Daily News Archive
Brought to you by Home Furnishings Business
March 30,
2010 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Customer Service on March 31, 2010
The Z Files blog on HFBusiness.com has been updated.
Click here to read Profitgroups vice president Phyllis Bosco Zaepfel's take on the customer experience and why it matters to furniture retailers.
March 30,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Bedroom on March 31, 2010
Sligh Furniture, Holland, Mich., will launch its first bedroom in decades at High Point with Laredo. The collection, based on a best-selling home office and home entertainment design already is in production.
Consumer demand for the category inspired the move. Rob Sligh, the company's chairman and CEO, spoke with consumers both in person and through his "Ask Rob" interactive communication feature on Sligh's Web site, and kept hearing requests for bedroom furniture that had the same quality and innovations found in the company's home office, home entertainment and home living collections.
Others wanted to update or add to the bedroom pieces they already had, pieces that had been crafted by Sligh Furniture a generation or two earlier when the company was a major player in the category.
Laredo's signature piece is an arched panel bed available in queen, king and California king, inset with a dark antique bronze metal scroll design, substantial square posts with three-tiered finials, and raised panels on the headboard and optional footboard.
Other pieces include a 54-inch tall chest and a 46-inch tall double dresser with the height to multitask as a media bureau. The double dresser's top center drawer front flips down to reveal a storage area for a DVD player and its remote control.
The collection also has a lift-top TV cabinet with inlaid marquetry on both sides and faux drawer drop-down doors concealing the electronics storage area, making it suited for use at the foot of the bed, as a room divider or along a wall. The TV console comes with Sligh's SmartEye infrared technology, and the lift mechanism is activated with the consumer's remote control.
Retail prices will range from $2,400 to $2,700 for a complete bed.
"Our retailers who have previewed the collection have been enthusiastic," Sligh said. "The design, the price and the quality, coupled with consumers' desires gave us the confidence to put the Laredo bedroom into production before Market."
Sligh expects the Laredo bedroom to be available at retail in fall 2010.
March 29,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on March 30, 2010
Swedish home furnishings retailer Ikeahas been recognized by the Ethisphere Institute as one of the world's most ethical companies for 2010.
Ikea was recognized for its "upright business practices and initiatives that are instrumental in the company's success, benefit the community and raise the bar for ethical standards within the industry," according to the announcement.
This Ikea's fourth consecutive year for the award.
"Ikea is very pleased with being recognized again as one of the world's most ethical companies," said Mike Ward, Ikea U.S. president. "We believe the strength of a company starts with a deep commitmentnot only from managementbut also from every co-worker who has demonstrated unwavering dedication to the highest standards."
This is the fourth year Ethisphere, a think-tank dedicated to the creation, advancement and sharing of best practices in business ethics, corporate social responsibility, anti-corruption and sustainability, has published the ethical rankings.
Through in-depth research and a multi-step analysis, Ethisphere reviewed thousands of nominations from companies in more than 100 countries and 36 industries to determine the winners.
A sampling of other winners include Aflac, American Express, Campbell Soup, the Ford Motor Co., General Electric, Google, L'Oreal, Nike, PepsiCo, Starbucks, T-Mobile USA, UPS, Whole Foods Market and Xerox.
"Ikea's promotion of a sound ethical environment shines within its industry and shows a clear understanding that operating under the highest standards for business behavior goes beyond goodwill and "lip-service" and is intimately linked to performance and profitability," said Alex Brigham, executive director of the Ethisphere Institute. "This year's World's Most Ethical Companies award was more competitive than ever, because companies realize that making ethics a priority is critical amidst a tough economic environment.
"Compliance or ethics failures add up to more than fees, fines and penalties," Brigham said. "The leadership distraction and turnover, forced alteration of a working profit model and heightened scrutiny that result show: good ethics means better business."
Companies are reviewed on codes of ethics, litigation and regulatory infraction histories; evaluating the investment in innovation and sustainable business practices; looking at activities designed to improve corporate citizenship; and studying nominations from senior executives, industry peers, suppliers and customers.
Click
here to view the complete list of 2010 World's Most Ethical companies.
March 29,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on March 30, 2010
Southern California has a new furniture retailer, and the company is starting with an e-commerce site.
Oceanside, Calif.-based Spaces that Inspire has stepped into the e-commerce arena with two Web sites for consumers. To take a tour click
here or
here.
The company plans to open a bricks-and-mortar store that will offer interior design and custom furnishings.
The retailer sells more than 30 lines from companies like Eurostyle, Diamond Sofa, Phillips Collection and Uttermost, and offers products exclusive to it with an emphasis on customer service.
"From the time a customer enters our site we want them to be comfortable and confident in what they are shopping for," said Mike Bray. "We have contact information posted throughout the site if you have any questions. And if you don't find what you're looking for, e-mail us or call us, and try to explain the best you can what you're looking for and we will find it, within reason of course."
March 29,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on March 30, 2010
The Southeastern Home Furnishings Association will host its Annual Convention at the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort in Destin, Fla., June 6-8, with the theme, "Become a Retail Rock Star" themed convention will focus on helping participants achieve rock stardom in their businesses.
"This annual convention is such a great place to meet new people and network with those who are passionate about this industry," said SEHFA Convention Chair Janice Coleman of Tupelo Furniture Market, Tupelo, Miss. "Every year I'm amazed at the amount of learning and idea sharing produced from our sessions."
Educational workshops planned include "Retail Business Remodel Workshop," led by Jeffrey Hiller of PROaction Marketing Group; and "Effective Web Marketing to Bring Online Shoppers Into Your Showroom," led by Sharon Gillis of JGSullivan Interactive. Hiller will cover issues such as the most efficient and impactful ways to reach shoppers, how your sales staff can drive pre-qualified traffic, how to overcome common mistakes in closing sales, and how managers can increase accountability and morale in this half-day program designed for managing independent retail in the current environment. Gillis will present actionable Internet marketing tactics while covering search engine optimization, pay-per-click advertising, social media, utilizing online leads and what to consider when it comes to building or redesigning your website.
A "School of Rock" Dinner Party will close the program. This interactive mini-rock concert will explore the importance of teamwork, how not to be a one hit wonder, how to keep your fans coming back for more, the significance of embracing change like Madonna, how to Dream On like Aerosmith, plus more.
Other events scheduled include a golf tournament, roundtable discussions, kids club, and presentations for SEHFA's Retailer of the Year Award, Traveler of the Year Award, President's Recognition Award and President's Award.
More information can be found here; or by contacting Nicole Filippo at 800.888.9590 or by e-mail.
Southeastern Home Furnishings Association is a regional affiliate of National Home Furnishings Association serving furniture retailers in Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and the Florida Panhandle.