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May 12,
2010 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on May 13, 2010
New Jersey Attorney General Paula T. Dow and the state Division of Consumer Affairs have settled a lawsuit filed against Monmouth County furniture retailers.
The defendants, Spectrum Home Furnishings, Inc., Charles Serouya & Son Inc. a/k/a Gallery, CS&S Inc. and Charles Serouya Inc., agreed to resolve existing and future consumer complaints, revise their business practices and pay up to $216,938 in civil penalties and reimbursements to the state.
The Office of the Attorney General and Division of Consumer Affairs filed the suit against the furniture retailers last June.
Pursuant to the settlement, defendants agreed to pay $104,657.00 in civil penalties and reimbursement of the states attorneys fees and investigative costs. The $112,281.00 balance of the settlement amount, which represents civil penalties, will be suspended and automatically vacated at the end of eighteen months, provided defendants comply with the terms of the Final Consent Judgment. In entering into the settlement, defendants made no admission of liability or wrongdoing of any kind.
"This settlement addresses all existing consumer complaints and requires the defendants to resolve any future complaints through binding arbitration," Attorney General Dow said. "The defendants agreed to revise their business practices to be in compliance with our consumer protection laws and regulations."
May 12,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Bedding on May 13, 2010
Luxury sleep system manufacturer and Israeli bedding retailer Hollandia International has formed a strategic alliance with global mattress brand Therapedic through which Hollandia will own the Therapedic license for Israel and Cyprus.
Hollandia plans to open Therapedic retail stores in Israeli cities over the next year. Additionally, both companies will form a joint research and development team that will create products leveraging Hollandia innovation, which would be sold throughout the world.
"We have been watching the growth and development of the Hollandia brand over the past few years and it is incredibly impressive," said Gerry Borreggine, Therapedic president and CEO. "They make some of the most luxurious products in our industry, and on the retail side of their business, they understand the importance of selling more than just mattresses to their customers--but rather the benefits of a good night's sleep. Together, I think we make a powerful combination in the bedding industry. We will be able to learn from one another and help our brands continue to grow."
Hollandia CEO Avi Barssessat said he had been looking for sometime to find the right U.S. sleep products brand to bring to Israel.
"Israelis love American brands, and Therapedic is an outstanding sleep products company that offers a full range of product choices," he said. "I think the brand will resonate exceptionally well here in Israel. We have examined the growth of Therapedic internationally to benchmark what has worked outside of the United States, and we believe our strategy will make the brand the fastest growing here in Israel."
Hollandia now operates in more than 120 locations throughout the world. In the United States, it operates two retail showrooms, one in Philadelphia and the other in Short Hills, N.J. All its products are manufactured in Israel.
May 12,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in on May 13, 2010
Italian bedding manufacturer Magniflex has launched a new Interior Designer Affiliate Program through which designers can now enjoy wholesale prices on a full range of eco-friendly mattress collections for three months, along with a convenient quick-ship capability guaranteeing a five-day delivery time directly to consumers' homes for one low, flat rate.
"In the past few months we tested this program with 30 leading New York-area designers, and based on that success we are extending the program to the broader design community," said Marco Magni, president of Magniflex. "We based it on what leading designers have told us they need in terms of premier, durable product, designed with sensitivity to health and to the environment, and at the best values available in the industry."
The program offers wholesale pricing to interior designers and any affiliated retailers for a period of three months after a members initial sign-up.
Once an order is placed, Magniflex delivers the mattress directly to consumers through its low-cost Quick Ship capability--$45 for a queen mattress to the 48 contiguous U.S. states. Magniflex also has begun shipping to Alaska, Puerto Rico and Hawaii, and is promoting complimentary shipping to all of the United States and Canada for any 10-piece orders.
"We are taking significant steps to help leading designers and retailers who have been hard hit during the recession," Magni said. "When orders are placed we can have product delivered to customers' doorsteps within a week. This not only offers savings to retailers who do not need to stock product, but is also in line with our philosophy to continuously implement greener and greater efficiencies company-wide."
May 12,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Bedding on May 13, 2010
Italian bedding manufacturer Magniflex has launched a new Interior Designer Affiliate Program through which designers can now enjoy wholesale prices on a full range of eco-friendly mattress collections for three months, along with a convenient quick-ship capability guaranteeing a five-day delivery time directly to consumers' homes for one low, flat rate.
"In the past few months we tested this program with 30 leading New York-area designers, and based on that success we are extending the program to the broader design community," said Marco Magni, president of Magniflex. "We based it on what leading designers have told us they need in terms of premier, durable product, designed with sensitivity to health and to the environment, and at the best values available in the industry."
The program offers wholesale pricing to interior designers and any affiliated retailers for a period of three months after a members initial sign-up.
Once an order is placed, Magniflex delivers the mattress directly to consumers through its low-cost Quick Ship capability--$45 for a queen mattress to the 48 contiguous U.S. states. Magniflex also has begun shipping to Alaska, Puerto Rico and Hawaii, and is promoting complimentary shipping to all of the United States and Canada for any 10-piece orders.
"We are taking significant steps to help leading designers and retailers who have been hard hit during the recession," Magni said. "When orders are placed we can have product delivered to customers' doorsteps within a week. This not only offers savings to retailers who do not need to stock product, but is also in line with our philosophy to continuously implement greener and greater efficiencies company-wide."
May 12,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Bedding on May 13, 2010
The International Sleep Products Association announced Wednesday that its Better Sleep Council has chosen New York-based CJP Communications as its agency-of-record. The council selected CJP after a competitive review of nine agencies.
CJP will support the council and its member companies with a strategic mix of digital/branded messaging, social media and traditional media relations. The agencys goal will be to position the mattress as the key to a great nights sleep and a productive day.
"The Better Sleep Council's mission is to promote the importance of sleep to a consumer's health and quality of life, and the role a new mattress plays in that equation," said BSC Chair Jimmy Orders of Park Place Corporation. "Based on CJP's presentation, I am confident that their team will be effective in helping the BSC communicate that message to our target audiences."
ISPA Chair Don Wright of Wright of Thomasville added, "Having served on the BSC for several years, I know first hand the importance of having a strong and nimble PR firm to help promote the industrys consumer messages. I am excited with the firm that the BSC has chosen and on behalf of the ISPA Board look forward to working with them as we develop a new campaign strategy and promote our messages using new media."
"We're excited to add the Better Sleep Council to our roster of outstanding clients," said Jennifer Prosek, CEO of CJP Communications. "A great nights sleep is so important to all of our lives; we consider it a noble cause to help spread that message and empower people to learn how they can improve their sleep."