Daily News Archive
Brought to you by Home Furnishings Business
May 10,
2010 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on May 11, 2010
Art Van Furniture, Warren, Mich., has been named "Kids Retailer of the Year" by bedroom and dining furniture vendor Legacy Classic.
"Art Van's high standards of business practices have made a significant impact in the furniture industry today," Legacy Classic President Lee Boone said in presenting the award at the recent High Point Furniture Market. "Art Van Furniture is a role model for the retail world to envy and we are proud to be honoring this exceptional company."
Legacy Classic Furniture, one of the largest youth furniture manufacturers, singled out Art Van for its passion and commitment to the field. Art Van Furniture carries 20 room groups at their stores and additional furniture may even be custom ordered.
"Our focus is to help create an environment where children can imagine, create and grow. With our extensive assortment of furniture and accessories, we can serve families from 'crib to college,'" said Melinda Lehman, Art Van youth buyer. "There are so many great new ways to make a child's room both fun and functional. Children today are much more involved in the decision making, and parents are happily surprised at the range of choices and the quality of products."
"This is truly an honor," said Gary Van Elslander, president of Art Van Furniture. "To be recognized by one of market leaders in children's furniture and at the same time creating wonderful homes for the people of Michigan."
May 9,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in economic news on May 10, 2010
The Furniture Buying Index, tracked by
America's Research Group, jumped two points this month to a reading of 71, marking the sixth consecutive month the Index has moved up.
Pent-up demand and larger than expected tax refunds helped drive the Index up two points this month, said Britt Beemer, chairman of Americas Research Group. When the Index reaches 70 points or higher, the success of retail furniture sales goes up dramatically. This is a good sign especially considering that Memorial Day weekend is historically a very strong furniture weekend.
The Furniture Buying Index is compiled each month by Charleston, S.C.-based 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.
May 9,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Community/Charitable Support on May 10, 2010
Bernis Martin, vice president of Kimbrell's Furniture Distributors Inc., Charlotte, N.C., is the newest recipient of Southern Home Furnishings Association's highest honor, the Willis Award of Merit.
"Bernis has served our company now continuously for over 40 years starting part-time in Kimbrell's delivery department in Fayetteville, N.C.," Said Kimbrell President Hank Johnson. "He exhibited a strong work ethic, the ability to lead by example and the intelligence to progress through all phases of our retail operation. We at Kimbrell's are proud to have Bernis as this year's Willis Award recipient."
The Willis Award of Merit was created in 1954 by the Willis Family of Willis Furniture Co., Virginia Beach, Va., as a memorial to John Willis Jr. and his son, Benjamin J. Willis Sr. The annual award honors an outstanding home furnishings retailer in the SHFA area who, in the opinion of the Willis Award Committee, contributes most unselfishly to the community, industry and God.
The award will be presented to Martin this summer at a celebration in his hometown of Belmont, N.C. He also receive recognition at this years SHFA Conference June 13-15 in Charleston, S.C.
For more information contact SHFA's Nicole Filippo at (800) 888-9590 or by e-mail.
Southern Home Furnishings Association is a regional affiliate of the National Home Furnishings Association. SHFA serves furniture retailers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.
May 9,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in economic news on May 10, 2010
The first quarter of 2010 brought slight growth to the furniture industry, according to the latest numbers from
Impact Consulting Services.
The industry grew a slight 1.7 percent in the first quarter of this year compared to the last quarter of 2009. When compared year-over-year to the first quarter of last year, industry sales were up 0.7 percent.
May 9,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on May 10, 2010
An El Paso furniture retailer has agreed to plead guilty to federal charges of manipulating financial records of furniture purchases and to pay a $250,000 fine, the El Paso Times reported Friday.
According to the deal, Charlotte's Inc. accepted cash payments and didn't report the transactions to the IRS. Charlotte's received $630,745 in cash from a "particular customer," the report said.
The plea agreement has not yet been accepted by the U.S. District Judge presiding over the case. The law provides for a fine of up to$500,000 in cases such as Charlotte's.