Daily News Archive
Brought to you by Home Furnishings Business
June 2,
2010 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Acquisition on June 3, 2010
Atlanta-based gift and home decor sales agency The Southern Link has acquired the Fox Premier Sales manufacturer's representative group. Fox Premier will conduct business under its current name, continue with its present sales force, and operate its showroom in Atlanta.
"We are always looking for growth opportunities and better ways to serve our customers and vendors, so it was natural for us to align with a solid agency like Fox Premier Sales as part of our proactive business philosophy," said Fred Rosenkampff, CEO of The Southern Link of Ga., which has a history of acquisitions and expansions including a buy out of McAlexander & Associates in 2002 that helped form Link 2 Sales, and an acquisition of Southern Exposure's sales team and vendors that established Southern Link Home in 2009.
"One of the greatest outcomes of this acquisition will be the incredible strength of our combined management and key account teams to complement our solid sales force," Rosenkampff added. "We will have 5 sales managers, each with more than 20 years of sales experience, and 8 key account managers. Their complementary talents and combined experience will enable us to maximize sales and service for our valued partners in business."
"Our companies have always been good, friendly competitors", said Marc Rice, president of Fox Premier Sales. "In addition, we've always enjoyed a mutual trust and respect that extends far beyond any normal competitive situation. Over time we realized much of our style, passions and beliefs complemented each other. We also realized our business goals were quite similar."
June 2,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Community/Charitable Support on June 3, 2010
Art Van Furniture, Warren, Mich., announced Wednesday that the furniture retailer will renew its "Million Dollar Charity Challenge" this year.
In celebrating 50 years in business last year, Art Van Furniture gave $1 million in donations in 50 grants to a variety of non-profit organizations. Each grant ranges from $5,000 to $50,000 to support Michigan-based children, health and human services programs.
Art Van describes the donations as "challenge grants" in order to encourage the people of Michigan to make a contribution and maximize fundraising opportunities. With the Michigan economy continuing to struggle, the retailer continued the fundraising effort for 2010.
"If there is one thing I have learned through the years, it is that very little can be done without the proper financial resources, and even the biggest hearts and most ambitious programs need money to meet their goals," said Art Van Chairman and Founder Art Van Elslander.
To continue the momentum in 2010, all eligible 2009 Charity Challenge recipients are receiving an additional $5,000.
"We are accepting applications for another 50 deserving recipients, but that does not end the connection with the previous 50," said President Gary Van Elslander. "Art Van is committed to assist long-term by providing resources that build success of Art Van Furniture."
Applications are being accepted June 2-August 2, and winners will be announced in October of 2010. All interested 501(c)3, tax-exempt organizations are encouraged to visit the Art Van Furniture Web site to submit grant applications and learn more about the program.
June 2,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Bedding on June 3, 2010
Leggett & Platt Consumer Products Group is joining the cause for long-term Haitian earthquake relief by donating to the WorldBed project, an initiative that is sending mattresses to Haiti to help alleviate discomfort as the rainy season approaches.
The companys donation will fund WorldBeds for use by victims of the January 2010 earthquake in Haiti. These waterproof beds will provide a dry, comfortable sleeping surface to earthquake victims in Haiti.
The WorldBed Project is a turnkey sleep system designed for emergency care and relief efforts initiated by mattress manufacturer Anatomic Global in 2005 in the wake of Hurricane Katrina to provide field beds to people in need. Built from high performing 3-inch cushioning foam, the cot-sized field beds can be compression packaged and quickly dispatched, in volume, to areas of need, anywhere, worldwide. It was created to provide needed comfort, increased levels of health and safety, and a more sanitary place to sleep in an effort to speed recovery and aid in healing.
"We're proud to contribute to a caring and important initiative like the WorldBed project," said Herman Tam, group vice president of sales and marketing for Leggett & Platt's Consumer Products Group, the company's retail arm in the bedding industry. "As a leader in the bedding industry, Leggett & Platt's involvement in a cause like this is both our privilege and responsibility. This donation, along with many others, will help WorldBed reach its goal to send 200,000 beds to Haiti. We hope our customers and suppliers will join us and do what they can to support this humanitarian initiative."
"We're grateful for Leggett & Platt Consumer Products Group's generous donation and growing partnership with WorldBed," said Laura Castro, president of WorldBed. "We're honored that a leader in our industry like Leggett & Platt has stepped up to support this important initiative. WorldBed is a long-term project and with the support of others, including our industry colleagues, we can together achieve our mission of providing comfort throughout the world."
June 1,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in economic news on June 2, 2010
The Furniture Buying Index rose another point this month to reach 72, the seventh consecutive month the Index has experienced an increase.
"The Index holding steady is a positive sign considering summer is not always a great time for furniture sales," said Britt Beemer, Chairman of America's Research Group, which produces the Index. "When the Index reaches 70 points or higher, the success of retail furniture sales goes up dramatically. This reflects the strength of Memorial Day weekend as a strong furniture weekend."
The Furniture Buying Index is compiled each month by America's Research Group from interviews with 5,000 to 8,000 consumers across the country. In a typical month, 80 percent of the consumers interviewed can name a specific furniture item they intend to buy. The Index's mark signifies what percent of the benchmark 80 percent actually have a particular item in mind.
America's Research Group is a full-service consumer behavior research company based in Charleston, S.C., providing research and strategic planning services to leading manufacturers and retailers of consumer goods across North America.
June 1,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Bankruptcy on June 2, 2010
San Antonio-based home furnishings retailer Furniture Factory Warehouse, which operates 12 stores in South Texas, has filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy protection in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas.
The retailer expects its stores and distribution facilities to remain closed pending the Court's approval of Furniture Factory Warehouse's "Bankruptcy Going Out of Business Sale." The company's decision comes as a result of unfavorable financial conditions, including a sustained decline in furniture sales, according to Paul Thompson, one of the company's managers.
As part of its plan to liquidate inventories, the retailer selected national furniture liquidation firm Planned Furniture Promotions Inc. to run the bankruptcy liquidation sale, subject to bandruptcy court approval.
"After extensive investigation and careful consideration, we chose Planned Furniture Promotions," said Thompson. "It is important for us to work with a highly experienced and reputable partner in the store liquidation process. Planned Furniture Promotions is committed to the bankruptcy liquidation sale and we believe that the sale will result in the best possible outcome for all our creditors, both secured and unsecured."
PFP will conduct the Bankruptcy Going Out of Business Sale at the companys 12 locations in San Antonio, Killeen, McAllen, Corpus Christi, Harlingen, Brownsville and El Paso.
Tom Liddell, vice president of sales and marketing at Planned Furniture Promotions said that many of the retailer's staff would be retained during the liquidation sale.