September 21,
2010 by in UnCategorized 
By Aggregated Content in economic news on September 22, 2010
from http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?z3198684950&z=1000247453
Canadians spent less on furniture, home furnishings, electronics and appliances in July, pushing retail sales down 0.1 percent to $35.9 billion, according to Statistics Canada reported Friday.
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September 21,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Aggregated Content in Financial Reports on September 22, 2010
from http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?r3198134603&f=10761
San Francisco-based home furnishings retailer Williams-Sonoma announced that its board of directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.15 per common share.
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September 21,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Aggregated Content in Furniture Retailing on September 22, 2010
from http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?r3197478878&f=10761
David Thompson and D.J. Effler have opened the Comfy Couch Co. in Columbus, Ohio, and hope to build on the plan through franchsing.
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September 21,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Case Goods on September 22, 2010
Case goods vendor Eastern Legends has committed to a new 2,600-square-foot showroom in the
Las Vegas Design Center at the World Market Center.
"Eastern Legends has been a partner on the market-only side for a number of years, and their expansion into Las Vegas Design Center is a terrific addition to our product mix," said Randy Wells, vice president of Las Vegas Design Center. "It creates an opportunity for Eastern Legends to leverage the daily business of Las Vegas Design Center. At the same time, Eastern Legends adds yet another layer of diversification to Las Vegas Design Center, with beautiful, highly styled case goods."
The company's showroom is in Building A, Space 135.
Eastern Legends' foundation lies in more than two decades of high-end furniture retailing. In that time, principals Jessy Wang and Jim Saia have learned the tastes and desires of their client base. It can be seen through their dining room, bedroom and living room furnishings, and styles that run the gamut, from rustic to formal, elegant to distressed.
September 21,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on September 22, 2010
Natuzzi University hit the road earlier this month to work with sales associates at Furniture Outlets USA on their knowledge of the leather furnitureture category.
Led by Lauren West, director of education and development, Craig Ruse, regional vice president, and Mark Brunsvold, representative for Natuzzi Americas Inc., the inaugural event reached Furniture Outlet USA employees from six retail stores and two distribution centers--graduating 20 top sales performers in Minnesota's Twin Cities, and another 40 top sales performers, as well as customer service and warehouse personnel in Sioux Falls, S. Dak., where the 30-store chain is headquartered.
Bill Hinks, chief executive of Furniture Outlets USA, said the opportunity to expose his best sales personnel to Natuzzi's in-depth training will pay dividends for the chain--generating enhanced sales-per-square-foot not only for the Natuzzi products on the stores' floors, but also for the entire leather category.
"Natuzzi University imparts not only sales and leadership skills, but vital life lessons that have no expiration date," said Hinks. "When you can incrementally increase your top performers' knowledge and skill-sets through a program like this, you get results that are measureable, immediate and lasting in the overall customer experience."
Tasked with continuously developing "best practice" principles for the Italian leather upholstery powerhouse, West pioneered international instructional programs for Natuzzi retailers that include a range of course materials for educational seminars, workshops and events. The Natuzzi University retail sales education system has graduated more than 2,000 Natuzzi Group Certified Leather Experts globally since its inception in High Point in 2002.
Mini "U" is a condensed version of the typical two-day University sessions held in the High Point showroom.
"While we continue to offer Natuzzi University in High Point, with dates scheduled well into next year, we also know that it's difficult for dealers to devote time and resources to education programs that take place away from their sales floors," West said. "For that reason, we decided to take our show on the road, to enable even more sales associates to participate in the program."
On-the-road sessions such as those at Furniture Outlets USA are expected to draw 40 to 45 retail sales people, executives and others.
"We recognize that business conditions are challenging for many dealers, so we adjusted the University program to provide them with the ammunition they need to drive sales, in a way that would enable us to educate, motivate and inspire as many salespeople as possible through the end of the year," West said.
For additional information, please visit natuzzieditions.com.