Daily News Archive
Brought to you by Home Furnishings Business
July 14,
2010 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Case Goods on July 15, 2010
A fire damaged an Ethan Allen furniture plant in Orleans, Vt., the Burlington Free Press reported Wednesday.
A dust collection unit burst into flames early Wednesday afternoon, but the fire was contained within an hour. Fire crews stayed on the scene to fight hot spots until about 8:10 p.m.
No cause has been determined for the fire, which caused no injuries. The maintenance chief at the Ethan Allen plant told firefighters most of the plant should reopen on Thursday.
July 14,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on July 15, 2010
The Western Home Furnishings Association and National Home Furnishings Association have released the Summer Market educational seminar schedule for the August 2-6 Las Vegas Furniture Market.
The Retailer Resource Center, located in World Market Center B-1630 and C-496, will host the seminars along with offering a retail services tradeshow, complimentary coffee, buyers' breakfast, Internet access and networking opportunities.
WHFA and NHFA have once again partnered with the World Market Center to offer the WHFA Academy Business Survival Academy Series on Monday and Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning in the World Forum Room, 16th floor of Building B.
Monday's session will feature, "The Retail Revolution: New World, New Way," presented by "stealth shopping" consultants Rich Kizer & Georganne Bender.
Tuesdays session is from retailer Leon & Lulu's Mary Liz Curtin, "Creating a Brand with Personality"; and on Wednesday, Sustainable Furnishings Council President Jeff Hiller will speak on "Intensive Management Training: Morale, Motivation and Measurement."
Other sessions held in the Retailer Resource Center will feature topics such as sales and sales management, delivery tips, advertising, promotions and much more.
Click here for a complete listing of the dates and times of WHFA and NHFA seminars at Las Vegas Market.
For more information about the Retailer Resource Center or the seminar series, please visit the WHFA Web site, or call 800.422.3778.
July 14,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on July 15, 2010
Fire damaged a furniture store in downtown Las Vegas Wednesday afternoon, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported.
The fire at the furniture store, Alex Rivas Upholstery, damaged two other businesses. It was the third fire this week in downtown Las Vegas.
A fire department spokesman said in the report that the fire began outside the store and behind it, and investigators are still seeking a cause.
The fire caused $200,000 in damage to the store. No people were injured, but a dog died in the fire.
July 13,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Legal on July 14, 2010
The 500,000-square-foot
office and warehouse of University Loft. Co. in Greenfield, Ind., was raided Tuesday by federal agents executing a search warrant,
according to the Indianapolis Star.
According to the news story, agents arrived at the property in the morning and stayed through the afternoon. The company, which makes contract furniture for college dorms, the military and large retailers, had made a push into residential furniture a couple of years back.
Authorities declined to tell the newspaper many details because the warrant was sealed. Agencies involved in the search included The Department of Defense, the Air Force, Defense Criminal Investigative Services and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The company released a statement Tuesday afternoon that said: "This morning, our company was approached by federal agents with a search warrant seeking business records. The government did not reveal to us the object of their search, but we are cooperating with them in every way requested and will continue to do so. University Loft is confident it is in compliance with all applicable laws."
July 13,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on July 14, 2010
Ashley Furniture Homestore locations in Redding and Chico, Calif., were served with search warrants Tuesday afternoon, the Redding Record-Searchlight reported.
The Chico store was closed and paperwork there was confiscated, the Chico Enterprise Record reported.
A spokesman for SPCI Companies, a Colorado firm that's liquidating the Chico store's assets said detectives wanted information on sales before May 21.
The Redding store stayed open during the search, but customers were turned away while it was in progress.
"We went in to browse but were met by a gentlemen at the front door who said he was from the District Attorney's Office," Linda Sinner, told the Record-Searchlight. "They said they were doing a search warrant at the store. They asked us if we were there to just browse or to buy something. We said were there to just browse. He asked us to come back in a couple of hours. That was it."
Robert Myers, who owned Ashley stores in Redding, Chico and Yuba City, closed the Yuba City Ashley Furniture Homestore in May and began liquidation sales at the other locations.
Myers had said customers should get refunds and orders after the liquidation process is complete, probably in August, and that the Redding and Chico stores will stay open.