Daily News Archive
Brought to you by Home Furnishings Business
August 9,
2010 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Advertising on August 10, 2010
Erika Sparrow has joined Imagine Advertising & Publishing, a creative, print, and Web design firm specializing in furniture and bedding, as vice president of sales.
A graduate of Washington State University, Sparrow has almost 10 years of creative services work in the furniture industry. She began her career with Banner Retail (now Banner Marketing), where she was vice president of sales and business development. Most recently, Sparrow was vice president of sales for Knorr Marketing, overseeing the Home Furnishings Division.
Sparrow's main focus has been working with furniture manufacturers and retail business owners across the country to create advertising programs and campaigns utilizing circulars, direct mail, television, the Internet and various social media. Her responsibilities at Imagine will be to further develop Imagine's manufacturer and retailer base, with an additional focus of expanding the use among retailers of ImagineRetailer.com, Imagine's new joint venture with The Lively Merchant and Studio 98, offering furniture dealers affordable Web sites that are actively managed on a weekly basis.
"Erika will undoubtedly add a new dimension to our company," said Imagine Founder and President Flora Stopher. "When it became clear that her services were available, it seemed like a perfect fit, and we are very excited to have her here as part of the Imagine team."
August 9,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Acquisition on August 10, 2010
A majority of Norwegian furniture maker Hjellegjerde's shareholders have okayed a deal to make Danish furniture vendor Interstil Hjellegjerde's main shareholder.
The combination of Interstil and Hjellegjerde will constitute one of Norway's largest furniture companies, with annual global sales of around 1.25 billion NOK.
"This is obviously a very important day for Hjellegjerde," said Olav Inge Royset, CEO of Hjellegjerde. "The most important short-term course is that Hjellegjerde has added the necessary new equity and has a good industrial owner, but in the longer term, its now been created a new type of player in the Norwegian furniture landscape. For Hjellegjerde it means that we can now focus on future growth."
"Interstil has its strength in a wide range of furniture and interior products and a very well-developed logistic concept," said Roar Hoiland, owner and CEO of Interstil AS. "The combination of this and Hjellegjerde's products and manufacturing expertise will make us a leader in the furniture market."
Hoiland said the goal is to increase market share significantly both in Norway and abroad.
In the last week the management, board of directors and shareholders of Hjellegjerde have worked continuously to rescue the company, and the solution with Interstil gives the company a very good starting point for the future.
"It's been a very critical period for the company, but the result now means that the company has been saved," said Hjellegjerde Chairman Lars Buer. "Not least, the shareholders who have given their prior consent have been crucial for this success."
August 9,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Markets on August 10, 2010
Fine Furniture Design, High Point, will move its High Point showroom to the International Home Furnishings Center for the upcoming October Market.
Formerly at Union Square, Fine Furniture Design, the marketing arm of Shanghai manufacturer Fine Furniture, will showcase its growing case goods and upholstery lines in IHFC-W800.
The move is part of the company's long-term strategy, said Fine Furniture President and CEO Ted Philpott.
"We want to make sure the Fine Furniture story reaches the widest possible audience, and being in the IHFC gives us that advantage," he said.
The company's founder, the late Asia furniture manufacturing pioneer Larry Moh, began Fine Furniture Design & Marketing in 2000 after selling his interests in Universal Flooring and Universal Furniture, companies he founded.
Earlier this year, the company name changed to Fine Furniture Design. The company's leadership felt it was time to relocate into the IHFC to be more convenient for existing customers as well as more accessible to shoppers in search of a change to better values and service from a single factory.
"This fall we will be launching several case goods collections, to help retailers offer high value at appealing retail price points," Philpott said. "In addition to the new case goods, the company will continue to expand both their Dining a la Carte casual dining program and their Protege decorative seating upholstery line. With this diversified presentation, the IHFC found the space and the environment to make the most impact."
August 8,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Home Office on August 9, 2010
Kathy Ireland has extended her brand into ready-to-assemble office and home office furniture with a partnership with
Bush Furniture.
Ireland, chief executive officer and chief designer of
kathy ireland Worldwide,will work with the company to create office furnishings and home office product.
"We're very excited to have the opportunity to work with Kathy Ireland and her team in an effort to design and build affordable, stylish and responsible furnishing solutions for both office and home," said Jim Sherbert, CEO of Bush Industries. "We believe this partnership represents a significant opportunity to bring to market a smart and relevant portfolio of products for today's business professional and home executive; and we are fortunate to build this on the business and design leadership and strong brand following of Kathy Ireland and kiWW."
The partnership will develop lines of office products, including entertainment, organization, storage and home furnishings. The designs will be marketed as kathy ireland Office by Bush Furniture and kathy ireland Home by Bush Furniture and will be distributed globally and available at retailers across the country, as well as online, beginning as early as Summer 2011.
"This launch of kathy ireland Office by Bush Furniture is a wonderful moment in our journey to serve business owners, families and busy moms," Ireland said. "Bush Furniture is a world class leader in this industry. It's a great honor to partner with this team to make our vision of finding solutions for people in business a reality. kathy ireland Home by Bush Furniture will give our customers new and exciting designs, as well."
Bush and kiWW will begin collaborating immediately to produce designs for the new furniture line, which will focus on a comprehensive assortment of ready-to-assemble pieces appropriate for almost any office and room of the home. The new lines will be developed for the needs of business owners and busy moms with a streamlined shopping experience and convenient delivery options.
Ireland has partnerships throughout the industry, including
Vaughan Furniture Co.,
Therapedic,
Omnia Furniture, and
Martin Furniture.
August 8,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in on August 9, 2010
Ethan Allen Operations, which manufacturers
Ethan Allen Interiors product, plans to create 90 jobs and invest $250,000 to expand its capacity in Old Fort, N.C.
The project, announced last week by N.C. Gov. Bev Perdue was made possible in part by a $270,000 grand from the
One North Carolina Fund.
In addition to bringing jobs and investment to Western North Carolina, Ethan Allens decision to expand in McDowell County speaks volumes about our strong workforce and business climate, Perdue said. North Carolinas support for the furniture industry is recognized worldwide.
Ethan Allens Old Fort plant manufactures solid wood case goods its design centers. The company also manufactures upholstery in Maiden, N.C., and employs about 1,300 employees in North Carolina.
The recession of the past year has resulted in many challenges and also created opportunities to accelerate establishing a stronger enterprise, said Farooq Kathwari, Ethan Allen chairman and CEO. Our plan to expand case goods operations in Old Fort, N.C., where we have been operating since 1959, will start immediately. We are pleased that the state and local government authorities in North Carolina worked with us to make this happen."
The jobs will pay an average wage of $26,645 not including benefits, slightly under the McDowell County average annual wage of $27,768.
During these tough economic times, its critical to make the right investments that will create jobs and economic opportunities in McDowell County, said Sen. Joe Sam Queen. Our top-notch workforce is a big reason for this welcome news today.
The One NC Fund provides financial assistance, through local governments, to attract business projects that will stimulate economic activity and create new jobs in the state. Companies receive no money up front and must meet job creation and investment performance standards to qualify for grant funds. These grants also require and are contingent on local matches.
Through use of the One NC Fund, more than 40,000 jobs and $7 billion in investment have been created since 2001. Other partners that helped with the project include: the
N.C. Department of Commerce,
N.C. Community College Systems and
McDowell County.
The full press release is on the N.C. governor's Web site.