by Industry veteran and trade journalist brings many decades of experience to his new role
HIGH POINT — Ray Allegrezza, industry veteran and executive director of the International Home Furnishings Representatives Assn., has joined Home News Now as its editor-at-large, a new position.
He will continue leading IHFRA while extending HNN’s coverage of important issues, people and companies across the home furnishings industry, drawing on his more than 35 years in the field and more than 40 years as a trade journalist.
Thomas Russell continues as editor-in-chief and Clint Engel remains executive editor.
Allegrezza has led IHFRA since June 2018. Before that, he was a longtime editorial leader at industry trade publication Furniture Today. Hired in 1995 to strengthen FT’s coverage of the ready-to-assemble sector, he quickly launched a SOHO Today sister publication and was instrumental in the relaunch of Kids Today.
He was named FT editor-in-chief shortly after, leading the editorial team and developing and hosting its annual Leadership Conference for roughly two decades. Allegrezza also helped pull the company deeper into the digital age by, among other things, introducing video reports from his office.
After leaving FT and prior to this formal role with Home News Now, Allegrezza contributed occasional columns for HNN.
“We are extremely pleased to have Ray join our team,” Russell said. “Ray’s knowledge of the industry, combined with his many contacts on the retail and supplier side of the business will prove invaluable to us as we continue our mission of providing some of the most timely and relevant content in the industry. Clint and I are eager to see what he helps us accomplish moving forward.”
Allegrezza also said he is eager to begin his new role.
“When Home News Now launched in August 2020, I was not only impressed with the depth and breadth of the reporting, but with the publication’s willingness to tackle tough issues and address them head-on,” he said.
“When the opportunity arose to formalize a writing role, I immediately wanted to do it.”
Founding Publisher Rick Harrison said, “With apologies to John Belushi, we’ve gotten the band back together.
“Our goal is to continue to build the best editorial team in our industry. Bringing Ray on board adds another compelling voice to our publications that our audience knows and trusts. Ray is a great writer and a great person whom I’ve had the pleasure of knowing as a colleague, collaborator and competitor for a couple of decades. I’m excited for this next chapter for Ray and for our publishing group.”
Look for Allegrezza’s contributions this week and in the months to come.
