Archive for December, 2008
December 8th, 2008 at 03:57pm
Under Furniture News
Most people consider sleep as big a necessity as food. After all, to work or play well, the proper rest is a very important factor. Kingsdown, one of the top 10 mattress and bedding producers, is hoping that this philosophy will make their new store a success.
Called the Sleep to Live store, the 4,800 square foot store offers over 200 different items that will help you sleep better. Kingsdown will only open these stores in areas where they will not be competing with their existing retail partners.
A virtual Concierge greets customers at the door. A woman projected on the screen will explain the store’s layout, their approach to a good nights sleep and talk about the different sections of sleep products that are located throughout the store.
The “sleep discovery area” consists of computers that will help each prospective costumer learn about the basic facts of sleep and ways to achieve better quality sleep. The next destination on the “quality sleep journey” is the “bed and pillow discovery area”. A diagnostic bed will analyze each person and give recommendations for the best type of sleep surface and pillows.
One section of the new Sleep to Live store features sleep enhancers such as sheets and bedding that are moisture wicking, soothing sleep inducing CD’s and even relaxing melatonin filled chocolates!
Sleep to Live will also be offering a sleep evaluation package that can evaluate your sleep patterns. The device is placed in the bedroom and will measure the temperature, light, humidity, noise and other factors that determine quality sleep. After one week, the customer returns to the store to compare the recorded data to the data for normal sleep requirements.
By MCC
December 7th, 2008 at 05:51am
Under Furniture News
Steelcase is making even more cutbacks with the future closing of their Atlanta, Georgia plant. The plant will be closed by the end of May and all production items will be transferred to the companies plant in Athens, Alabama.
The loss of the Atlanta facility will mean the loss of around 300 jobs for the city, but cutbacks won’t stop there. The company also announced plans to eliminate another 300 jobs, most of which will be cut in southwestern Michigan.
Even those Steelcase employees that will remain employeed by the company will feel some results of the ailing economy when the company also idles their manufacturing throughout the week of January 26. Like other companies that haven’t been able to survive in recent months, Steelcase sites the declining economy for it’s decisions.
By MCC
December 6th, 2008 at 06:38am
Under Furniture News
One of the driving forces behind the success of La-Z-Boy, Pat Norton died Thursday in Greensboro, North Carolina. Norton who retired as chairman of the company in 2006 had been in the furniture industry for over 50 years.
A member of the American Furniture Hall of Fame, Norton was a leader in the industry and one of the architects that created Ethan Allen’s strategic branded stores. Norton played a crucial role in La-Z-Boy’s move from manufacturing chairs into producing products for the entire home.
Aside from his accomplishments at the La-Z-Boy company, Norton was a board member of the American Furniture Manufacturers Association and also served on the committee with National Home Furnishings Association. Norton was the recipient of several awards and will be missed in the furniture industry.
By MCC
December 5th, 2008 at 09:36pm
Under Furniture News
The Serta mattress plant in St. Louis has joined the long list of plants losing the economic battle. All production at the plant has already been stopped and it was announced by the end of January the facility would be closed.
The closing of the St. Louis Serta plant will eliminate around 95 jobs for the area. Serta is owned by National Bedding Company which had purchased the 90,000 square foot facility back in 2006. The plant was part of the companies purchase of the Royal Bedding Company.
By MCC
December 1st, 2008 at 08:34pm
Under Furniture News
Ashley Furniture in Bakersfield has been granted Chapter 11 protection. Like many other stores over the past year, declining sales resulted in the decision to file for bankruptcy.
The attorney handling Ashley Furniture’s filing, said that there wouldn’t be any noticeable difference in the store’s operations. Orders will still be filled as usual and customers will get the items they purchase.
The Ashley branch store employs around 40 people and have said they have no plans on reducing the number of employees at the store. The store opened in 2006 and is in debt for almost $950,000 to one of the creditors listed in the bankruptcy filing.
By MCC
Next Posts