company is also moving towards electric vehicles, including pre-ordering Tesla semi-trucks.
- SMART FACILITIES: Building a Better Way – In 2021, CITY reported having eight LEED-certified showrooms (460,000 square feet and counting), the most furniture retail space certified as Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design in the United States. [FS3]The Company also joined FPL’s Solar Together program, subscribing to enough solar energy to power three showrooms.
- RECYCLING EFFORTS: Sparing Our Landfills — CITY built state-of-the-art recycling centers within Company warehouses to recycle [FS4]almost everything that comes through showroom doors, including their Miami Distribution Center which opening in 2021 with an in-house recycling center. The program helps to spare landfills from unnecessary packaging waste like cardboard, Styrofoam, and plastic. On average, CITY sends 7,920,000 pounds of cardboard to local paper recycling mills each year.
- ECO-FRIENDLY HOME FURNISHINGS: In addition to The Company’s commitment to carbon neutrality, CITY Furniture [FS5]expanded offerings of eco-friendly home furnishings, such as CITY’s proprietary “top of bed” linen lineup that includes 100% Tencel pillowcases, sheets, and duvet covers. Each of these products are natural, bio-degradable, and compostable. Additionally, CITY partnered with the Arbor Day Foundation to plant one tree for every piece of furniture sold from the Seattle and Chicago collections. Over 10,000 trees have been planted to date.
The Tamarac-Florida based, 50-year-old family-owned CITY Furniture’s mission is to change the way people live with beautiful home furnishings at incredible value. Style and value are at the core of everything they do, and with over 21 showrooms across the state and an expansive e-commerce site, CITY is constantly evolving their lineup to bring customers the very best.
To download CITY’s complete 2021 Corporate Social Responsibility Report, please click here: cityfurniture.com/csr
