Furniture News
September 2nd, 2010 at 07:00am
Under Furniture News
After an absence of more than two decades, Gabby, a supplier of occasional seating and wood furniture is returning to the High Point Market. Gabby will be introducing a new line of between 30 and 40 pieces at this falls market. Gabby will be showing in the International Home Furnishings Center at IH-203.
Owner of Gabby and its parent company, Summer Classics, Bew White described the company’s new collection as an on trend line that utilizes reclaimed wood and reflects a French/European style. He said the line will include dining tables and chairs, buffets, desks, accent pieces and other “interesting” pieces.
The retail prices for end tables will range between $199 and $499 and dining room tables will range any where from $399 up to $2,000. Gabby exhibited at Atlanta’s January market and is returning to High Point because it is a crucial market for the types of products the company offers.
By slone
August 31st, 2010 at 07:00am
Under Furniture News
A housing assistance program in New Jersey has posted a YouTube video that shows how a program that is backed by Thomasville Stores of New Jersey is continuing to help victims of Hurricane Katrina. The stores are helping them furnish their home in their home state. Although its been five years since the hurricane flooded most of New Orleans, the program is still working to assist people who relocated to New Jersey.
The Thomasville stores have donated home furnishings that have a wholesale value of over $250,000. The furnishings have been donated with the assistance of the New Jersey Affordable Housing Management Assn., called the JAHMA foundations. The furniture was delivered to the victims new homes by Cory First Choice Home Delivery.
In the video, president of Thomasville of New Jersey, Michael Massood, describes how they have worked with the victims. “You don’t realize … the magnitude of how important furniture is to people. You take their home and you make it truly a better place to live. It’s such a rewarding experience,” he said.
If you’d like to watch the video visit YouTube here.
By slone
August 30th, 2010 at 07:00am
Under Furniture News
Lorts Mfg., a high end case goods and upholstery producer announced that it has signed Atlanta interior designer Christy Dillard to design a new furniture collection that will be released early next year. The company said that the new collection will build on the strengths of the company’s brand and incorporate the elements of Dillard’s style. Her style consists of classic silhouettes with unexpected detailing, an energectic contemporary perspective and bold color and styles.
Dillard said that she will be using a mixture of materials that will bring a unique flair to the collection that will appeal to many different customers. The look will be fresh, but at the same time have a timeless quality. Dillard has been designing environments that combine elements that reflect the evolving nature of design with classical details for 17 years. Her work has appeared in several publications and has been recognized by a number of organizations.
Ty Lorts, president of Lorts, added, “We are confident that a recognized and successful interior designer like Christy will be an inspiration to designers that love our line, and that the collaboration will complement and add depth to Lorts’ strong existing line.”
By slone
August 29th, 2010 at 07:00am
Under Furniture News
A Slumberland franchise location in Missouri has shut down after the owner failed to pay state taxes. The store initially posted a “closed for inventory” sign on the door, but last week the local police arrived and told them to lock the doors. Owner, Storm Stafford, said that the retailer is accepting calls to handle any questions about pickups or deliveries and that the future of the business is unknown.
Stafford took down the “closed for inventory” sign and replaced it with one that informed the public that the store is closed. It also told customers to call the store if they had any questions about a purchase. Slumberland’s Corporate Office had no comments on how they plan to deal with the situation. And, the Department of Revenue would not disclose how much back taxes are owed by Stafford. But, did disclose that the state sales tax license had been revoked on June 11.
“We’re answering the phones if customers have questions about delivery and stuff like that,” Stafford said. “There is an emergency of course. So we’re trying to get things delivered and picked up as quick as possible, because the future is a little unknown.”
“Slumberland Corporate is having a meeting,” Stafford said. “Actually, they started having meetings Monday to try to figure out where they’re going to proceed; if someone else is going to come in and open a new location here or if there’s not going to be a location here.”
By slone
August 28th, 2010 at 07:00am
Under Furniture News
The International Sleep Products Assn. has announced that they’ve completed a mattress recycling program. The pilot program with a South Carolina based solid waste recycling business, Rubber Recovery Inc., was conducted to test the different options available to recycle large amounts of used mattresses. ISPA partnered with Rubber Recovery last year to see if the same technology they use to recycle tires and other items could be used for mattresses.
The results won’t be reported until later when Leggett & Platt drafts the report and any recommendations. The ISPA will then make the report available to all of its members and any companies that are interested in recycling old mattresses. Numerous members contributed various resources to the pilot program including Simmons and Park Place who provided hundreds of mattresses for the tests. “Most mattress recycling today is performed exclusively using manual labor. An efficient mechanized approach is needed to process the volumes of used mattresses that large urban areas will generate,” said ISPA President Ryan Trainer.
Four people from Leggett & Platt’s engineering and quality assurance departments were sent to document the tests. Several manufacturers of foam products will analyze the mixture of shredded foam, fabric and fiber that is generated from the shredding process to see if it is suitable to make re-bond foam that will then be used for carpet padding. Other recyclers, mattress manufacturers, retailers and component suppliers also over saw the test and provided insights on how the process could be adapted to recycling mattresses.
“Proper disposal of used mattresses has been a pressing industry problem for years and the need for a permanent solution is obvious,” said Don Wright, ISPA chairman and chief marketing officer at Wright of Thomasville. “ISPA is committed to working with mattress manufacturers, industry suppliers, the retail community, government officials, and recycling centers to develop an economically feasible and sustainable solution to this problem. I look forward to seeing the results of this pilot program, and sincerely appreciate all the support we have received from our members.”
By slone
August 27th, 2010 at 07:00am
Under Furniture News
After several years of absence, 828 International Trading Co., an area rug house, is returning to the fall High Point Market. President, John Shephers said that the company will be occupying a space in the Suites at Market Square that is temporary. 828 has had a permanent showroom in Atlanta’s AmericasMart for a long time.
“Over the past few years we’ve increased our focus on furniture retailers as a significant channel of distribution,” he explained. “With High Point Market being the largest furnishings industry trade show in the world, it makes good strategic sense to realign ourselves with this market.”
The new space occupied by 828 International will be located in the new rug gallery that is on the top floor of the Suites at Market Square in space 1-716. The company will be presenting its new 2010 product introductions and displays and will be displaying some of their machine and hand made collections they currently have.
By slone
August 26th, 2010 at 07:00am
Under Furniture News
With just over $2 billion in sales last year, the network of Ashley Furniture HomeStores has regained the number one spot as the nations largest bedding and furniture retailers. That spot was formerly held by Wal-Mart. It’s the second time that the network of corporate and licensed stores based in Wisconsin have been on the top of the list.
Wal-Mart slipped down to the number two spot with sales that were estimated at $1.95 billion in bedding and furniture. That total reflects a 3.6 percent decrease from the year before when it barely beat Ashley with $12 million more in sales. If you’d like to see the complete report you can check the August 23 edition of Furniture Today or visit their website.
By slone
August 25th, 2010 at 06:10am
Under Furniture News
The International Home Furnishings Center (IHFC) has announced that three more vendors have made committments to expand and relocate showrooms at this falls High Point Market.
Bedroom and entertainment supplier, Red Dog will now be showing in IHFC showroom H730. “We have experienced the short term success of showing in High Point,” said Red Dog’s Jeff Winans. “Now we’re ready to make a long-term commitment. We knew that the IHFC was the obvious choice.”
Sharelle Furnishings, a comtemorary furnishings supplier, will now be in IHFC H538 instead of the Artrium. “We felt to get to the next level, we needed to emphasize our High Point Market presence and we had to move the showroom to the IHFC,” said Sharelle’s Jack Kiesler.
Entertainment console and bench made oak bedroom supplier, Furniture Traditions has chosen to relocate their showroom to the High Point Market from the Las Vegas Market. Furniture Traditions will be located in the IHFC showroom H1003.
By slone
August 24th, 2010 at 07:00am
Under Furniture News
An updated outlook for the office furniture industry predicts that the industry should see modest growth rates for the remainder of this year. However, those increases will still result in flat total sales for the year. But, the updated outlook also predicts that the industry will realize solid growth next year.
The 2009 downturn that saw shipments decline by almost 30 percent is still causing a slow recovery for the office furniture idustry. The Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturer’s Association released the updated outlook with new predictions from the ones released three months ago. A o.5 percent decline in shipments in North America for this year is predicted. In May, BIFMA released a outlook that estimated a 5.1 percent decline.
A second quarter that was better than expected combined with the predicted 2 percent growth during the third and fourth quarters, has led to the update in th eoutlook. After a decline of 11 percent in shipments during the first quarter, shipments increased 3.6 during the period from April to June.
Second quarter orders for the spring increased 13 percent over the totals for 2009. That increase is the basis for the predicted solid base in increased shipment for the third quarter. Although, the predictions shine a little hope on the industry, no one can be sure what the economy is going to do.
By slone
August 22nd, 2010 at 07:00am
Under Furniture News
Furniture maker Flexsteel reported a record income increase for the fiscal year of 2010. From a loss of $1.5 million last year, Flexsteel’s net income rose to a staggering $10.8 million. The Dubuque based furniture manufacturer reports these earnings after several quarters of losses. The report, released this past week detailed the fourth quarter to the end of the fiscal year that ended on June 30.
Flexsteel also reports that their net sales increased for the quarter and the fiscal year, operating income increased and general and administrative expenses decreased. “Overall, we’re pleased with the progress we’ve made,” said Ron Klosterman, president and CEO of Flexsteel, in a conference call with investors Thursday.
By slone
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