Daily News Archive
Brought to you by Home Furnishings Business
July 26,
2010 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Social Media on July 27, 2010
Today's news brings with it a couple of whoa stories that require some sort of interjection. So in the spirit of Hump Day, we bring to you another Schoolhouse Rock genius.
This week, the obvious pick is the little ditty on those fabulous interjections. Be careful, or you'll find yourself tapping your toes and singing the song throughout the day.
Enjoy!
July 25,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Bedding on July 26, 2010
Rent-to-own major Aaron's Inc., Atlanta, Ga., (NYSE: AAN) has changed the name of its 11 furniture and bedding manufacturing plants.
Formerly MacTavish Furniture Industries, Aaron's furniture making group now is named Woodhaven Furniture Industries. The name change is synonymous with the Woodhaven brand of products the company manufactures and accompanies a move toward greater green practices within the manufacturing process. A full rebranding effort including a new logo supports the name change.
"Our manufacturing operations have undergone substantial changes over the past few years, namely a movement toward greener practices," said Aaron's President and CEO, Robert C. Loudermilk Jr. "We also recognized our plants are best known for the Woodhaven product brand, so we believe this is the perfect time to rebrand accordingly. Our new logo of a green tree not only represents our commitment to the environment, but it signifies what Aaron's is all about--strength, stability, growth and community responsibility."
Aaron's has implemented a number of actions in its effort to go green at its manufacturing plants, including the recycling of all scrap materials, the use of sustainable wood products in furniture, the use of raw materials containing at least 25 post-consumer content, skylight panels to reduce the use of light fixtures and energy consumption, the use of wood waste for heating, and the implementation of electronic documentation processes to reduce the amount of paper used. Aaron's reduced landfill waste at its Coolidge and Cairo, Georgia locations by approximately eight million pounds and generated a cost savings of nearly $250,000 in 2009.
"We're at the forefront of the green movement in the furniture manufacturing industry," said Mike Jarnigan, Aaron's vice president, manufacturing. "Aaron's is proud to make its furniture, upholstery and bedding right here in the U.S., and it's important that we do everything in our power to protect the environment in our own backyard. As we like to say at Woodhaven, we're saving the world, one sofa at a time."
The Woodhaven Furniture Industries division operates 11 facilities in five states, with a 12th facility scheduled to open in Phoenix later this year. Most production is shipped to Aaron's Company-operated and franchised stores. The division manufactured furniture and bedding worth around $72 million at cost 2009.
Aaron's Inc. has more than 1,730 company-operated and franchised stores in 48 states and Canada.
July 25,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Bedding on July 26, 2010
Italian mattress manufacturer Magniflex has opened a new sales and customer service center in New York to support U.S. operations.
The center at 154 Grand St. replaces back-office operations formerly located at Magniflex's retail showroom a few blocks away on Grand Street.
"U.S. and Canadian consumers have been responding very well to our unique product offerings, which has lead to an expansion of our operations in North America," said Marco Magni, global sales director for Magniflex. "The new facility enables us to add more staff that can be more responsive to the needs of our dealers and their customers."
Over the past few months, Magniflex expanded its U.S. dealer network in Oregon, Washington and Alaska, and its Canadian network in Ontario and Alberta, representing a dozen more dealer locations in the first quarter of 2010. The brand is adding new retailers, expanding its popular Quick Ship program, and offering deeper discounts on floor models, as part of its continued growth plans for the North American market.
The company has expanded the products available and territories served through its Quick Ship program, which guarantees delivery in five days at one low, flat-fee shipping cost. New and existing Magniflex dealers also receive additional discounts on new floor sample orders on top of existing discounts.
July 25,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Advertising on July 26, 2010
Joe Carroll, former publisher of Furniture Today, has joined McNeill Communications Group Inc. as president of its new marketing communications division.
The High Point-based advertising and public relations agency is expanding its services to include global strategic marketing services. In this position, Carroll will oversee marketing and communications to include planning, advertising, public relations, social media and a full suite of creative services.
"So many industry friends have contacted me requesting my help with their marketing projects that the opportunities were irresistible," Carroll said. "The furniture industry has always reminded me of a family. We know one another and we help one another whenever possible. There are always new challenges which keep the game exciting, and I can't think of anything I would rather do more than contribute to the growth of our industry. I have known Karen (McNeill-Harris) for more than 20 years and am impressed by her industry knowledge, business structure and communications skills. We share an identical business philosophy: to put our clients welfare first and to work hard to help them succeed."
"Joe brings unmatched relationships in our industry and a passion for putting together a creative marketing mix," said McNeill-Harris, CEO of McNeill Communications which has specialized in home furnishings for more than 20 years. "Joe is a perfectly balanced match of knowledge, experience and connections that will take us to the next level as the leading full service agency for the industry."
Carroll recently retired after 33 years with the industry trade publication Furniture Today, where he developed several sister publications, a daily e-mail news service and helped organize a global home furnishings publications group, the International Alliance of Furnishings Publications. He has shared his knowledge of the industry through speeches, television appearances and a newspaper column. The author of four tabletop books on furniture design, he has received the IHFRA Pillar of the Industry and City of Hope Spirit of Life awards, and was inducted into the American Furniture Foundation Hall of Fame last year. He was recently awarded an honorary doctorate degree from Kendall College of Art and Design in Grand Rapids. Carroll first entered the home furnishings field with advertising agency J. P. Hogan in 1969.
Carroll also has served as president of the American Furniture Hall of Fame Foundation and its Legacy Board, and as chairman of the High Point University Home Furnishings Advisory Board. He serves on the boards of the High Point Chamber of Commerce, and the String & Splinter Club, and is a member of Greensboro's "100 Club" of progressive leaders. He also is active in the Furnitureland Rotary Club and as a fundraiser for the Newcomer's School, a magnet school for immigrant children in Guilford County.
July 25,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Bedding on July 26, 2010
Christopher Schriever has been named publisher of Bedroom Magazine, a publication aimed at bedding retailers.
Schriever's firm, Washington, D.C.-based Blue House Design, which designed and printed the magazine for more than six years, has purchased the publication for an undisclosed amount from The Marketing Arm Group, Charlotte, N.C.
Read, CEO of The Marketing Arm Group, will remain affiliated with the magazine as editor emeritus and senior writer for the mattress and bedding industry trade journal.
This move also gives Read the opportunity to place more focus on his role as president of the Specialty Sleep Association and author of the "Green Initiative," as well as pursue other opportunities within the mattress/bedding industry.
"Sixteen years ago there was no serious coverage of the mattress/bedding industry to the mattress retailer," Read said. "I saw the opportunity to become a vocal advocate for the manufacturers and the suppliers to the retailers. Over the years we expanded the circulation from just under 5,000 retailers up to 22,000 at one point."
Recent store closings and consolidations, as well as greater circulation focus, put retailer distribution for the Summer 2010 issue at 18,347.