Daily News Archive
Brought to you by Home Furnishings Business
August 10,
2010 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Bedding on August 11, 2010
Case goods furniture manufacturer AP Inds. has promoted Ken Loh II to vice president of U.S. sales.
He reports to Daniel Benjamin, president of AP Inds., Laurier-Station, Quebec.
"As AP better positions itself to address the U.S. market, we want to secure and support a more solid partnership with our current retailer base," Benjamin said. "As we are a 'yes' company, at the same time we are supporting our current dealers we want to address the needs of other retailers we were not able to say 'yes' to in the past. Ken will bring to the AP team his energy and knowledge of the industry as he will be in charge of developing those areas within the U.S."
Loh has served as AP's vice president of sales since June. He has 10 years of experience as an independent sales representative with several leading companies, working in the juvenile and adult furniture sectors, backed with a broad knowledge of both the traditional and contemporary markets.
"I am excited to become involved with such a dynamic team and such a diversified company," Loh said. "As we move forward into the close of 2010 and planning for 2011 you can expect to see new directions, fresh approaches to the market, and most importantly the building of stronger partnerships within the U.S."
Founded in 1950, AP makes furniture for all ages in solid birch and birch wood veneer, including furniture that adapts as children grow from toddlers to teens.
August 10,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Executive Changes on August 11, 2010
Veteran home furnishing marketing executive Leigh Ann Venable has joined High Point marketing firm Ed Kemp Associates as account executive and business development manager.
Venable, previous owner of 360 Marketing, a High Point-based marketing and branding agency specializing in the home furnishings industry, is responsible key in her new post for furniture accounts management and new business development.
According to Venable, the transition from 360 Marketing to Ed Kemp Associates, was essential to the future success of her long-term clients, such as Century Furniture, Bernhardt Furniture, Home Meridian International and Atrium Windows and Doors.
"I'm grateful for my past experiences, the knowledge I've gained, and the invaluable relationships with wonderful friends and clients I've been blessed with over the past 10-plus years," she said. "Joining a respected, and well-known agency like Ed Kemp Associates enables me, through the support of a strong team and vast resources, to offer clients the best in advertising, marketing and PR. I'm proud to be part of the family."
According to Venable, all of her long-term clientele have not only accepted, but embraced the transition. Chris Reilly, Atrium Windows and Doors director of marketing and Lowe's national account manager, for example, is excited about the possibilities the forged relationship brings.
We want partners who help us grow our expertise and competitive advantages," he said. "We will look to grow our partnership where our needs fit their (Ed Kemp Associates) strengths. Leigh Ann is the conduit to that growth."
Ed Tashjian, chief marketing officer at furniture vendor Home Meridian International, said Venable is a responsive, resourceful, results-oriented professional.
"I've worked with Leigh Ann for ten years. She has great ideas and is fun to work with," Tashjian said.
Company President Jon Kemp said the agency, although located in the home furnishings capital of the world, has not been as engaged with the industry as one might think.
"Yes, gratefully we've worked some in the home furnishings industry in our 49 years of business, but unlike many agencies and businesses in High Point, it's not been our primary focus," Kemp said. "With Leigh Ann's passion, strong associations both inside and outside of the home furnishings industry, we anticipate strong relationships being forged."
August 10,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Advertising on August 11, 2010
Slumberland Furniture has extended its partnership with Vertis Communications to provide all advertising insert production, color engineering, and shipping needs.
The move retains Baltimore-based Vertis for an additional four years past its existing three-year contract with the furniture retailer.
"Vertis' established track record in producing impactful results through ads, such as customized gatefold inserts, and true collaboration in preserving image quality and color excellence has consistently met and exceeded our needs," said Kenny Larson, president of Slumberland Furniture, Little Canada, Minn. "Slumberland's brand equity demands that the aesthetics of every product shot be consistent with the Slumberland name. Vertis' expert color management team has continued to improve the print quality of our ad inserts while delivering projects on-time, every time."
Slumberland has 120 stores in 11 states, with major vendors including La-Z-Boy upholstery, Natuzzi leather, and Sealy and Simmons mattresses. Vertis has delivered cost-effective results for Slumberland, including the production and delivery of 160 million advertising inserts each year, since 2007, which was a key driver for the extension of the partnership.
In addition to color accuracy and print quality, the Vertis internal Logistics network, which provides transportation and warehousing services to more than 750 retailers and newspapers nationwide, plays a key role in the success of the Slumberland advertising inserts program. With the resources and relationships to handle the client's most complex, time-sensitive shipments, including 21 around-the-clock distribution centers that are strategically located near major markets, Vertis Logistics ensures that Slumberland's shipments make it to their destinations on-time with maximum efficiency.
"The extension of our relationship with Slumberland validates that Vertis has delivered on its commitment to develop the highest quality communication programs with on-time execution, supported by our nationwide logistics expertise," said Kathy Calta, chief marketing officer for Vertis Communications. "We're incredibly proud of our partnership and look forward to providing Slumberland with the same impeccable service and measurable, cost-effective results over the next four years."
August 9,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on August 10, 2010
The Florida Home Furnishings Association has merged with fellow National Home Furnishings Association affiliate Southeastern Home Furnishings Association.
FHFA and SEHFA combined in order to eliminate needless duplication due to previously overlapping territories in the Florida panhandle; and to achieve administrative efficiency and lower overhead costs. Assurances have been set in place to give the Florida contingent a strong voice on the board of directors.
The merger creates a much larger base of members, and will allow the SEHFA to draw upon an expanded membership base to attract strong talent for conventions and educational programs, and to improve the quality of these programs.
Florida members will join the SEHFA Board of Directors. The SEHFA By-Laws will be the operating guidelines for the new association, and they will be re-written to incorporate the positive aspects of both organizations, according to a release announcing the merger.
August 9,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on August 10, 2010
Home Comfort Furniture has teamed with Internet marketing services and Web site provider FurnitureDealer.net to launch a new major upgrade for its mattress Web site.
The new version of the Raleigh, N.C., retailer's mattress catalog Web site features updated and enhanced product presentations from the major mattress manufacturers and other players in the industry. Web site navigation has been upgraded to make it easy for customers to find product quickly and the overall shopping environment has been designed specifically to encourage a customer to make contact with the store or buy online.
"Our new mattress Web site features products from all of our bedding brands and the new organization and navigation make it easy for a shopper to find exactly what they want," said John Gunter, owner of Home Comfort Furniture. "We are excited about launching the new Web site because we believe that upgrading our mattress presence online will lead to increased sales overall."
"Our team has worked closely with John at Home Comfort to develop this major upgrade to our mattress solution," said FurnitureDealer.Net President Andy Bernstein." We are really excited about the impact the new site will have on their business."
Minneapolis-based FurnitureDealer.net's new mattress catalog is available as a stand-alone Web site or as a component that can be integrated into a full line FurnitureDealer.Net catalog Web site. FurnitureDealer.Net has begun the process of incorporating these improvements to their current client base and plans to continue implementation in the upcoming months.