Daily News Archive
Brought to you by Home Furnishings Business
March 7,
2010 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Bedding on March 8, 2010
Specialty back care retailer Relax The Back, La Palma, Calif., is joining mattress manufacturer Anatomic Global Inc., on its humanitarian initiative, The WorldBed Project. The WorldBed Project is a turnkey sleep system designed for emergency care and relief efforts.
The company is launching a company-wide promotion "Buy a Bed, Give a Bed" to raise money and awareness for the delivery of up to 200,000 field beds to displaced Haitians following the Jan. 12 earthquake near Port-au-Prince.
As part of the program, for every Anatomic Global mattress purchased at Relax The Back, the store will donate one WorldBed to someone in need in Haiti. A portion of the proceeds from every coordinating pillow purchased will be collected to donate to WorldBed. Additionally, customers will have an opportunity to purchase WorldBed products online and in store at a cost of $35 each to be delivered to the relief effort.
"Anatomic Global came up with a very unique concept in the way the sleep product industry can help disaster victims all over the world and we wanted to be part of this noble endeavor," said Relax The Back Vice President of Merchandising J.D. Nespoli. "Both Relax The Back corporate and our franchisees wanted to help with Haitian relief and this program is a great opportunity for us to do so."
"Buy a Bed, Give a Bed" will be promoted with in-store displays, and there are plans to include this program in Relax The Back's Summer catalogue. In addition, Relax The Back's corporate office has already donated a pallet of 50 WorldBeds and during the campaign will continue to channel additional funds to assist in this effort.
"Relax The Back is an incredible retail partner that will help us make a lasting impact in Haiti," said Anatomic Global CEO David Farley. "The WorldBed Project couldn't exist without their compassion and the support and donations of our business community."
To date Anatomic Global has also been joined in the effort by Relax The Back, FXI Foamex Innovations, Deslee Textiles USA, Royal Packaging, Brookwood Companies, World Hope International, CARE and Parakletos International. The company is re-investing its corporate profits from all operations for the first quarter of 2010 to manufacture WorldBeds for Haitian relief and sent a team to help with the initial shipments. So far 2,216 field beds have been delivered to Haiti with 1,800 en route.
Relax The Back is a dynamic participant in The WorldBed Project and we are grateful to them and to all of our business partners who share this responsibility with us, added Farley.
Relax The Back currently operates more than 110 locations nationwide with plans to open several more locations in 2010 and beyond. For more information, click here.
March 7,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Mattresses on March 8, 2010
Leggett & Platt, Carthage, Mo., has introduced VertiCoil Edge, a high-performance innerspring available at a value price point.
VertiCoil Edge offers the newest technology in innerspring and is a part of the VertiCoil family, which was the most successful product launch in the history of Leggett & Platt's Bedding Group.
"We recently conducted research to better understand consumers, and we're using that information to drive product innovation," said Mark Quinn, group executive vice president of marketing for Leggett & Platt's Bedding Group. "Both innovation and quality of sleep are important to consumers, and we've met those needs in our creation of VertiCoil Edge. Specialty companies try to position all innersprings as old and outdated, but VertiCoil Edge is the newest sleep-tech in the bedding industry. Theres nothing like VertiCoil Edge on the market today."
VertiCoil Edge is designed to create a mattress with an equal distribution of firmness. Its unique shape creates a comfortable sleep surface that firms and responds to the body as weight is applied. The Active Support Technology found in VertiCoil Edge immediately reacts to natural sleep movements, adjusting itself for proper spinal alignment.
To create this innovative patented wire design, Leggett & Platt developed its own advanced wire-forming computerized machinery, which only manufactures VertiCoil Edge. In addition to creating proprietary software and machinery, Leggett & Platt also reengineered the wire itself. This process has resulted in a lighter, yet stronger coil that maintains the integrity of innerspring. The coils were engineered and oriented in an alternating configuration, ensuring uniform firmness throughout the mattress.
Leggett & Platt offers retailers a customizable marketing program, complete with counter cards, direct mailers, brochures and product sales sheets. The company is also planning on sharing the benefits of VertiCoil Edge directly with consumers using a broad social media campaign.
"Social media is a great way for us to have conversations with our customers. We have a unique opportunity to go right to consumers with the story of a better night's sleep," said Mark Quinn. "We have exciting plans for an integrated social media program that we'll be rolling out in a few months."
Click here for more information about VertiCoil Edge.
March 4,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on March 5, 2010
Tifton, Ga.-based Turner Furniture Co. plans to open two new stores in Beachton, Ga.
The two storesTurner's Fine Furniture and Turner's Budget Furnitureare set to open in June. With the expansion, the company plans to hire eight to 10 employees in Tifton, and 30 people for the new stores. Positions to be filled include warehouse workers, customer service personnel, furniture repair technicians, delivery drivers, managers and sales personnel.
The company is owned by brothers Fortson Turner and Austin Turner who are building on a 95-year legacy and are fourth-generation owners. Founded in 1915 in Pelham, Ga., Turner's Furniture has weathered the ups and downs of the economy, and the retailer has a history of expanding during the downturns.
Companies Turners Furniture sells include Lexington, Lane, Hooker, Bernhardt, Ashley, Broyhill, La-Z-Boy, Serta, Tempurpedic and Jamison. Turner's currently has seven locations in Albany, Ga., Moultrie, Ga., Tifton, Ga., and Valdosta, Ga.
March 4,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in economic news on March 5, 2010
The Furniture Buying Index climbed two points to a reading of 67 for the month of March.
This marks the fourth consecutive month the index has rose.
Although consumer confidence remains low and has dropped slightly recently, pent-up demand is forcing consumers to purchase items they must have," said Britt Beemer, chairman of Americas Research Group. This pent-up demand is causing a slight increase in the Index."
Beemer is optimistic about the increase. This is a good sign considering an Index of 70 or higher means retailer promotions will be much more successful, he said. At least we are getting movement in the right direction."
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% 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% actually have a particular item in mind.
March 4,
2010 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Delivery on March 5, 2010
The U.S. Department of Commerce will examine three Chinese companies that export wood bedroom furniture to the U.S. market in new shipper reviews covering the 2009 calendar year.
Two of the companies, Dongguan Huansheng and Wanvog, certified that they both export and produce subject merchandise; and the third, Cadman certified that it exports wood bedroom furniture.
Click
here to see the Federal Register entry regarding the new shipper review.
DOC already has initiated an administrative review of subject merchandise shipments in general for 2009.